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How to open links in Apple Maps instead of Google Maps

Apple Park, as shown in Apple Maps.

If you own an iPhone , you've almost certainly considered whether you should use Apple Maps or Google Maps on your travels.

There are pros and cons to each. Google Maps benefits from the huge amount of data harvested by Google, whereas Apple is more focused on data privacy.

While Google Maps integrates well with the rest of the world, Apple Maps integrates with your address book.

In the end, though, some of us just think Apple Maps looks prettier.

Why you might want to open links in Apple Maps

There are two factors which put Apple Maps aficionados at a disadvantage. For one, Google search results automatically open in Google Maps. So, if you're one of the 84% of us who use Google's search engine, directions to your nearest dental surgery will pop up in Google's app instead of Apple's.

Secondly, with Google's dominant market reach, and Google Map's availability on nearly any device, most websites will use its API. So, if you're on that dental surgery's website and tap a link to get directions, it'll probably open in Google Maps as well.

Have you ever wondered whether there's a way to redirect said links to open in Apple Maps? Well, as you might have guessed from this article's title, there is. And here's how.

How to modify links

Naturally, the easiest way to get to the same location in Apple Maps is to simply copy and paste the address from Google Maps. However, this can fail when:

• A location is in a brand new development, industrial park, or subdivision.
• A street passes through several communities and/or county boundaries, and changes names in each one. For example, "Glen Park" in one community might be called 45th Street in the next.
• A community renames streets, like "2nd St S W" becomes "Veterans Way."
• There are different naming conventions for the same address, which use abbreviations. e.g. , "County Road 300 South" could be "CR 300 S" or "Co Rd 300 So."

Usually, re-entering the address in another format results in success, but sometimes you need more precision. In this case, you can modify a Google Maps link to use the coordinates of latitude and longitude in Apple Maps.

To convert a location's Google Maps URL, you'll need to convert it into a format that Apple Maps understands.

• Open the location in Google Maps.
• Tap the Share icon, then choosing Copy .
• Paste the URL into a browser, e.g. , Safari.
• Remove any details before the https:// , then visit the URL to expand it.
• You'll need the coordinates of latitude and longitude (that's the two numbers which each have seven decimal places, and are separated by a comma).
• Create the equivalent Apple Maps URL using the following schema: maps.apple.com/ ,
• Open Apple Maps and paste this URL into the search bar. Hey presto, the location should pop up.

That's awfully fiddly to do manually every time, though, especially when scrolling through a long URL on an iPhone to find the coordinates. However, automation is a possibility.

A note about Shortcuts

It was previously possible to automate the process of opening Google Maps links in Apple Maps using Apple Shortcuts, and there have been many Shortcuts shared online purporting to do this.

However, it seems that Google has changed the way its URLs are handled, such that Google Maps links now present a consent form before you can proceed to the location.

This means that Shortcuts can no longer extract the coordinates of latitude and longitude from these URLs. However, Safari extensions still can.

Using a Safari extension

There is a free extension called " Rerouter - Open links in Maps ", but this only works if you remove the Google Maps app from your device, and even then we found it to be unreliable. However, a paid extension called " Mapper " does work consistently.

Mapper is available on the App Store for $1.99, and runs on macOS, iPadOS , and iOS . When you tap on the thumbnail, address, or directions buttons in a Google search result, Mapper will automatically take you to that location in Apple Maps.

Mapper does have limitations though. It doesn't currently convert Google Maps locations embedded on websites, so you'll have to find your dental surgery via Google search results. The addition of this feature would make it the ideal solution.

Also, on the macOS version, the link will load in Google Maps in the background as well as in Apple Maps, but this is merely a quibble.

It's sometimes difficult to use a different preference in a world with an incumbent standard. However, if you aren't bothered about opening location links in websites other than Google search, then Mapper seems to be the most convenient way to keep your sense of direction rooted in Apple Maps.

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How to (Virtually) Safari Through South Africa on Google Maps

Shannon McMahon

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon .

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider, blog.TripAdvisor.com, Boston.com, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC, People.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : "Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone."

Travel Motto : "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Window, of course."

Email Shannon at [email protected] .

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Thanks to tour deals and budget airlines, you don’t necessarily have to spend a small fortune to go on a South African safari anymore—but what if you could experience a bucket-list game drive from the comfort of your computer?

Google Maps has made it possible, and recently added 560 miles of immersive Street View that showcases trails and parks across South Africa; all of the country’s national parks are now explorable online. Get a first-hand look at the 36 total South African parks and nature reserves, 170 trails, and the rare animals that live in them—without even leaving your house (or couch).

The trail versions of Google Maps Street Views mean you can (virtually) climb Cape Town’s Table Mountain, walk in Nelson Mandela’s footsteps, explore six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, pick your favorite hiking trails in the Drakensberg Mountains, and spot rhino, elephants, and other big game in famous locales like Kruger National Park. Whether you’re planning a safari or just dreaming of one, there’s no excuse not to experience a South African game drive now.

This virtual safari is at your fingertips thanks to more than 200 South Africans who trekked the trails with Google Maps Street View cameras that took 360-degree photos with every step. Rangers helped the volunteers look out for wildlife and catch some jaw-dropping views and animal encounters along the way:

Part of this virtual reality (VR) experience launched in 2016, and now joins other Google Maps Street View collections that offer immersive travel experiences like Day of the Dead in Mexico  and highlights across destinations from Wales to Malaysia . It seems like Google sees VR as a new way for travelers to explore the places they want to visit. But that poses the question: Will virtual reality ever replace the real thing?

Would you use virtual reality to plan a trip like a safari? Or does VR take away from the real thing? Comment below.

