Google Maps updates its color scheme to make it easier to identify points of interest

Google Maps has gotten an updated look. The driving, navigation, transit, and explore maps have gotten a refresh so that important information is shown more clearly. Gas stations will now appear more prominently during navigation, as will train stations on transit maps.

It’s also getting an updated color scheme, with new icons to identify points of interest like cafes, churches, museums, and hospitals. It’s a pretty useful change, considering previously, Maps would be filled with identical blue-colored icons for stores, cafes, and doctor’s offices.

Food and drink is now colored orange; shopping remains blue; pink is health; seafoam green is entertainment and leisure; green is for outdoor; and lighter blue is for transport. Many of these colors look similar and are bound to confuse people, especially those who may be partially colorblind. There will also be icons for road closures, construction, and car accidents.

All Google devices that use Maps will be getting the update “over the next few weeks,” including the Assistant, search, Google Earth, and Android Auto. Eventually, the changes will also migrate to sites that embed Google Maps APIs.

It seems like Google is rolling out updated looks for much of its software: Google Calendar just got a refresh last month, adding a lot more white space, and Google’s Home app was revamped just yesterday, so you can now adjust the bass and treble in your Google Home speakers.