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Apple Maps may not be everyone’s top choice for navigation — even those committed to the Apple ecosystem — but The application has come a long way Because it’s an early Rocky rollout, and it has plenty of features that make it worth using. In addition to the basics, you’ll also want to consider some of Apple Maps’ lesser-known settings to get the most out of it on both mobile and desktop.
Enable “Visited Places” to save locations (even if you didn’t use Maps to get there)
are “Visited Places”. A new feature with iOS 26 which passively tracks your location and stores the places you go—even if you don’t use Maps to get there. If you want to keep tabs on your previous pit stops, you can view them later in the “Places” menu (tap Places > Visited Places when you open the map). Data is stored on your synced devices and is end-to-end encrypted, so no matter your device Technically Tracking you, you are the only person who can access the information. If you prefer not to, you can toggle the feature off and down Settings > Apps > Maps > Location. You can also tap to delete a location Clear history In the list of places visited.
Download offline maps when you’re out of service
Offline maps are important for navigation when you don’t have a cellular or WiFi connection. Apple Introduced support for offline maps With iOS 17, that lets you download a map section complete with place cards, turn-by-turn directions for multiple transit types, and estimated arrival times. To save the map for offline use, touch and hold the map until a pin marker appears, then tap “Download”. Select the region, then tap “Redownload”. To access it later, tap your profile photo or initials and open the Offline Maps menu. You can also edit the name and area or delete the saved map.
Add and organize points of interest into a shareable guide
Apple Maps has a built-in planning feature that allows you to save locations in a collection for future reference. You can also share these guides with others. For example, you can create lists of favorite places together or sightseeing spots for a group trip. To start a guide, open “Your Guides” (there will already be a “Favorites” collection) and tap the “Plus” icon to create a new collection. You can add locations from place cards by tapping the three horizontal dots > Add to Guides And share using share icon.
Save your parking spot so you never lose your car
If you tend to forget where you leave your car in large and busy parking lots, Apple Maps can save the location for you. The app leaves a PIN when you disconnect your device from your car’s Bluetooth or CarPlay, but you have to set it up first. You must have Location Services And Notable places On (below Privacy and Security > Location Services > System Services) and enable “Show parked location” under Settings > Apps > Maps. When you need to get back to your vehicle, select “Parked Car” below Siri suggestions In the map.
Plan hikes in parks and trails
No maps Best app out there for outdoor adventuring, but it has topographical maps and detailed hiking routes for US national parks, and you can even download them for offline use. Just find a national park and scroll down to the “Hikes” section on the information card to browse, or type “hikes in (national park name)” to bring up a list you can filter by length, trail type, and elevation gain. When you select Hike, tap on “Add to Root” and turn on “Download Root”.
Create custom walking and hiking routes
You can also create your own routes on roads, paths and trails and save them to Apple Maps to return to later. To start a custom route, such as a city tour or road run, place a pin on the map, then tap the three horizontal dots then “Create Custom Route.” Tap other points on the map to connect them, then choose whether to complete your journey by going in reverse or closing the loop. Finally, tap “Save Route” and you’ll have a custom path to follow whenever you want.
Send directions from your Mac to your iPhone
Some things are easy to do on the desktop, like creating multi-stop routes and choosing the best turn-by-turn directions. But what happens when you want to use those directions on your iPhone? Maps actually has two options for sending directions from your Mac to your iPhone. The first is direct sharing; Another is to use Continuity, which allows you to start on one device and pick up another device.
What do you think so far?
Either way, you’ll need to search for a location and click on “Directions”, then choose your preferred route from the suggestions. You can adjust your mode of transport and start and end points as required. Click the “Info” icon, then tap “Share” below the turn list. Now, select “Send to iPhone”, which will deliver the notification to your device. Tap this, and Apple Maps will launch on your iPhone with directions loaded. Note that you’ll need to enable time-sensitive notifications and badge alerts on your lock screen for this to work.
With Continuity, you can load directions onto Maps on your Mac, then open the app switcher on your iPhone and tap the Apple Maps link at the bottom. To make sure this works for you, both your Mac and iPhone must be signed into iCloud with the same Apple account, both wifi and Bluetooth enabled, And “Handoff” should be on-Although Apple says it is by default.
Use this setting to change your preferred mode of transportation
If you always use Apple Maps for one mode of transportation, you can change your preferences so that the app first shows routes and estimated travel times for that method. For example, if you don’t have a car, you probably don’t need to see driving directions by default—you can choose walking, cycling, or public transit as an alternative. Change under this Settings > Maps > Preferred type of travel.
Use this setting to avoid highways, hills and stairs
Maps can give you what you think is the best turn-by-turn directions, but that doesn’t mean there’s a perfect route. you. You can tell the app to avoid certain types of roads or obstacles in your route, such as highways, toll roads and busy streets. For cycling directions, you can try to avoid hills and stairs for walking. On the Directions pane, tap “Avoid” and turn these features on or off.
Compare ride-share prices from Lyft and Uber without leaving the app
Maps integrates with ride-sharing apps like Lyft and Uber, so you can check available rides for your destination and compare prices without leaving the app. (However, you can’t book in Maps. Once you’ve selected your ride, you’ll be redirected to the ride-share app.) After searching for a location, tap Directions and select the ride-share icon on the far right. Note that you must be logged into the ride-share services on your device for the integration to work.
