Yes. Pair Ray‑Ban Meta to your phone, grant Bluetooth, Location and background permissions to the companion and map apps, then start navigation and select Ray‑Ban Meta as the phone’s media output or mute the phone’s map voice. Follow the iPhone and Android steps below and run a 5–10 minute test route.
Time needed about 20–40 minutes, including a 5–10 minute test route
- Turn-by-turn audio is delivered as Bluetooth media from your phone; audio routing and permissions determine whether it reaches the glasses.
- Missing Background Location or blocked background activity is the single most common cause of directions stopping when the phone sleeps.
- Duplicate prompts happen when both the map app and the system TTS (or a second app) speak the same directions.
- A 5–10 minute walking test will show whether the issue is permissions, GPS lag, or Bluetooth audio routing.
- Ray‑Ban Meta is suitable for walking and short commutes but not a substitute for an in-vehicle screen or dedicated driving system.
- Ray‑Ban Meta glasses charged and powered on
- A smartphone with Bluetooth enabled and a navigation app installed (Google Maps or Apple Maps recommended)
- The Ray‑Ban/Meta companion app installed and signed in
- Phone unlocked and on the home screen when changing permissions
- A short walking route or nearby destination to use as a test
The steps
- Open the companion appOpen the Ray‑Ban/Meta companion app on your phone and allow any first-run permission prompts so the app can pair and manage the glasses.You should see: The companion app shows Ray‑Ban Meta listed as connected or ready to pair on its main screen.
- Pair the glasses with your phoneUse the phone’s Bluetooth settings or the companion app’s pairing flow to add Ray‑Ban Meta as a Bluetooth audio device.You should see: The phone’s Bluetooth list shows Ray‑Ban Meta as connected and the companion app reports a connected state.
- Grant Location and background permissionsOpen the phone Settings and allow Location for your map app and the companion app; when prompted choose Always or Allow While Using as required, and enable Background Location on Android where requested.You should see: Settings show the map app and companion app with Location allowed and Background Location/background activity permitted.
- Allow background app refresh and battery exceptionsEnable Background App Refresh on iPhone or exclude the map app and companion app from Android battery optimisation so they can run when the screen is off.You should see: System settings show Background App Refresh enabled or the apps listed as excluded from battery optimisation.
- Set Ray‑Ban Meta as the audio outputStart navigation in your map app, then open the phone’s audio output selector (Quick Settings on Android or Control Center on iPhone) and choose Ray‑Ban Meta as the media/Bluetooth device.You should see: The phone shows Ray‑Ban Meta as the current audio output and the first navigation prompt plays to the glasses.
- Silence duplicate phone prompts if neededIf you hear duplicate audio, mute voice directions inside the map app’s settings or use the in-route speaker control so only the glasses play navigation voice.You should see: Only one voice plays and it comes from the glasses.
- Run a short test routePick a nearby destination for a 5–10 minute walk, follow the navigation while watching the phone’s blue dot, and note whether prompts and reroutes occur.You should see: You hear the first prompt in the glasses, the blue dot moves on the phone, and you hear reroute prompts if you step off-route.
- Capture troubleshooting evidenceIf the test fails, take a screenshot of the phone’s Bluetooth connected view, a screenshot of the map showing the blue dot, and record a short voice memo describing the symptom.You should see: You have at least two screenshots and one short recording to attach to a support ticket or to consult while adjusting settings.
- Update firmware and appsCheck for firmware updates in the companion app and update the map app and operating system to the latest supported versions, then repeat the test route.You should see: The companion app reports the glasses firmware as up to date and the map app launches without pending updates.
Turn-by-turn navigation on Ray‑Ban Meta: does it work and what you need
Ray‑Ban Meta can play turn-by-turn directions by acting as a Bluetooth media endpoint for your phone’s map app. To make it reliable you must pair the glasses, grant Bluetooth and background Location permissions to the companion and map apps, and route navigation audio to the glasses or mute the phone’s map voice.
The glasses do not run a separate map: they receive the phone’s audio. That means the map app and the phone OS behaviour determine the result. See the Ray‑Ban Meta device page for updates and app notes at /devices/ray-ban-meta.
How to set up turn-by-turn navigation on iPhone
On iPhone pair the glasses, allow Location (choose Always or Allow While Using as prompted where the app requests background access), enable Bluetooth access, and turn on Background App Refresh and Notifications for the companion and map apps. The outcome you need is the map app showing Ray‑Ban Meta as a media device and playing voice to the glasses.
Apple Maps and Google Maps both route navigation to paired Bluetooth devices. Waze may require its own audio output setting. If you deny an ‘Always’ Location prompt, change it later in Settings so navigation continues when the phone screen is off.
How to set up turn-by-turn navigation on Android
On Android pair the glasses, grant Location and Background Location to the map app, enable Bluetooth, and allow the companion and map apps to run in the background or be excluded from battery optimisation. The concrete result is the Ray‑Ban Meta appearing as a media/bluetooth audio device and your map app sending voice to it.
Google Maps most reliably routes audio to Bluetooth devices; other map apps vary by maker. If the phone shows ‘media audio’ but the map still plays to the speaker, check the map app’s in-route audio selector or the phone’s Quick Settings output selector.
