We might earn a fee from hyperlinks on this web page.
Apple Maps might not be everybody’s best choice for navigation—even these dedicated to the Apple ecosystem—however the app has come a good distance because it’s preliminary rocky rollout, and has loads of options that make it value utilizing. Past the fundamentals, you will additionally wish to take into account a few of its lesser-known settings to get essentially the most out of Apple Maps on each cellular and desktop.
Allow “Visited Locations” to avoid wasting places (even if you happen to did not use Maps to get there)
“Visited Locations” is a brand new characteristic with iOS 26 that passively tracks your location and shops locations you go—even if you happen to do not use Maps to get there. If you wish to hold tabs in your earlier pit stops, you’ll be able to view them later within the “Locations” menu (faucet Locations > Visited Locations if you open Maps). The information is saved in your synced gadgets and is encrypted finish to finish, so although your system is technically monitoring you, you are the one one who can entry the knowledge. If you happen to want that it did not, you’ll be able to toggle the characteristic on and off below Settings > Apps > Maps > Location. You can too delete places by tapping Clear Historical past within the Visited Locations checklist.
Obtain offline maps for if you’re out of service
Offline maps are important for navigation when you do not have a mobile or wifi connection. Apple launched assist for offline maps with iOS 17, which helps you to obtain a map part full with place playing cards, turn-by-turn instructions for a number of transit varieties, and estimated time of arrival. To save lots of a map for offline use, contact and maintain on the map till a pin marker seems, then faucet “Obtain.” Choose the world, then faucet “Obtain once more.” To entry it later, faucet your profile photograph or initials and open the Offline Maps menu. You can too edit the identify and space or delete saved maps.
Add and manage locations of curiosity in a shareable information
Apple Maps has a built-in planning characteristic that means that you can save places to a group for future reference. You possibly can share these guides with others, too. For instance, you could possibly put collectively lists of favourite locations or sightseeing itineraries for a bunch journey. To start out a information, open “Your Guides” (there’ll already be a “Favorites” assortment) and faucet the “plus” signal to create a brand new assortment. You possibly can add places from place playing cards by tapping the three horizontal dots > Add to Guides and share utilizing the Share icon.
Save your parking location so that you by no means lose your automobile
If you happen to are inclined to neglect the place you allow your automobile in large and busy parking heaps, Apple Maps can save the situation for you. The app drops a pin if you disconnect your system out of your automobile’s Bluetooth or CarPlay, however you will need to set it up first. You may have to have Location Providers and Vital Places turned on (below Privateness & Safety > Location Providers > System Providers) and allow “Present Parked Location” below Settings > Apps > Maps. When it’s essential to get again to your automobile, select “Parked Automotive” under Siri Recommendations in Maps.
Plan hikes in parks and on trails
Maps is not the most effective app on the market for outside adventuring, however it does have topographical maps and detailed mountaineering routes for U.S. nationwide parks, and you may even obtain them for offline use. Merely search a nationwide park and scroll all the way down to the “Hikes” part on the data card to browse, or kind “hikes in [national park name]” to convey up an inventory you’ll be able to filter by size, route kind, and elevation acquire. When you choose a hike, faucet “Add to Routes” and toggle “Obtain Route” on.
Create customized strolling and mountaineering routes
You can too make your individual routes on roads, paths, and trails and save them to Apple Maps to return to later. To start out a customized route, akin to a metropolis tour or highway run, drop a pin on the map, then faucet the three horizontal dots adopted by “Create a Customized Route.” Faucet different factors on the map to attach them, then choose whether or not to finish your journey by stepping into reverse or closing the loop. Lastly, faucet “Save Route,” and you will have a customized path to observe everytime you’d like.
Ship instructions out of your Mac to your iPhone
Some issues are simpler to do on desktop, like making a multi-stop route and selecting the right turn-by-turn instructions. However what occurs if you wish to use these instructions in your iPhone? Maps truly has two choices for sending instructions out of your Mac to your iPhone. The primary is to share straight; the opposite is to make use of Continuity, which lets you begin on one system and choose up on the opposite.
What do you suppose to this point?
Both method, you will want to look a location and click on “Instructions,” then select your most well-liked route from the options. You possibly can regulate your mode of transportation and beginning and ending factors as wanted. Click on the “Data” icon, then faucet “Share” under the turn-by-turn checklist. Now, choose “Ship to iPhone,” which is able to ship a notification to your system. Faucet this, and Apple Maps will launch in your iPhone with the instructions loaded. Notice that you’re going to have to have time-sensitive notifications and badge alerts in your Lock Display enabled for this to work.
With Continuity, you’ll be able to load instructions on Maps in your Mac, then open the app switcher in your iPhone and faucet the Apple Maps hyperlink on the backside. To ensure this works for you, each your Mac and iPhone ought to be signed into iCloud with the identical Apple Account, wifi and Bluetooth ought to be enabled on each, and “Handoff” ought to be turned on—although Apple says it’s by default.
Use this setting to alter your most well-liked mode of transportation
If you happen to all the time use Apple Maps for one transportation kind, you’ll be able to change your preferences so the app will present routes and estimated journey instances for that methodology first. For instance, if you happen to do not personal a automobile, you in all probability needn’t see driving instructions by default—you’ll be able to select strolling, biking, or public transit as options. Change this below Settings > Maps > Most popular Kind of Journey.
Use this setting to keep away from highways, hills, and stairs
Maps might provide the turn-by-turn instructions it deems the most effective, however that does not imply it is the most effective route for you. You possibly can inform the app to keep away from sure sorts of roads or obstacles alongside your route, akin to highways, toll roads, and busy streets. For biking instructions, you’ll be able to attempt to keep away from hills, and for strolling, stairs. On the Instructions pane, faucet “Keep away from” and toggle these options on or off.
Examine ride-share pricing from Lyft and Uber with out leaving the app
Maps has integrations with ride-sharing apps like Lyft and Uber, so you’ll be able to examine for out there rides to your vacation spot and examine costs with out leaving the app. (You possibly can’t guide in Maps, although. You may be redirected to the ride-share app as soon as you choose your trip.) After trying to find a location, faucet Instructions and choose the ride-share icon on the far proper. Notice that you just have to be logged into ride-share companies in your system for the combination to work.
