Google Maps Update Brings Now Bar Integration Ahead Of One UI 7 Rollout

One of the big new features in Samsung’s Android 15 update, One UI 7, is the “Now Bar,” and the latest Google Maps update is adding support for it as we wait for a wider rollout.

As we detailed last week, Google Maps is supporting the “Now Bar” feature on Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI 7. The functionality is live out of the box on the Galaxy S25 series, but wasn’t available on the Galaxy S24 series through most of the One UI 7 beta program.

Now, though, Google Maps has quietly been updated with support for the Now Bar on One UI 7. This was highlighted by Tarun Vats on Twitter/X, though it may have been live for a little while now. We tested a few different versions of the app, but it didn’t appear until installing v25.04.01.717254420, the latest update rolling out via the Play Store. It’s also present in a slightly newer version, v25.05.02.719889437, which is currently in beta.

Google Maps integration with the Now Bar allows Galaxy users to see their ongoing directions from the lockscreen separate from the rest of their notifications. This can also extend to a chip in the status bar, but we’ve found that to be inconsistent, as PiP will disable that chip.

With support now in place for One UI 7 in general and not just the Galaxy S25 series, it stands to reason that this functionality will be ready to go when One UI 7 rolls out widely. Unfortunately, Samsung has yet to provide any details on when that rollout will begin.