Inside Apple Maps - How to get the most out of your iPhone's navigation app
By Malcolm OwenFri Jan 23 2026, Apple Maps After an incredibly rough start, Apple Maps is one of the most frequently used apps on the iPhone. Here's all you need to know about using it in iOS 26, and how it all got started. Navigation apps are a common feature of modern operating systems and the mobile device experience. Getting users from A to B is an important task, and one that has been perfected by a few navigation apps, such as Apple Maps and Google Maps. Apple Maps is built into iOS and does what you would expect from an app of its type. Opening it up presents a view of your immediate local area, and you can quickly look up things to travel to, and then be guided to them. However, there are quite a few other things that Apple Maps can do beyond navigational assistance. If you select the right option, you can do things including booking rides, navigating bus and train systems, and even get guides for places where you may want to go in the future. New for the iOS 26 release are Recent Places, preferred routes, and predicted destinations. But it's been a long road to get here. Apple Maps: A history After previously relying on Google Maps for its navigation needs, Apple launched its own map platform called Apple Maps in 2012. It was an attempt to break away from Google's firm grip on the global mapping space, but the launch didn't go well. Errors in 3D rendering and location data eventually led to a public apology from Tim Cook and even recommendations of other map applications until it was fixed. It even resulted in Scott Forstall, the former SVP of iOS Software, being ousted from the company. In the following years, Apple introduced CarPlay which took advantage of Maps, while the company rereleased maps to the public. This also included the acquisition of multiple map data-related companies in 2013, to try and resecure the trust of its users. By iOS 9 in 2015, Apple started to introduce public transportation features, as well as Nearby. In 2016, seemingly all was forgiven from the botched launch, and Apple redesigned the app with a cleaner interface, Siri location suggestions, and parked car reminders in iOS 10. In 2018, Apple stepped up its operations by using a fleet of vehicles with mapping radars to generate its own data. By January 2020, the rollout had completed and Apple Maps ran entirely on in-house data across all 50 states. The WWDC 2020 presentation brought with it many updates, including Guides, a new cycling experience, and for drivers, EV routing, congestion, and green zones. Look Around also got an international expansion, while Transit moved into the UK as well as Sweden and Canada. The 2021 updates introduced a new system for reporting accidents and speed traps, COVID-19 vaccination locations, and a revamped 3D view. The 2022 updates added more Look Around features and 3D landmarks, Multi-Stop Routing, and a VP of Apple Maps, Max Muller. By contrast, 2023 was a quiet year, with updates being made in particular cities and countries. Apple Business Connect let business owners specify what information was provided to users, while iOS 17 added offline map support. Route planning options for hikers were introduced in 2024, allowing users to make more adventurous walks while having all the information at their fingertips. The 2025 add-ons included Michelin reviews to help drivers find great food on the road, as well as a data improvement app. Apple Maps in iOS 26: Main view When you initially open Apple Maps, you're greeted with a screen that shows your current location and nearby streets. Your location is indicated by a blue dot, with an extra wedge of semi-transparent blue orienting to the way the iPhone is pointing. The top half of the screen shows the map, but a section to the bottom can be scooted down the display using the small grab bar, to give you more map to view. Apple Maps: The main view and weather. In the top left is an icon showing the weather, temperature, and air quality for your currently viewed section of the Map. A long press will give a more detailed weather forecast for the coming hours. On the bottom right are extra navigation icons. The most obvious is the 3D and 2D button, which switches the map view from 2D to 3D and vice versa. This angles the view, which can help you see things like hills and slopes, and 3D models of some important items on the map. The small arrow pointing to the top right of the screen acts as the home button, centering the view on your current location. When your blue dot is not visible on the screen, the arrow turns into a blue outline. Above the arrow is a folded map icon, which is for Map Modes. This lets you change between three different views: • Explore: The default view with a clear and easy-to-read map and iconography. • Driving: Provides traffic assistance while in a car, including when there are delays or roadworks. • Satellite: Provides a satellite view of the area. Important symbols are overlaid when needed. To navigate the map, use a finger to move around by swiping the display. Apple Maps: Map Modes The pinch-to-zoom gesture can be used to zoom in and out of the map, and you can even go to a view of the globe if you zoom out enough. Holding the gesture and swiping down or up can also switch between 2D and 3D views, as well as adjust the angle of the 3D view. Twisting while in pinch-to-zoom will rotate the map. Tap the compass symbol to right the map so it aligns with North. Apple Maps in iOS 26: Places and Recents The lower section of the main view holds a lot of information that could be useful for your search, especially if it's a place you have been to before. Swipe up to make the section fill the screen, and you're immediately offered many options, including: • Search: A search box for finding locations by name or address • Siri Suggestions: Potential things you may want to do based on recent app usage • Places: Locations you have set up, such as Home or Work, or have previously viewed in the app • Recents: Recent locations and searches • Your Guides: Guides to various locations and attractions wherever you are or have recently searched for • Profile: Contains locations and options associated with your profile Apple Maps: Search and suggestions Under Places, tap one of the icons to either take you to the location in the Map or to start navigating from where you are to there. Tap Add to bring up a search option to add a pin to the roster, be it one you type in to find or one of the various Siri selections. For Recents, you can again tap them to visit a map view or navigation for that location. Tap the triple dot icon to bring up sharing options, and the Clear option to remove it from the list. Apple Maps in iOS 26: Profile The Profile includes quite a few different sections, but the most important is under Preferences. From the top: Places This includes a list of previously selected and saved items from