How to Save Apple Maps Offline So You Have Directions Without Cell Service
Apple Maps lets you download a map of any area to use without an internet connection. Perfect for travel, camping, or anywhere with no cell service.
Make Sure You Have iOS 17 or Later
~15sOpen Apple Maps and Go to Your Account
~15sDownload Your Map Area
~29sQuick Tip
Quick Tip: Download a bit more area than you think you need — include roads leading in and out of your destination so you have coverage even if your route changes.
Use the Offline Map While Traveling
~19sManage and Delete Downloaded Maps
~27sWarning
GPS-based navigation works offline but Apple Maps cannot show real-time traffic, transit schedules, or business hours without an internet connection. Check those details before heading out.
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Apple Maps has a feature that lets you download a portion of a map to your iPhone so you can use it for navigation even when you have no cell service or Wi-Fi. This is essential for road trips through rural areas, camping, hiking, international travel (where roaming data is expensive), or anywhere you expect to lose signal.
Offline maps for Apple Maps were added in iOS 17 (released fall 2023), so you need an iPhone running iOS 17 or later. Go to Settings → General → About to check your iOS version.
Downloaded maps include roads, place names, points of interest, and turn-by-turn navigation — everything you need for directions even without a connection. The map does not include live traffic updates (that requires internet) but static routing works fine offline.
You choose the area to download — a city, a region, a national park, or wherever you are heading. Larger areas use more storage space. A downloaded map of a city might use 150–400 MB; a larger region could be 1–2 GB.
Offline maps expire after 30 days if you have not updated them. Apple Maps automatically updates them when you have Wi-Fi, so they stay fresh without effort.
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