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Associate Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on  Twitter  and  Instagram .

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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Google Maps on iPhone may finally get this useful navigation feature

Google Maps is testing Live Activity support on iPhones — but only for a lucky few

Google Maps is testing a new feature that'll prove very useful for iPhones running recent versions of iOS. Once it rolls out to everyone.

The feature that's reportedly coming to Google Maps is Live Activities , an ability that arrived as part of 2022's iOS 16 update. This allows apps to display updatable information on the phone's lock screen, plus in the Dynamic Island and the always-on display too if your iPhone has that feature.

As you might expect, the Google Maps version uses this to show your current step, as well as an overall progress bar, according to users on Reddit (via 9to5Google ) and tipster Max Jambor , who have found themselves with the feature enabled.

Don't worry if you've not got it yet. Even some users who have tried it out say the feature was removed shortly afterward, so testing is clearly ongoing and still limited. Also, you need to have the Glanceable Directions setting enabled while navigating in the app. You'll find that by tapping on your profile picture in the main Google Maps screen, then by going to Settings, then to Navigation.

A long time coming

Google seems to have been working on Glanceable Directions for the iOS version of Google Maps since 2023 , when code for the feature was first discovered in the app. A similar feature is already live in Maps on Android, although again you have to enable the feature yourself in the in-app settings.

Having directions pop up for you to easily read and follow without needing to unlock your phone every time is an obvious use case for Apple's Live Activities feature. It's something that Apple Maps already does. But for whatever reason, Google's really taking its time with this, despite having added and tested many other features over the past few months like better in-app info on EV charging stations , recommended attractions list for certain cities and AI translation and planning , plus markers for building entrances .

If you're one of the lucky ones who can already use Google Maps Live Activities, we're very jealous. For everyone else (including everyone on staff at TG with an iPhone), we're probably going to have to wait for the full release. Fingers crossed that this comes at least in time for the launch of iOS 18 , expected to debut this June at WWDC 2024 .

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How to Make Google Maps the Default on iPhone

Use Google Maps Instead of Apple Maps

• University of Ontario
• George Brown College

• Western Governors University
• Switching from Android

What to Know

• It's not possible to select a default map app from your iPhone Settings.
• Set your default web browser to Chrome from Settings by tapping Chrome > Default Browser App > Chrome .

Google Maps is the most widely used map app in the U.S., but iPhone users have to use Apple Maps by default. If you'd rather use Google Maps as the default map app on your iPhone, you have to be willing to make some sacrifices.

How Do I Change My Default Map App on iPhone?

Unfortunately, there's no way to select a default map app on the iPhone. Although you can change other default apps on the iPhone , such as your preferred web browser, Apple does not currently offer this feature for any iOS map apps, including Google Maps.

How Do I Make Google Maps My Default on iOS 14?

Unless you're willing to jailbreak your iPhone, which isn't recommended and against the terms of service for the iPhone, the only way to simulate making Google Maps your default map app on iOS 14 is by using other Google apps as your default apps (if you don't already use them).

Google's apps are designed to work with each other, so they offer a lot of flexibility with using Google Maps as your preferred map app. The two most relevant apps to use would be Chrome as your default web browser and Gmail as your default email program.

How to Set Chrome As Your Default Web Browser to Use Google Maps

When you tap on a location's address in Chrome, you'll be able to view it in Google Maps.

Open Settings .

Scroll down through your list of apps and tap Chrome .

Download Chrome for iOS if you don't have it yet.

Tap Default Browser App .

Tap Chrome .

Now whenever you tap on an address in Chrome to see its location, you'll be asked whether you want to view it in Apple Maps or Google Maps.

How to Set Gmail As Your Default Email App to Use Google Maps

You need to be using Gmail as your default email app if you want to be able to open location addresses you receive by email in Google Maps.

Scroll down through your list of apps and tap Gmail .

Download Gmail for iOS if you don't have it yet.

Tap Default Mail App .

Tap Gmail .

Exit Settings and open Gmail .

Tap the menu icon in the top left of the search bar.

Scroll down to the bottom of the menu and tap Settings .

Tap Default apps .

Under Navigate from your location , tap Google Maps, then under Navigate between locations , tap Google Maps again.

Now whenever you tap on an address from a message within Gmail, you'll be asked whether you want to view it in Apple Maps or Google Maps.

To  save location history on your iPhone with Google Maps Timeline , tap your profile icon >  Settings  >  Personal content  >  Location settings  >  Location Services is on . Next, enable location history from your Google account Activity Controls . Then view your history in the Google Maps app on your iPhone from your profile picture >  Your Timeline .

Unfortunately, you can only change the default mail and browser apps on iOS 14 and higher. You can make Gmail the default mail app on your iPhone from the Gmail app settings or choose from numerous other options like Hey or Spark. You can also opt for DuckDuckGo, Firefox, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge instead of Safari as your browser.

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Mapper Safari Extension Automatically Redirects Google Maps Links to Apple Maps

All of these place links get redirected to Apple Maps with Mapper.

Ever since Apple rolled out the redesigned and improved Apple Maps in Italy last month, I’ve been increasingly switching my usage of maps for exploration and turn-by-turn directions from Google to Apple Maps. I prefer Apple’s overall design sensibilities, I find Look Around drastically superior to Google Street View, and the integration with Apple Maps and the Lock Screen for turn-by-turn navigation is excellent.

However, I still have to keep Google Maps installed on my iPhone for all those times when a particular point of interest (usually a shop or restaurant) isn’t showing up in Apple Maps’ search results. And because the Google Maps app is still installed on my iPhone, every time I tap a search result with an address from Google search, it automatically redirects to Google Maps. I’ve always found this annoying, but now even more so since I consider Apple Maps my primary navigation app here in Rome. 1 Now, thanks to a Safari extension, that Google Maps redirect nightmare is finally over.

