Microsoft Bing Maps website now only shows Maps beta and no OS maps option in UK

Question

Hi,

I use Bing Maps because in the UK you get the ordinance survey maps overlay. But as of yesterday this stopped, I get no OS maps, on both Edge and Firefox browser. This only happens on my microsoft user account on the laptop, and with multiple signed in Microsoft profiles on Bing in Edge and Firefox browsers. Other user accounts do not have this problem. I have made no changes to anything recently.

How do I get back to view OS maps? I'm signed in, location is UK in Bing, in Maps and on laptop. I do not use a VPN. I never asked for this change, it happened yesterday, the day before it was fine.

To be honest I'm getting pretty fed up withy Microsoft repeatedly making this kind of change in the background without asking me if I want it, I wasted an hour last night before just giving up and shutting it down, I was just trying to do exactly what I'd had no problems doing the night before

As you can see, maps beta is displayed and the overlay menu only shows 3 options with no Ordinance Survey Maps available. OS Maps is by far the best map overlay in the UK, you get full topographical info and public footpaths and rights of way. Without it there's no reason to use Bing as Google has streetview and Bing doesn't.

I blanked out my name but it is signed in.

Why is it always loading the beta site?

Answer 1

OK, for those experiencing the same problem Co-Pilot actually came up with the answer.

Go to browser and clear cookies.

Looks like yet another bit of Microsoft flakiness.

I always find myself wondering how my elderly relatives would cope with these constant niggling PC problems.

The answer is they wouldn't, they'd assume it broke and end up paying someone to fix it.

I can think of no other area in life where the user needs to fiddle under the hood so frequently just to keep doing the basics. Even something as complex as cars mostly just work these days.

Makes me wonder why we all put up with this sort of behaviour from Microsoft so often. Any company without their globally over-dominant monopoly would surely have folded by now.

I can see why Applytes always look so smug...

Answer 2

Clearing cookies does absolutely nothing when using Edge - OS map functionality is available in better browsers such a Firefox

Answer 3

Hello, I’m Virginia, a fellow user like yourself.

Sorry to hear you’re experiencing problems.

Thank you for posting the workaround.

I’d send Microsoft feedback & hopefully they’ll make it clearer on what to do should it happen to others.

As we’re a user to user forum Microsoft will not see your comments/suggestions. I would recommend sending Microsoft feedback via the app - Windows key + F key or via the web:

https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/