Google Maps is failing to complete basic searches for some users

If you need help trying to find shops, restaurants, museums, or other locations around you, the search function in Google Maps can often come in handy. Just type in what you’re looking for and a list of suggestions will be there for you to peruse. Normally, that’s the case, but it seems a new bug may have broken this feature for some.

There is a growing number of reports highlighting an issue with Google Maps searches. It appears that when looking for something specific, like the name of a building, the search feature will do its job. However, when you look for something nonspecific, like restaurants, you’ll get an error message.

One affected user has shared a screenshot of the error they’re encountering. “Google Maps can’t find restaurants,” the message reads when translated. “Check that your search is spelled correctly. Try adding a city, state, or zip code.” The message also suggests using Google Search instead.

According to the reports, the bug is isolated to the browser version of Google Maps. The affected users confirm there are no issues with the mobile app. Some commenters claim that searches are functional on desktop when in incognito mode, but others say that even that doesn’t get the feature working for them. It also appears that the glitch happens on a variety of browsers, not just Chrome.

While we could not recreate the error, Android Authority has reached out to Google for comment. We will update this article when new information is available. Until then, tell us if you’ve also been experiencing the same problem.