Developed by Alex Kitcoff, Mapper is a new Safari extension that does one thing: it automatically redirects Google Maps links from Google search results in Safari to Apple Maps. That’s it. No more copying and pasting addresses, no more manual typing the same address in Apple’s Maps app: once the extension is installed, every time you tap a link to a place in Google search, it’ll load in Apple’s Maps app for iPhone and iPad instead.

Google Maps links from Google search get redirected to Apple Maps thanks to the Mapper extension.

To start using Mapper, all you have to do is enable the extension with the two methods I described in my iOS 15 review : you can either do so from Settings ⇾ Safari ⇾ Extensions, or by tapping the puzzle icon in Safari’s address bar, then choosing ‘Manage Extensions’. In my tests, Mapper correctly redirected Google Maps links both when I tapped addresses in Safari for iPhone as well as the ‘Directions’ button in Safari for iPad, pictured above.

There’s nothing else I can say about Mapper other than it does exactly what it’s supposed to do and fixes one of my longstanding annoyances with Google search and Apple Maps on iPhone and iPad.

Mapper joins Amplosion , 1Password , Unsmartifier , Super Agent , and Noir in my list of must-have Safari extensions that have launched since iOS 15’s release. It’s only $0.99 on the App Store , and I highly recommend it.

• Yes, I could use another search engine that includes Apple Maps results for places, like DuckDuckGo . I like DuckDuckGo, but its local results for Italian news and non-English content still leave much to be desired compared to Google, so I don’t want to switch. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.  ↩︎

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Android Police

How to make google maps the default navigation app on your iphone.

Getting lost with Apple Maps? You can set Google Maps as the default on your iPhone in seconds

For a long time, most Google apps on Android phones have been available on iOS, but not vice versa. A few years ago, with the release of iOS 14, Apple opened its walled garden slightly, allowing iPhone users to switch from Safari to Google Chrome and the the horribly-dated iOSMail app for Gmail. And while you can install the Google Maps app from the App Store, you can't make it the default navigation app.

Apple Maps continues to improve , and with the release of iOS 17 , iPhone owners get a snazzy new UI, the option to download maps, and a warning to do so if data service is limited. If you want to stick with Google Maps and all its exciting tricks , there's an easy workaround that lets you automatically open Google Maps when you select a destination.

What is the default map app on iPhone, and why can't you change it?

Apple Maps is the default iPhone map app and has been so since the release of iOS 6. Although earlier versions of iOS shipped with Google Maps, the relationship soured between the two tech giants when Google refused to give Apple rights to the voice-directed turn-by-turn navigation feature in 2012.

If you download Google Maps and want to use it as your default app, it doesn't work because Apple devices don't support it. In contrast to Google's open source Android OS, where anyone can make modifications, Apple uses a closed software ecosystem and controls what apps you can install.

Since the Apple-Google dispute, the iOS 14 update is the closest Apple comes to letting you use Google programs. The update lets you change your default browser and email client to the Google equivalent. You must jailbreak your phone to use any apps outside those two. Jailbreaking is a procedure we don't recommend as it's against Apple's policy and voids your warranty. In the worst-case scenario, you could brick your phone.

How to change your default navigation app to Google Maps on iPhone or iPad

The closest method to making Google Maps your default navigation app is to install Google Chrome or Gmail, then make one of them your default email and browser apps. Since all Google apps integrate and share data, you can open map links in Google Maps via any of the two apps. Creating a Google account is necessary to use any of the apps. You can't sign in and access the full functionalities if you don't have one.

The steps used in this procedure were performed on an iPhone running iOS 16. The process for iOS and iPadOS 17 is unchanged. iOS or iPadOS 14 and 15 users can also follow these steps.

Change iPhone's default mail app to Gmail

• Download and install Gmail from the Apple App Store.
• From your phone's App Library, tap the Settings app.
• Tap Default Mail App .
• From your phone's App Library, open Gmail . You must sign in if it's your first time using the app.
• Tap the menu icon in the upper-right corner.
• Tap Default apps .
• Under the Navigate from your location and Navigate between locations sections , select Google Maps . Then, when you tap a map link in Gmail, it automatically opens in Google Maps.
• Tap the checkbox beside Ask me which app to use every time to choose between Apple Maps and Google Maps when you tap map links.

Change the iPhone's default web browser to Chrome

When you set Chrome as your default browser from your phone's Settings menu, every map link you tap within the browser opens in Google Maps automatically.

• Download and install Chrome from the Apple App Store if you haven't.
• Open Settings .
• Scroll up and tap Chrome .
• Tap Default Browser App .

How to use Google Maps via CarPlay on iPhone

CarPlay is Apple's alternative to Android Auto . With CarPlay, you can unlock and start your car, use the map, receive and make calls, and dictate messages. With the release of iOS 17, CarPlay gets better with features like SharePlay, which lets passengers share music and playlists with the vehicle owner. CarPlay supports Google Maps, but not as your default map service. If you ask Siri for directions, the voice assistant always opens Apple Maps. You must launch Google Maps when using it in your car.

Downloading CarPlay is unnecessary as the feature comes with supported iOS versions. However, you need to connect your phone to a supported vehicle to use it. Depending on your model, you can connect to CarPlay with a USB cord or wireless connection.

CarPlay supports iPhones running iOS 12 or higher versions and Google Maps from version 5.24 or above. The system also works with select car models .

