The “Google Maps hack” was an unofficial project reported in July 2016, not a Google Maps setting or an official Pokémon GO feature. It overlaid Pokémon, PokéStops and Gyms on a Google Maps view, but the contemporary report said using it required coding. Today, Pokémon GO’s official Map View and Nearby menu are the supported in-game ways to check what is around you.
What the 2016 Google Maps hack did
In a July 20, 2016 report, BGR described a map created by developer Ahmed Almutawa. It placed Pokémon GO location data—Pokémon, PokéStops and Gyms—on a Google Maps view. That made the map an external display of game locations, not a feature built into Google Maps or Pokémon GO.
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The report also said the setup required coding and was not an easy-to-use phone app. It should be understood as a project from the game’s early period, not as a ready-to-use method for finding Pokémon today.
How it compares with Pokémon GO’s official tools
| Approach | How it worked | Setup and support | What is established now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 external map | Displayed Pokémon, PokéStops and Gyms on a Google Maps view, according to BGR’s July 20, 2016 report. | The report said coding was required; it was not an easy phone app. It was not an official Pokémon GO feature. | Its present availability and whether using it complies with current game rules are not established by the cited sources. |
| Official Map View and Nearby menu | Map View reflects the player’s real-world location; Nearby displays nearby Pokémon and other game locations, according to the Pokémon GO Help Center. | Available within the game; no external map setup is described in the help documentation. | The current official help documentation describes these as in-game features. |
How to look for nearby Pokémon now
- Open Pokémon GO and check Map View. The game’s map reflects your real-world location. See What is the Map View? for the official description.
- Open the Nearby menu. Use it to see nearby Pokémon and other game locations; the same Help Center page explains the feature.
Niantic announced a Nearby update on April 20, 2017 that showed Pokémon around nearby PokéStops and let players mark the stop associated with a selected Pokémon, making it easier to locate. That official in-game feature was distinct from the 2016 Google Maps project. Niantic’s announcement was published in Japanese.
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- The packaging is Japanese, but item works the same as the US version.
- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
Do not confuse it with PokéStop Scanning
In May 2020, Niantic described PokéStop Scan as an opt-in way for players to contribute information toward dynamic 3D maps of PokéStops and Gyms for augmented-reality development. This was a separate mapping effort; it does not show that Almutawa’s external Pokémon map continued to work. Niantic’s announcement explains the scanning feature.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the old map still work?
The cited sources do not establish whether the 2016 map remains available, works with the current game, or complies with current Pokémon GO rules. BGR’s report speculated that Niantic might block the technique, but that speculation does not establish its present status. For current discovery, rely on the official in-game Map View and Nearby menu rather than assuming the old external project is usable.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
Rank #4
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- Package: Silicone Case x1; Hand strap x1. If you need any support please feel free to contact us.
Rank #3
- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
Rank #2
- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
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