One of the best ways to navigate a location, especially when you’re not sure, is to use a map. If you’re using an iPhone, Apple Maps may be the right navigation app for you.
The app currently has around 23.3 million monthly users, making it third behind the likes of Google Maps and Waze. So what are the features that make Apple Maps one of the top navigation tools?
1. Crowdsourcing Points of Interest Event
Apple’s iOS 14.5 update introduces a new feature for crowdsourced engaging events. When enabled, this feature allows Apple to receive data about your favorite locations. This helps Apple notify other users about these locations. Enabling the feature requires the following steps:
Stage 1: Launch the Settings app.
Step 2: Scroll down to the Privacy option.
Stage 3: Tap Location Services.
Step 4: Tap System Services.
Step 5: Pay attention to the Places of Interest option. If the text shows Off, tap it.
Step 6: You may get a popup asking for your Touch ID, Face ID or Passcode details.
Step 7: Tap the slider. When it shows a green fill, it means this feature is enabled.
2. Share Your Prediction While Walking or Cycling
This iOS 14.5 feature allows you to share your ETA, journey progress and live view of your route with friends and family. Previous iOS versions only allowed users to share their ETA while driving. Now you can share while walking or cycling using the steps below.
Stage 1: Launch Apple Maps.
Step 2: Search for your target and tap on it.
Stage 3: Tap the Directions button to get the routing options.
Step 4: Tap the Cycling or Walking icon to get an ETA.
Step 5: Choose a preferred route.
Step 6: Once the guidelines are enabled, tap Share ETA at the bottom of the screen.
3. Report Traffic Accident/Danger/Speed Control
Apple Map users with iOS 14.5 on their device can now share traffic events such as speed controls, hazards, and traffic accidents while on a route. Here’s how it works.
Stage 1: Launch Apple Maps.
Step 2: Search for your target and tap on it.
Stage 3: Tap the Directions button to get the routing options.
Step 4: Tap the Driving Icon.
Step 5: Choose a preferred route.
Step 6: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and a button for Report should be available.
Step 7: Select Reported Accident, Hazard or Speed Control and it will be recorded.
It’s important to note that the report button is crowdsourced and will only be marked on the map when several users report the same event.
4. Choose Pitstops
As the name suggests, this feature allows you to add pit stops to your route.
Stage 1: Launch Apple Maps.
Step 2: Search for your target and tap on it.
Stage 3: Tap the Directions button to get the routing options.
Step 4: Tap the Driving Icon.
Step 5: Choose a preferred route.
Step 6: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the Add Stop button.
Step 7: Select any of the Lunch, Gas Station, Coffee, Parking, Convenience and Banks buttons. This should depend on the purpose of the pit stop.
5. Save Your Favorite Places
You can bookmark your most visited places or preferred spots in Apple Maps. Doing so makes it easier to get directions on the Map instead of typing in the address each time.
Stage 1: Launch Apple Maps.
Step 2: At the bottom of the screen should be a menu card with a Favorites section.
Stage 3: Tap the Add (+) icon.
Step 4: Type the name of your favorite location in the search bar and select + to add.
Step 5: The address of the location should open in a new menu. Make sure all the details are correct and then tap Done.
Your saved location should now appear under Favorites.
6. Find City Guides
This feature allows you to search for places of interest. Here’s how it works.
Stage 1: Launch Apple Maps.
Step 2: Enter the location where you need the guide in the search bar.
Stage 3: The results should yield guidelines for location.
Step 4: Select See More to see all guides for your location.
Apple Maps Not Working
If you are an Apple user, you can try all the features mentioned above to get an idea of each one and find out if your Apple Map is working as it should.