• Download and install Google Maps on your phone if you haven't.
• Start your car.
• Connect your phone to your car. If your car supports a wired CarPlay connection, plug in your Apple Lightning USB cable to the CarPlay port. The port should have a tiny white smartphone symbol next to it.
• A prompt appears with three options: Enable, disable, or always enable CarPlay when your phone is connected to the car via USB.
• Once activated, CarPlay automatically launches on your car's built-in display. Your display mirrors the supported CarPlay apps on your iPhone, including Phone, Messages, Music, and third-party apps like iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Google Maps.
• Tap Google Maps to open and use it.

Plan your trip and enjoy the ride

Google Maps offers robust features for getting to destinations faster and ensuring you never get lost. You can share your ETA with friends and family, use offline maps when you're far away from civilization, and save your parking spots. Google Maps also lets you enjoy one feature that is only now appearing on Apple Maps after a decade: multiple stops. You can plan your route with more than one destination if you need to make an unexpected trip or have many errands to run. But that's not all. There are over 10 tips and tricks you need to try on Google Maps to make transportation a breeze.

Better ways ahead.

Navigation. Clean and simple.

A world of ways to explore the world.

Guides to all the right places.

Works seamlessly across your Apple devices.

Shows you around without following you around.

Your ultimate get‑around.

Maps gives you at-a-glance information to make every drive a good one. Route planning provides ETAs for future departures based on expected traffic. As you drive, you see real-time traffic, current speed limits, and nearby speed cameras. Turn lanes, bike, bus, and taxi lanes, medians, and crosswalks are displayed in incredible detail. When you approach a complex intersection, Maps switches to a 3D road-level perspective to simplify what’s ahead. Lane guidance prepares you for turns and exits, so you can avoid wrong turns and missed exits. If you drive an electric vehicle, Maps can assess your charge level, elevation, and compatible charging stops along your route. 1

Hit all the right stops.

Getting around town is a snap with Maps. See real-time information about transit arrival and departure times, outages, current locations of buses and trains, and connections. 2 You can even be alerted when you’re approaching your stop. Nearby departures are just a tap away, and you can pin your favorite lines so the closest ones always show up at the top.

A heightened way to hoof it.

Use augmented reality and Indoor Maps to stay on point when you’re on foot. Just raise your iPhone to scan the buildings in the area, and Maps will show step-by-step guidance in augmented reality. 3 You can also use Indoor Maps to easily find your way around major airports and shopping centers all over the world. See which restaurants are past security at the airport, where the nearest restroom is, or what floor your favorite store is on at the mall.

Be ready for any path, lane, hill, or obstacle.

Keep rolling with cycling directions that include an elevation profile of your route. 4 Maps will let you know if there’s a steep incline along your way, if you need to carry your bike up stairs, or if there’s a safer, easier route that avoids busy roads. And with voice guidance and Haptic Feedback on Apple Watch, you can stay even more focused on the path ahead.

Exploration

Detailed city experiences.

A better way to get your bearings., detailed city experiences.

Explore San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, and London — and more cities coming soon — with unprecedented detail for elevation, neighborhoods, buildings, trees, and road features like crosswalks and turn lanes. Visit amazing 3D landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in both the day and dark mode maps.

Look Around.

Go there before you get there..

Look Around

Explore select cities with an interactive 3D street-level experience and a smooth, seamless 360‑degree view. Use Look Around to scope out the parking situation by that hot new brunch place, locate landmarks near a meet-up spot, or get a feel for the neighborhoods in a new city. Precise views let you know what to expect when you get there — so you can make the most of every outing.

Interactive globe.

Mountains and deserts and rainforests. oh my., interactive globe.

Discover Earth’s natural beauty with a rich and interactive 3D globe. Explore amazing textures and contours, with vibrant details of mountain ranges, deserts, forests, oceans, and more. 3 The most remote and precious locales on the planet are now readily accessible.

Place cards.

More ways to learn and interact..

Place Cards

Choose a destination, and its interactive place card shows you everything you need at a glance. See basics like address, hours, website, and phone number, along with details like price range, photo galleries, associated Guides, accepted payment types — even whether you can bring your dog. Launch Flyover or Look Around to get a sense of the location and surroundings. You can even quickly and securely rent a bike, pay for parking, order food, and more with just a tap. And for places that use Business Chat, you can reach out and ask questions directly in Messages.

Find the right spot. Right now.

It’s quick and easy to find just what you’re looking for in Maps. Use ultra-targeted filters to search for restaurants by cuisine, price range, and whether they offer takeout. Or choose to see only places that are open right now. Want to broaden your search? Just move the map, and your search results update automatically. Want something closer to home? Tap Nearby to find local places in categories like Restaurants, Gas Stations, Coffee, Hotels, Bars, Fast Food, Groceries, and Shopping Centers. Locations are displayed on the map with colorful badges, making it even easier to pinpoint your picks.

Get a bird’s-eye view.

Get a whole new perspective on select major metro areas with photo‑realistic, immersive 3D views. Move your iPhone or iPad through space to experience a city from above, or take a closer look at cities and their landmarks in high resolution as you zoom, pan, tilt, and rotate. 5 It’s exploration elevated.

Oh, the places you’ll know.

Guides help you find amazing things to see and do in cities around the world. 6 Just tap the Explore Guides button to access nearly 1000 expertly curated Guides, and find and save the ones that catch your eye. Curated Guides automatically update when new places are added, so you always have the latest recommendations at your fingertips. You can also create your own Guides and share them with friends and family.

Get to the good stuff.

Interested in boho-chic gastropubs in Rio? Family-friendly rock pools near Cape Town? A movie star’s best-kept secrets for Palm Springs? We’ve got you covered. Guides tap into the local culture for the ultimate insider experience wherever you eat, shop, meet friends, or explore in cities around the world.

