0. Google Maps must be installed, and it must be possible to receive updates to Maps (like from the Google Play Store).
If you already have Maps installed, and there is an update available, do not install it yet!
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
1. long-tap an empty spot on the home screen (or other panel/folder/etc) and click "+" to add something
2. Select "Shortcut" from the top (Built-Ins > Icons & Text)
3. Select "Directions" (a Maps shortcut/widget, with the standard circular Google Maps icon)
4. Choose what you like, driving or bicycling, turn-by-turn navigation, choose a destination and give a shortcut name, and press save.
5. The shortcut will appear as a blue rectangle with a picture of a [car or bicycle], and the label you gave it.
6. If you tap the shortcut, it should open Maps in driving directions mode with your selected destination.
The above works great! Very convenient.
The problem comes whenever Google Maps has an update from the Google Play store.
(If you have just created a shortcut like this (and tried it!) and there is currently a Maps update ready to install, you can install that update now.)
After the update is installed, all such shortcuts stop working as shortcuts. They change to the standard circular Maps icon, and they open Maps without any destination.
I've deleted and re-created these shortcuts so many times now (due to Maps frequent updates) that I've given up and stopped re-creating them. This was a nice convenience that I have sadly lost.
Just now I checked my OnePlus launcher (which I had not opened probably since August). I see that I have similar Maps shortcuts(widgets) there, created many months ago, which are still working as expected. So this seems to be specific to LL.
I'm using a OnePlus 5 (A5000), with OxygenOS 9.0.4 (based on Android 9 Pie). I think this problem may have started when Android 9 was first installed; I don't think I had this issue before December.
I would be curious to hear if other people can reproduce this issue on other versions of android 9, or lower versions as well? Although what I would really like is for it to get fixed
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)