Download Apple Maps for offline use [Cult of Mac How-To]

With iOS 17, Apple Maps users can download maps for offline use and use them to create detailed directions. This can be a life saver when traveling to remote areas without cell service.

It's not complicated, but you have to follow several steps if you want to download Apple Maps for specific cities or regions. Find out how to do it.

Download Apple Maps: A Literal Lifesaver

While vacationing in Yellowstone National Park a few years ago, I discovered that Apple Maps was virtually useless. The app required an internet connection, but much of the park's 2.2 million acres does not have cell service. I had to rely on a paper map to get around.

If I went today, I wouldn't have this problem – I could download a map of the park into Apple Maps before I leave the house. For me, the old restriction was just inconvenient. But it could prove dangerous for anyone traveling to areas with patchy cell phone coverage. It's never a good idea to get lost in remote areas.

How to download maps to use offline on iPhone and iPad

In iOS 17, iPhone users can download maps of a selected area for offline use. This includes detailed directions for driving, walking, cycling and public transport. The process isn't laborious – you just have to work through the steps.

To start the download process, open Apple Maps and tap your Profile picture. It's about halfway down the screen next to the search box. In the pop-up window that appears, tap Offline maps.

On the next screen you should see Recommended cards. This also includes the surroundings of your home. Tap the blue down arrow next to one of these suggestions to download it.

Alternatively, tap Download new map. Here you can choose whether you want to specify an area around your current location or carry out a search in a more distant location. Like Yellowstone National Park, for example. Both options open a preview map of the geographic area being downloaded. Press to move in or out. You can also move the edges of the preview map to change the shape of the selected area. When you're happy with the area you selected, tap Download button.

If you need more help, check out the new Apple Support video below to see the process in action:

How big does your card need to be?

The download size of offline maps depends on the selected region. The larger the area, the larger the download size and vice versa. (Obviously.) For reference, my region's suggested map takes up 264MB.

By default, Apple Maps downloads offline maps over Wi-Fi. However, you can also set it to download maps over cellular data. The app regularly updates the downloaded data automatically via WiFi. Or you can ask it to do so manually Offline maps section of the app – just tap on it Refresh all.

How to use offline Apple Maps

Navigation with offline maps generally works the same as with online maps. You can plan a route for driving, walking, cycling, etc. This makes this feature ideal when you are off the grid or out of range of a reliable cellular connection.

The main difference is that the downloaded Apple Maps does not contain live traffic information.

We originally published this post on how to download Apple Maps for offline use on November 6, 2023. We have updated the information.