Editorial experts.

Follow the leaders., editorial experts.

We’ve partnered with some of the most trusted and experienced names in travel and publishing to create distinctive collections of must‑see city attractions. Current Guides are constantly being updated, and new ones are always on the way — so you’re sure to find the latest and greatest, wherever you go.

Integration

Seamless experience., go from device to device with the greatest of ease..

Seamless Experience

Enjoy a smooth, uninterrupted experience across all the Apple devices you use to get around. Haptic Feedback on Apple Watch nudges you in the right direction so you don’t have to get out your iPhone when you’re on foot or on your bike. Calendar alerts on your Mac let you know when it’s time to stop working and go. Just say the word, and HomePod finds directions and sends them to your iPhone on your way out the door. And Maps also syncs automatically with Siri, Spotlight, Messages, and Weather to give you relevant information at all the right moments.

Eyes on the road, not your device.

CarPlay brings the power and simplicity of Maps behind the wheel. It can make intelligent suggestions based on data you already store on your device, like addresses from your email, text messages, contacts, and calendars. And with a detailed map, turn‑by‑turn spoken directions, and immersive 3D experiences, it’s easier than ever to get where you need to go.

Issues and incidents.

Have a tip just tap..

Issues and Incidents

Incorrect lunch hours listed at your favorite cafe? Old mattress in the middle of the highway? Whatever issue you encounter, it’s fast and easy to report it in Maps. Edit and submit updated information about a business directly in the place card interface. And report an accident, hazard, or speed check safely and easily with Siri. Just say “There’s an accident up ahead” or “There’s something on the road” and Siri will file the incident for you. If an incident displayed on the map has been cleared, you can report that, too — all while keeping your hands free and your focus on the road.

Quickly get to your go‑tos.

Open Maps and tap your user account photo at the bottom of the screen to see your most used settings — like preferred mode of transit, reported issues, and favorites — all in one place. And when you open Maps on your devices or on your dashboard with CarPlay, it displays the places you visit most — so you’re always just a tap away from home, work, the gym, your kid’s school, the nearest gas station, or your favorite restaurant.

Data protection.

Keep your location history, history..

Data Protection

Maps delivers a great experience without Apple knowing which stores, neighborhoods, or clinics you visit. Because Maps doesn’t include a sign-in, where you go isn’t associated with your Apple ID at all. And personalized features, like locating your parked car, are created right on your device. Data used to improve navigation, such as routes and search terms, is not associated with your identity. Instead, that information is based on random identifiers that are constantly changing.

In case you missed anything.

Where is maps available.

Maps is available in over two hundred regions around the world. For information on which features are available where you are, visit the Feature Availability page.

How does Maps keep my information private?

Maps doesn’t associate your data with your Apple ID, and Apple doesn’t keep a history of where you’ve been. Personalized features, like locating your parked car, are initiated right on your device. Data used to improve navigation, such as routes and search terms, is not associated with your identity. Instead, that information is based on random identifiers that are constantly changing.

What are curated Guides?

Curated Guides are lists of places created by trusted partners to help you find great places to eat, shop, meet friends, or just explore. Maps offers more than 1000 curated Guides in cities around the world. In iOS 15, tap Explore Guides in Maps to see Guides recommended by Maps editors.

How can I integrate Maps into my app or website?

Apple offers two ways for developers to integrate Maps into their products.

MapKit allows you to integrate Maps into your iOS, iPadOS, or macOS apps. You can display map or satellite imagery, add annotations and overlays, call out points of interest, determine information for map coordinates, and more.

Learn more about MapKit

MapKit JS brings interactive maps to your website — complete with annotations, overlays, and interfaces for Maps services like search and directions.

Learn more about MapKit JS

How can I get the latest Maps features?

Update to iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey to get the latest Maps features, including the interactive globe, 3D experiences for cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and London, nearby transit, and more.

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Google Maps Street View now available in Safari on iOS

Good news for Dora the Explorer and other map fans: Google Maps now, for the first time, offers Street View when you access the service from Safari on an iOS device.

iOS users were long accustomed to having easy access to Google’s Street View, thanks to the fact that it was available within the native Maps app since late 2008. As you may have heard, however, the Maps app in iOS 6 sheds its former Google-reliance; it’s instead powered directly by Apple’s own mapping data, which the company assembled from a variety of sources. Said mapping data isn’t without its flaws , and Apple has suggested that you keep using it more so that you can report problems , which Apple in turn can fix. And CEO Tim Cook published an apology for the app’s occasional flaws and frustrations .

Cook—along with Macworld —suggested that users stymied by missing features (or landmarks) in the Maps app in iOS 6 turn to providers like Google instead. The Google Maps mobile site works reasonably well on the iPhone. But until this week, that mobile app lacked access to Street View, which shows photographs for many street addresses around the world. Now, you simply tap the Street View icon—a blue person on a gray background—to launch Street View for the address you’re looking at, and the website opens a new mobile browser tab with the photograph you’re after. As you’d expect, you can swipe around the Street View with your finger, and it works in both portrait and landscape modes. Street View looks particularly good if you access iOS 6’s new full-screen Safari mode in landscape.

iOS 6’s Maps include a feature called Flyover, which offers pseudo-3D overhead views of major cities. Apple won’t be able to offer a service that rivals Google’s Street View unless it decides to send out its own fleet of cars to photograph the world’s roads.

Google Maps’s website is maps.google.com . The company hasn’t yet released a standalone Maps app for iOS of its own, though The New York Times reports that one is in the works.

Author: Lex Friedman , Senior Contributor

Lex is a former writer for Macworld. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and three kids.

