Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's key takeaways

I change Maps settings to improve my privacy on a new phone.

I suggest turning off location history, notifications, and ads.

Other features are worth enabling right away to improve Maps.

Google Maps is my go-to navigation app, whether I'm walking, driving, or using public transit. I download it on every new device, which, after years as a tech journalist, means I've switched between a lot of phones and tablets . Each time, Maps is one of the first apps I install. But before I start using it regularly, I open settings and make a few changes to fine-tune the experience.

Also: I found a free Google Maps alternative that doesn't track me

Google Maps is incredibly useful, but it also knows a lot: where I go, what I search for, how I commute, and which places I save.…