This article explains how to use Apple Maps offline on your iPhone. Instructions apply to devices running iOS 17 and later.

How to Use Apple Maps Offline

Apple Maps doesn’t store every location on your phone—that would take up far too much space. Instead, you tell it which parts of the map to store offline, and it’s those areas that will work when your device has no internet access.

Follow these simple steps to download maps offline (an internet connection is required for these directions):

1. Open Apple Maps and tap your profile picture or avatar.

2. Tap Offline Maps > Add.

3. Use the search bar at the top to search for the general area you want to save offline.

4. Zoom in or out to position the box over the area you intend to use offline.

5. Tap Download to start saving the map offline.

6. To add more maps, tap Download New Map, and then repeat the last few steps.

7. When you need to use Apple Maps offline, simply open it as you normally would, but notice the grey icons—these are the maps available for offline viewing.

   You can zoom up as far as you need to because the map is saved on your device. However, if you try to do the same for any area outside the offline map, you’ll be met with grid lines and no useful information.

How Do Offline Apple Maps Work?

The offline maps function allows you to download maps of specific areas ahead of time when you have access to the internet. The purpose is simple: so that you can use them when you’re not on Wi-Fi or don’t have a solid mobile data connection.

This feature is also helpful if you’re worried about using too much cellular data, as you can download all the maps you’ll need ahead of time and then set Apple Maps to only use those maps.

Apple Maps requires an internet connection under normal circumstances, which means you can’t view new map data or see turn-by-turn directions if you venture too far from a Wi-Fi network or cellular signal.

Maps you download for offline use are also available through Apple Maps on your Apple Watch. If you sync the maps with your watch, they’ll be available even when your phone isn’t nearby.

How to Only Use Offline Maps on Your iPhone

Downloading maps offline can save you a lot of mobile data, but your phone will still try to download map data whenever a data connection is available. If you want to avoid using mobile data but don’t want to switch off your cellular connection altogether, you can force Apple Maps to only use offline maps.

1. Tap your Apple Account picture at the bottom of Apple Maps to open a new menu.

2. Select Offline Maps.

3. Tap Only Use Offline Maps. Now, the app will use your offline maps and won’t attempt to download any additional map data until you switch the toggle back off.