Recent stories by Lex Friedman:

• How Mac experts deal with their contacts
• Can’t trust this: Inconsistencies shake faith in Apple
• Get to know iOS 7: Safari

Google Maps Not Working on Mac, How to Fix

Google Maps is often used by many Mac users. In fact, according to Google , over 1 billion people use Google Maps every month around the world. Google Maps offers a lot of features such as satellite imagery, street view, route planning and more. While browsing the web on your Mac, you will probably run into many Google Maps, especially if you already use Google as your default search engine because Google Maps is heavily integrated into the search results.

Some users have said that they are not able to view Google Maps in Safari on their Mac. They have said they can’t see the Google Maps content but instead see a black screen with thin horizontal lines as you can see in the screenshot below. They further have said that Google Maps causes Safari to freeze or crash. In this article, I explain how you can fix this problem.

Try these first to fix Google Maps

Follow these steps to see if one of them fixes your problem:

• Reload the Safari page. You can click the reload button located on the right side of the URL bar or, alternatively, press Command – R . If Safari is frozen, quit Safari first. If quitting does not work, you may try to force-quit (press Option – Command – ESC and select Safari ). Then open Safari again and test if your issue continues.
• Restart your Mac.
• Ensure that your Mac is up to date ( System Preferences > Software Update ). macOS updates also include Safari updates.
• If you have Safari extensions, ensure that they are up to date too.
• Your extensions may be causing issues. Turn off your extensions by going to Safari > Preferences > Extensions . After disabling all of your extensions, can you see Google Maps now? If the answer is yes, then one of the extensions is causing this problem. Turn on your extensions one by one until you find the one causing this issue. When you find the problem extension, you can either remove it or contact its developer for further help.
• Open Safari .
• From the menu bar, go to Safari > Preferences .
• Click on Privacy and select Manage Website Data…
• Then click Remove All . If you do not want to remove all of the data for all websites, use the search field and enter “Google” and remove only Google data, which will include Maps data.

Disable WebGL via Metal in Safari

Try turning off an experimental Safari feature called WebGL via Metal. Here is how:

• With Safari open, click on Safari , then Preferences , then select the Advanced tab.
• Select the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” box. Exit Safari preferences. Now you will see the Develop menu.

• With Safari open, from the top menu bar, click on Develop and select Experimental Features .
• Find “ WebGL via Metal ” and uncheck it.
• Now restart Safari and try opening Google Maps.

What is WebGL via Metal ? Metal is Apple’s graphic framework for faster and better loading graphics. WebGL is another framework for rendering interactive 3D and 2D graphics. Most modern browsers support WebGL . For example, Safari supports WebGL. This experimental feature involves processing WebGL through the Metal framework. Theoretically, disabling this feature should not cause any issues. If disabling WebGL via Metal fixes this problem, you may again want to enable it when the next major macOS comes out to see if the update addresses the problem. If not, keep it disabled.

Related articles

• Google Maps Street View Causing Safari to Crash, Fix
• Google Chrome Showing Blue Horizontal Lines, Fix
• Apple Maps Not Working? Fix
• Maps: ‘Show Parked Car Location’ Not Working? Fix
• Google Maps Not Working? Fix

Dr. Serhat Kurt worked as a Senior Technology Director specializing in Apple solutions for small and medium-sized educational institutions. He holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from the University of Illinois at Urbana / Champaign and a master’s degree from Purdue University. He is a former faculty member. Here is his LinkedIn profile and Google Scholar profile . Email Serhat Kurt .

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How to Make Google Maps Default on iPhone (Even Though Apple Won't Let You)

What to know.

• You cannot change the default map on your iPhone.
• But you can change the default map in Gmail and on Chrome so any navigation launched from either of those will open in Google Maps instead of Apple Maps.
• Make Chrome and Gmail your default web browser and mail app, then set both of those so that Google Maps is the default.

Apple Maps has its strengths and weaknesses, and those weaknesses may lead you to prefer Google Maps. It can be a pain to separately open the app and type in an address every time you want to navigate, so you might be wondering how to change your default map on your iPhone. Unfortunately, you can't officially do this, but you can make it so every navigation you launch from your mail or your web browsing takes you straight to Google Maps. Here's how to set Google Maps as the default on your iPhone by working around Apple's limitations.

How to Make Google Maps Default on iPhone

Bad news: you cannot make Google Maps your default map app on your iPhone. At least, not officially. You can, however, set it so that any navigation you open from your email or web browsing opens Apple Maps with one caveat: your mail needs to be Gmail and your browsing needs to be done on Chrome. Let's get into it.

1. Set Your Default Mail to Gmail

2. Set Your Default Maps to Google Maps in Gmail

Now that all your emails open in Gmail, it's time to make Google Maps your default. Here's how:

Now, all navigation started from Gmail will launch in Google Maps.

3. Set Your Default Browser to Chrome

4. Download Google Chat

Author Details

Amy Spitzfaden Both

Amy Spitzfaden-Both is the Managing Editor for iPhone Life magazine and an award-winning novelist, with over 10 years of experience in the publishing industry. She specializes in Apple news and rumors, health and fitness tech, and parenting in the digital age. She graduated from MIU with a BA in Literature and Writing. Amy lives in New Hampshire with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing or glued to her iPhone, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and creating her own tea blends.

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12 Google Maps Secrets All Travelers Should Know

If you’re only opening google maps for driving directions, you’re not leveraging the app’s full potential. here are 12 other ways travelers can use it to improve their trips, in advance and on the fly..

• Copy Link copied

As a travel editor, I use Google Maps daily. These are some of the most useful features for trip planning I’ve found.