your use of Maps, which you can access and adjust in one place. • Pinned: Includes lists of pinned locations. Selecting each allows you to adjust if they are an address, your home, your work, or school, and gives options to share your ETA to that place and to unpin it. You can also quickly add and edit pins using the icons at the bottom of the screen. • Saved Places: Previous places you have saved in Maps. You can unpin and share them, add notes, and add to your own Guide if you want. Icons at the bottom allow for adding more places, sorting them, or selecting multiple places for removal. • Guides: Guides you have previously accessed and saved in Maps. Head here if you want to check them again without manually searching for them. • Routes: Create a custom route for a walk or hike here. Select Create Route, then proceed to tap locations to get a route between them all, complete with directions and an elevation guide. Tap Save Route to save it and an offline map for it, and later you can access that same custom route from the same menu. • Visited Places: New for iOS 26, it's places where Apple Maps has detected you have visited, broken down by category, location, and sequential visits. This is handy if you want to remember when and where you have gone in the past. Reports This is an option for reporting back issues to the Apple Maps team. If there's a street, place, or route issue, tap the Report a New Issue button to alert them to a problem that needs correcting. Offline Maps If you are heading to a foreign place and you don't want to deal with roaming charges, or you expect to be off-grid, you can download maps to your iPhone for later usage. Tap on a map to see when it was updated, how big it is, a representation of the coverage area, and an option to delete it. Apple Maps: Offline You can also tap Download New Map and search for a city or an area to be added to your downloaded map archive. Once searched, adjust the map view for the coverage area you want, then tap Download. The Offline Maps section also has options for setting downloads to happen only on Wi-Fi or via Wi-Fi and mobile data, as well as toggles to automatically update the maps, to optimize storage, to sync with an Apple Watch, and to only use offline maps. Preferences This option gives you a lot of choice when it comes to route planning and navigation. For example, when you ask for directions, it can default to driving, walking, cycling, or public transport. You can avoid tolls while driving if you select the toggle, as well as others for hills, busy roads, and stairs for walking and cycling. Apple Maps: Navigation Preferences Likewise, you can elect to use or not use certain types of public transport, such as the bus, underground and light rail, suburban rail, or ferries. At the bottom are links that take you to the Settings app for further configuration of Maps and notification settings. Apple Maps in iOS 26: Search Tap the Search box to begin searching Apple Maps for a specific location or address. As you type, the results will change and can include a lot of similar things to what you may want, including attractions, restaurants, and stations. This can also bring up details relating to your contacts, if there is an address on file. If you're driving or don't want to type your search query, you can tap the microphone icon and speak your request instead. When you enter Search, other options also populate the panel, including recent searches, options to Find Nearby locations of a specific kind (e.g., Fast Food or Parking), and City Guides. Apple Maps in iOS 26: Look Around While Google Maps has Street View, Apple has its own version, known as Look Around. Using photographs, Look Around will give you a view of the world from a specific point on the map. Tapping the binoculars in the bottom left will put a binocular icon on the map, at the same time as a window at the top. That window will have the Look Around view from that dot. Tap the expand icon to make Look Around fullscreen, or click Done to dismiss. Apple Maps: Look Around In both compact and full-screen modes, you can swipe around the screen to change the camera angle. Tap on a path to move in that direction, if a new camera view is available there. If the compact view is in use, you can also swipe around the map to quickly move the Look Around marker. Apple Maps in iOS 26: Location Details and Pins If you see an item on the map and want to find out more information about it, you can tap it to bring up extra details. It's also able to be brought up when using the search function. The information that comes up can vary from place to place, but you will generally get options including contact and website details, ticket booking, navigation, photographs, Yelp ratings, and, if it appears in any guides. A Share icon in the top left corner of the panel can be used to share details of the selected location, as well as to use it in other apps. Apple Maps: Location Details and Pin Options If you want to look at a place but there's no symbol or name associated with it, you can Pin a location. A long press will display a pin, as well as pertinent information for that position on the map. If you want, you can set a permanent pin in a spot by swiping up in the information panel and selecting Pin. It will remain a pinned location and even appear in Places as a Marked Location until you decide to unpin it. Apple Maps in iOS 26: Navigation A core function of Maps is navigation, with it providing turn-by-turn directions to get you where you need to go. To start this functionality, select a location to bring up a detailed view. Of the row of four blue icons, select the left-most icon, which will usually show a car and a time estimate for your arrival. You will then be shown a larger map of the entire route, complete with alternate routes to take. Tap the routes to change the route itself. Apple Maps: Navigation You are also presented with icons for driving, walking, public transport, cycling, and an option to call for a rideshare. For most options, you will see extra information, such as elevation data for walking or cycling. In the case of public transport, you will be given a number of route options, as well as a visual indicator of the different types of transport that will be used. For all routes, tap it for a more detailed breakdown, including instructions on which turns to take and on any public transport changes you may face. To follow that route straight away, tap Go. You will be taken to a Satnav view with a line showing where you are meant to go, and clear instructions on what you will need to do next. Options are available for tweaking the voice controls or reporting an incident on the road. A section at the bottom will show the current ETA as well as let you exit navigation. Walking and public transport directions will give clearer instructions, rather than a full-blown satnav experience. 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