After two years, Google has brought back the compass feature to Google Maps on Android.

"You wanted it and we heard you," begins a support post on Google Maps Help." We are excited to announce the return of Compass in Maps for Android." The compass was removed from Maps for Android in early 2019 in order to clean up the navigation screen, but due to overwhelming support, it is back!"

.

It's easy to be cynical about a company claiming that something came back due to popular demand, but it's clear that people really missed the compass. One can find many examples on Google's own support page.

The compass appears as a widget on the right side of the map screen, and when the phone is rotated, a red arrow points north on the map. It is a useful addition when navigating to unknown locations, and given the small footprint it occupies, it is hard to believe that Google thought it was worth removing.

Indeed, Google's explanation that it was removed to clean up the navigation screen is a bit hard to accept, given that this change only occurred in the Android version of the app. iOS versions have maintained the compass for the past two years, and Google has stated that iPhone owners will not have to experience this wilderness time, saying: "For Google Maps users on iOS, the compass will not be removed and will remain available.

We already knew that Google Maps would get a number of upgrades, including indoor live view, integrated weather and air quality, and greener driving options, but the return of the compass was something Google kept quiet until its release.

You can see all of these features in the latest version of Google Maps. If it does not update automatically, look for version 10.62 in the Google Play store. Just remember that the phone's compass is not always completely reliable, even after calibration.