Photo by Mojahid Mottakin/Shutterstock

I’m a nerd for maps. As a kid, they inspired me to want to travel, and as an adult they’re my comfort reading. My colleagues at Afar even let me make a podcast episode about them . But of all the maps I love (Middle-earth included), the one I spend the most time with these days is Google Maps. I’m betting most of you can say the same thing. I’m on that app every single day. I use it for work (for the research I need to do in my job here as an editor and writer), I use it for fun (I can spend hours armchair exploring remote islands in the middle of oceans), and I use it, most invaluably, for trip planning. If you’re only using Google Maps for directions, you’re missing out. Here are a dozen ways I use Google Maps for smarter travel.

Collaborate an itinerary with friends

I make Google Maps lists of everything: I have one for vegetarian restaurants, another for ice cream shops—I even have one that’s a cocktails and cookies trail. (I created that last one with my cousin when we celebrated her 21st birthday.) More often, I use lists as a trip-planning tool. As I’m researching things to do in whatever destination I’m headed to (recently Argentina, Nairobi, and Manchester ), I create a list, add places of interest (museums, restaurants, shops, libraries, etc.) and share it with my travel crew so that they can weigh in on my picks and add their recommendations. While that’s useful, it’s only 101.

In the past year, lists have leveled up: Now, for each place listing, your friends can react with an emoji (heart, smile, fire, thumbs down, or flying money) and add their tips and suggestions into a comments field (e.g., “I read that dulce de leche is the flavor to get!” or “Let’s go here after our street-art tour on Monday.”). I especially like that I can customize the order of the items on the list; for example, I could make them match the path of cookies I plan to follow, or I could arrange our collective Argentina picks chronologically so that the list doubles as our itinerary. A fun bonus is that you can assign any emoji to the whole list so that all of the places show up in map view with that themed icon—say, the Argentina flag or an ice cream cone.

Walk like you know where you’re going with navigation

The Glanceable Directions feature puts a minimap on your lock screen.

Photo by Billie Cohen

Turn-by-turn navigation isn’t just for drivers. Google Maps offers it for walkers and bikers too. Once you type in your destination, select “directions,” then “walking,” then “start navigation,” and the app will speak out loud to guide you, the same as if you were in a car. When I’m in a new city, I use this with one earbud in so I don’t have to keep looking at my phone (because I will inevitably trip and fall over).

If you prefer to look at your phone, you can follow your route in both 2D (that little blue arrow moving on the map) or in 3D Live View. In this mode, you point your camera at the real world to get the app situated and then follow arrows and directions overlaid on the IRL view of the streets that you see through your phone. (Another settings option allows you to tilt your phone to enter Live View rather than tap.) Even more helpful, the recently released Glanceable Directions feature shows a minimap and navigation on your lock screen, so you don’t have to open the app and turn on comprehensive navigation mode to get the benefits (toggle this feature on in settings). Conveniently, it’ll automatically reroute if you take a different path.

Use augmented-reality Lens to find what’s nearby: shops, restaurants, ATMs, and more

When in the Lens function, Google Maps puts street names and building information on the view around you.

In addition to navigating with augmented-reality Live View, you can also use an augmented-reality (AR) function called Lens in Maps to see what’s around you, including restaurants, public transportation stops, and landmarks. When in Maps, tap the little camera icon in the search bar, then point your phone at the street, and you’ll start to see icons on the buildings. Note that this feature works only for select locations, but new cities are consistently rolling out. In the meantime, all of this information is still easily available in the app: Right under the search bar, you’ll see popular search categories, including gas, restaurants, hotels, and groceries—and be sure to scroll all the way over to the “More” button. Tap that to see a couple dozen additional, and very specific, categories, including ATMs, libraries, live music, hospitals, pharmacies, and even EV charging stations.

Plan your EV charging route

Speaking of EV charging stations, Maps has expanded the info it provides on electricity pumps. To find them while you’re on an EV road trip , type or speak “charging stations” into the search field or tap the “More” category button directly under the search bar. You’ll immediately see red pins with a little lightning bolt inside them populate the map. In the information card below, the app will tell you which kind of chargers a station has (fast, medium, slow), how many are available, and whether they’re compatible with your car.

Check what’s open right now

When I was in Manchester last year, my friends and I went to a concert that let out late, and instead of heading directly to bed, we wanted to go out for a drink and a bite to eat. That’s when I pulled out Maps to check what places were still open around us. In the app, look for “open now”—it’s one of the options right under the search bar.

Use photos to get a sense of a place before you go

Nearly every listing in Google Maps has photos now, culled from public reviews and the establishments’ owners. Admittedly, this isn’t so much of a secret—but it is a secret weapon. You can use those photos to evaluate hotels, to check if a coffee shop is comfortable for laptop working, to see if a restaurant is likely to fit your big group or your mood, and to view images of menus. A recent AI-powered update uses those photos to give more travel inspiration. Try typing something like “cherry blossoms,” “public art,” or “swimming holes” into the search bar, and the results will include a carousel of photos and videos culled from public uploads, under the headline “Discover through photos.”

See the future, and plan for it

Immersive View uses AI to compile video clips of certain sites, like the Brooklyn Bridge, and show what they’ll look like a few days into the future.

Google Maps’ Immersive View is photos on steroids. Well, on AI. For more than 500 landmarks around the world (including the London Eye, the Empire State Building, and Tokyo Tower), the search results include what looks like a video labeled “Immersive view.” What you’re seeing is actually a ton of photos that the app stitched together to create not just an image but a whole knowledge roundup of a particular destination. Want to see what traffic will be like on the Brooklyn Bridge tomorrow morning? Want to see the view from the Eiffel Tower as the sun sets tonight? You can do it now, through Immersive View. A small icon in the bottom right corner shows the weather and a clock—tap it to change the time of day, up to four or five days into the future, and the view will change too: the number of cars on the bridge, the clouds over Paris.