How audio routing works and how to stop duplicate prompts
Navigation audio is normal phone media sent to Ray‑Ban Meta over Bluetooth. Duplicate prompts occur when the map app and the system TTS (or another app) both speak the same directions. You must choose one source of voice output and route it to the glasses.
To stop duplicates, set Ray‑Ban Meta as the phone’s default media output before navigation or mute the map app’s voice inside that app. In Google Maps tap the speaker icon during navigation and pick the right output; in Apple Maps mute voice directions in Settings > Maps or use the in-route control.
Quick troubleshooting checklist when directions fail
When directions fail, check these items in order: Bluetooth connection, Location and Background Location, companion and map app background activity, app and firmware updates, then run a short test route. Running the list in sequence separates routing and permission problems from GPS or hardware issues.
Below we describe the sequence-level fixes and what each failed state looks like so you can decide whether the problem is local or requires an app/firmware update.
Why this fails in the field and the exact sequence you will see
Typical failure sequence: pairing and music work, navigation starts and you briefly hear a prompt, then prompts stop or lag when the phone sleeps, or Bluetooth shows connected but no audio. That pattern points to an OS permission or a background process being blocked rather than a hardware fault.
What you will see in order: pairing succeeded and media plays, navigation speaks once, prompts stop when the phone locks, or Bluetooth reports connected with no audio. Use that sequence to isolate GPS updating, audio routing, or permissions as the culprit.
Practical limits, safety and battery tips
Use Ray‑Ban Meta for walking and short commutes where glanceable audio helps. They do not replace the phone’s map display or a dedicated driving navigation system. Bluetooth can disconnect with interference or engine noise, so keep the phone available in a vehicle.
Continuous audio and GPS reduce battery life. To extend runtime, turn off non-essential glasses features, keep the phone unlocked during testing, and check the companion app for low-power options or status indicators.
A 5–10 minute test route to verify navigation is working
Run a 5–10 minute walking route to confirm the setup: you should hear the first prompt in the glasses, see the phone’s blue dot move, and get reroute prompts if you step off-route. A short test shows whether the issue is permissions, GPS lag, or Bluetooth audio routing.
If the test fails, capture a screenshot of the map showing your blue dot, a screenshot of the phone’s Bluetooth view showing the glasses connected, and a short voice memo describing the symptom before contacting support or checking firmware notes at /devices/ray-ban-meta.
Where to look next and recommended apps
On Android start with Google Maps; on iPhone use Google Maps or Apple Maps. Check app settings for in-route speaker controls and Background Location prompts. For alternates and compatibility notes see our navigation category and app directory at /categories/navigation and /apps.
If you use Android XR or a non-phone mapping workflow, consult the Android XR device page at /devices/android-xr for compatible map apps and audio routing tips.
Where this usually goes wrong
- No voice prompts but media plays to the glassesThe map app lacks Background Location permission or is blocked by battery optimisation.Enable Background Location and remove the map app from battery optimisation, then restart the map app and repeat the test.
- You hear two voices saying the same thingBoth the map app and the system TTS (or a second app) are producing navigation prompts.Mute the map app’s voice or choose Ray‑Ban Meta as the single media output from the in-route speaker control.
- Directions lag or blue dot freezes while walkingPhone GPS is being throttled or Location permission is limited and the phone sleeps.Allow Background Location, keep the phone unlocked during testing, and try a different route to confirm GPS reception.
- Bluetooth shows connected but no audio reaches the glassesThe phone’s media output is set to the speaker or another device, or the companion app’s audio profile failed.Open the audio output selector and choose Ray‑Ban Meta; if that fails, reconnect via Bluetooth and restart the companion app.
- Frequent disconnects during navigationInterference, low battery on the glasses, or out-of-date firmware.Charge the glasses, move the phone to a different pocket to reduce interference, and update the glasses firmware in the companion app.
The checklist
- Open the companion app
- Pair the glasses with your phone
- Grant Location and background permissions
- Allow background app refresh and battery exceptions
- Set Ray‑Ban Meta as the audio output
- Silence duplicate phone prompts if needed
- Run a short test route
- Capture troubleshooting evidence
- Update firmware and apps
Frequently asked questions
Will Google Maps always send voice to my Ray‑Ban Meta?
Generally yes if the phone is set to use the glasses as its media device. Confirm by starting navigation and opening the phone’s audio output selector in Quick Settings (Android) or Control Center (iPhone) to verify Ray‑Ban Meta is selected. If audio still plays on the phone, use Google Maps’ in-route speaker control to force output.
Why do I hear two voices at once?
Because both the map app and the system TTS or another app are producing the same prompts. Fix it by selecting Ray‑Ban Meta as the single media output or muting voice directions inside the map app. In Google Maps tap the speaker icon during navigation and choose the desired output or mute the app voice.
Directions stop after the phone locks — how do I fix that?
This usually means a background permission or battery optimisation is blocking updates. On iPhone enable Background App Refresh and allow the map app Location ‘Always’ if prompted. On Android grant Background Location, disable battery optimisations for the map and companion apps, then repeat the 5–10 minute test route.
Should I reset my Ray‑Ban Meta if navigation audio drops frequently?
Only after you’ve checked permissions, updated apps, and tested a different map app. Resetting clears pairing and settings and forces you to reconfigure. Before resetting, capture screenshots of the Bluetooth connected state and the companion app settings so you can restore them without guesswork.
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