Google Maps Gets "Home" and "Work" Location Shortcuts

Google is adding a small but useful new feature to Google Maps, the ability to save your home and work locations for quick access, especially when getting directions. Users can already save locations they use often and places they check into are saved automatically.

Now, the My Places tab also houses quick links to work and home locations that you can set yourself.

Of course, you can use any address you want, but actually using your home and work locations will help you when using the tags to search for something or for directions.

"With Google Maps, we’ve made it increasingly easy to save and re-find the places that matter to you. Last year, we introduced the My Places tab which organizes your saved Custom Maps, directions that you’ve previously looked up, and locations you’ve starred, checked-in and rated," Google wrote.

"Starting today, you’ll also be able to save your home and work locations in Google Maps when signed in with your Google account," it said.

Google started rolling out the feature, but it seems that something's gone wrong so the roll-out has been postponed for now, with no deadline specified. The feature should be going live soon in any case.

The need to save your work and home addresses isn't obvious, after all, who doesn't know them by heart, unless they've moved recently.

But they're useful as shortcuts, for example, you'll be able to simply type "work" in directions rather than the full address and your location will be filled in automatically. The locations will also be marked on the map itself with special labels.

"To set your home and work locations, you’ll need to sign in with your Google Account. Once logged in, click the My Places tab in Google Maps and save your home and work locations. From the My Places panel, you can also edit or delete your saved locations by clicking the drop-down to the right of the home or work icons," Google explained.