Share your real-time location to stay safe

When I am traveling solo , I always keep my location services turned on for safety (and also to ensure that my 7,000 photos of street art, grocery-store finds, and random architectural details are geotagged for later reference). But even if I’m traveling with friends or family, I use real-time location sharing when I head off on my own so that people know where I am. This is especially helpful if I’m running late, because they can see my arrival time and use that to make important decisions, like whether to order appetizers without me. On the map, you can tap your blue dot to see sharing options or go to your account icon in Maps and open location sharing to choose who and what you want to share. Bonus hint: Tapping the blue dot is also how you get to the option to save your parking location.

Download an offline map

If you’re concerned about eating up mobile data—or if you’re going to be in a location where you won’t have good internet service, Google Maps has you covered. Tap your circular account icon at the top right of the app and go to Offline Maps to select the region you want to download; it will work the same as the live version. Whenever I travel, I download a big swath of the area I’m going to, even if I think I’ll have plenty of internet access. You never know when you’ll be in a dead spot.

Use overlays to get more information out of your map

Maps are like ogres and onions—they have layers. To find those layers, go into the app on your phone or desktop and click the icon that looks like a stack of tiny squares. You may already know that Maps can show you a satellite view layer, a terrain view layer, and the default cartoonish view layer. (The local weather forecast is always available too—look for the small icon on the left side of the screen just under the search bar.) But did you know that it can also overlay public transit routes, traffic statuses, bike paths, wildfires, and air quality? The public transit overlay is one of my favorites, whether I’m traveling or at home in NYC—the subway lines are even correctly color-coded.

Discover the Easter eggs

You’ve seen Google Maps’ little orange Pegman, right? He’s the icon that lives at the bottom right of the screen in the desktop app. Drag him into the map and you’ll see a street view of almost any location. But in some spots around the world, he hides an Easter egg. Navigate to Loch Ness in Scotland, and when you pick him up, he’s wearing a Nessie costume. At Area 51, he turns into a UFO. And in the Galapagos Islands, he has a mermaid tail. Can you find any others?

Stay tuned for more AI-powered features in the future

Google is working on bringing generative AI into its maps , and one project that’s underway is a feature that will allow users to ask questions like “What are rainy-day activities I can do with kids?” When the feature is available (expected later this year), the map will show indoor suggestions such as bowling alleys and movie theaters. Google’s community of more than 300 million “local guides,” as they call their contributors, are working to test this now, and I’m already lining up my questions: Hey Google, what are some places that cartography nerds would like?

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Posted: April 25, 2024 | Last updated: April 25, 2024

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Say goodbye to dead zones: Google Maps could add satellite features

Published on April 18, 2024

• Google could soon add satellite connectivity features to Maps.
• Google Maps beta v11.125 has strings of code suggesting you’ll be able to update you location via satellite every 15 minutes, five times a day.
• The feature will only work with devices that support satellite connectivity.

It’s no secret Google is working on bringing satellite connectivity to Android phones. In fact, the company added satellite connectivity support for SMS apps and preloaded RCS apps to Android 15 after Developer Preview 2 was released last month. But strings of code hint that Google could also add this support to the Maps app as well.

An APK teardown of Google Maps beta v11.125, conducted by AssembleDebug and shared with PiunikaWeb , reveals new strings of code that mention satellite-based location sharing. Based on those strings, users would be able to “update your location once every 15 minutes, up to five times a day.”

This means you would not need a cellular or Wi-Fi connection to update your location in Maps. Such a feature would come in handy if you ever found yourself in a location absent of cellular service.

Needless to say, but a phone that supports satellite connectivity will be required to use this feature. For example, this feature should work fine for the Pixel 9 series , which is expected to have a modem that supports 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN).

This feature would join Android 15’s growing list of satellite-supported features, which include being able to communicate with emergency services. We have also recently seen the UI that will be used for satellite connections, along with a satellite icon you can see above.

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Google Maps not working in Safari 16 macOS 12.6, why?

Google Maps not working in Safari 16 macOS 12.6, why

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Sep 25, 2022 6:18 PM

Posted on Sep 26, 2022 6:25 AM

If Safari on Mac doesn't open a webpage or isn't working as expected - Apple Support

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Sep 26, 2022 6:25 AM in response to kjkkjkjkkjkjkjkjk

Oct 28, 2022 9:28 AM in response to CiZsolt

That fix did work, as well as, System preferences>Battery>battery> uncheck Automatic graphics switching in 12.6

in macOS Monterey 12.6.1 (21G217), there is a new problem. When switching from "map" to "satellite view you get a message; "A problem repeatedly occurred with" (then shows the link for Satellite view) (Satellite view never opens)

My temporary fix is installing CHROME and useing Google maps from there, where it works perfectly normal.

Oct 28, 2022 9:29 AM in response to thisisbsjoe

Sep 27, 2022 3:07 PM in response to kjkkjkjkkjkjkjkjk

Problem seems to be on older MacBooks!

Need fix ASAP!

Sep 29, 2022 2:23 AM in response to aruiz1

Disabling WebGL via Metal in Develop -> Experimental Features solved the problem! Here's a guide: https://www.droidwin.com/google-maps-not-working-in-safari-16-macos-12-6-fixed/

Sep 29, 2022 9:10 AM in response to CiZsolt

Thx! Have already tried this and the "experimental" functions are whited out and not changeable on my mid 2015 Mac. :-(