How to use Apple Maps from your Mac

Apple Maps on your Mac

Within macOS there is a tool very similar to other more common ones, such as Google Maps, that you can use directly to plan your trips, explore new areas, and find detailed directions. Specifically, we're talking about using Apple Maps on your Mac.

From planning routes to exploring new areas with Look Around, Apple Maps offers a rich, integrated experience, especially if you're already part of the Apple ecosystem.

And if you haven't tried it yet on any of your iDevices, in this post we will teach you how to use Apple Maps on your Mac following the steps and tips that we will tell you here at SoydeMac, so that you can make the most of all the features that this navigation tool has to offer.

Accessing Apple Maps on your Mac

Maps in iOS 16

To start, make sure that your Mac is updated with the latest version of macOS, and this is one of the necessary conditions since Apple Maps comes pre-installed on your system, so that You will not need to download any additional applications.

Simply to be able to use Apple Maps on your Mac you have to find the app in your Dock or in the Applications folder, so you must click on the icon of the same app to access it. Once you have Apple Maps open, the interface is quite intuitive, which will allow us to do the following functions:

Find a location

In the search bar at the top, type the address, the name of a place, or even a generic term like “restaurants,” just pressing Enter to search.

Exploring the map

To explore the map You can use your mouse or the trackpad to move around it. You can also zoom using the pinch gestures on the trackpad or using the zoom buttons in the bottom right corner.

Satellite and map view

In the lower right corner, you can switch between the standard map view and satellite view. This is useful to get a better idea of ​​the terrain and surroundings.

route planning

One of the most useful features of Apple Maps is the ability to plan routes, whether driving, walking or using public transportation. When you choose a specific place to go, Apple Maps will show you several possible routes, including the estimated travel time and distance, and if you need more information you can click on the route you prefer to see more details.

Once you select a route, you can see a step-by-step breakdown of directions. This includes information about specific streets, turns, and any necessary changes if you are using public transportation.

Favorites and Lists, for you and your contacts

For easy access to places you visit frequently, Apple Maps lets you save locations as Favorites and organize them into lists. As well as sharing them with friends and family, allowing us to send the location through Messages, Email, AirDrop or Messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Using integration with other devices

One of the great advantages of Apple Maps is its integration with the Apple ecosystem, allowing you to synchronize data between your Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, since As long as you're using the same Apple ID, your favorites, lists, and recent routes will automatically sync between devices.

Plus, if you start planning a route on your Mac, you can easily continue it on your iPhone or iPad thanks to the Handoff. Simply open Apple Maps on your mobile device and you'll see a notification to continue from your Mac.

Exploring Advanced Features in Apple Maps

Apple Maps

Apple Maps offers several advanced features that can improve your navigation and exploration experience, and they are sure to be very useful when you are using Apple Maps from a Mac, or from an iPhone or iPad.

  • Look Around: Similar to Google Street View, Look Around lets you explore areas with interactive 360-degree views. To use this feature, search for a location and if available, you will see a binoculars icon in the top right corner.
  • Traffic information in real time: Apple Maps shows traffic information in real time, helping you avoid congestion. This information is constantly updated to provide you with the fastest route.
  • Indoor maps: For places like airports and shopping malls, Apple Maps offers detailed indoor maps. Simply search for the name of the place and, if available, you will be able to see a detailed plan of its interior.

Which is better, Google Maps or Apple Maps?

https://www.apple.com/es/maps/

Normally, as always, the choice between Apple Maps and Google Maps It often comes down to personal preference and the device ecosystem you use.

For users who are deeply integrated into the apple ecosystem, Apple Maps can offer a more cohesive and visually appealing and contrasting experienceGoogle Maps may be the best option for those looking for the highest possible accuracy and a wealth of detailed information about locations and services, since this is where Google's main strength lies: in data.

In terms of accuracy and coverage, Google Maps usually has the lead due to the huge database Google has amassed over the years, as well as its ability to update and correct errors quickly thanks to user feedback and Google mapping vehicles that constantly travel the streets, the famous “Google Cars” that go around photographing neighborhoods.

And although Apple Maps has closed the gap considerably, especially in metropolitan areas, and continues to improve its data and functionalities with each update, it lacks all the film that Google has accumulated behind it, which has managed to dethrone cartography titans such as TomTom in regarding their precision.

But we are not going to stop recommending the use of Apple Maps for this reason, since the experience of use and integration that it has with Apple devices is so great that even with that small GAP of the cartographic data, it is still worth it for users who use iPhone, so Choose the Maps app that you like the most, because they are both wonderful.


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