How to take google maps snapshot without actually displaying the map

Question

I want to be able to take a screenshot of a certain location in google maps without actually loading the google map onto the screen, If there is a way google map can take the screenshot in the background that would be great.

Do you mean an image of what the map with the interface and controls would look like on the screen? Or just the actual map without the user interface? — WaltRiceJr, Apr 25 '15 at 20:38
Yes, an image of what the map would look like if it were on the screen — Errol Green, Apr 25 '15 at 21:11

score 19 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:45

There is Lite Mode:

The Google Maps Android API can serve a static image as a 'lite mode' map.

A lite mode map is a bitmap image of a map at a specified location and zoom level. Lite mode supports all of the map types (normal, hybrid, satellite, terrain) and a subset of the functionality supplied by the full API. Lite mode is useful when you want to provide a number of maps in a stream, or a map that is too small to support meaningful interaction.

Example:

As an XML attribute for a MapView or MapFragment

<fragment xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:map="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:name="com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment"
    android:id="@+id/map"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    map:cameraZoom="13"
    map:mapType="normal"
    map:liteMode="true"/>

In the GoogleMapOptions object

GoogleMapOptions options = new GoogleMapOptions().liteMode(true);

Here You can find supported features.

In addition I recommend reading: Android Google Map to show as picture

You can use the Google Maps built-in snapshot method, to capture a preview and display it in an ImageView.

How to take google maps snapshot without actually displaying the map

1 Answers1