Phone & Tablet

Beginner

4 min read 4 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

Apple Maps Tips Beyond Basic Navigation

Get more from Apple Maps: save home and work, report road hazards, explore indoor maps, and use Look Around to preview a place before you go.

At a Glance

Save your Home and Work addresses

~24s

Open Apple Maps. Tap the search bar at the bottom of the screen and scroll up on the cards to find your name card (it may say "My Location" or show your name). Alternatively, tap the search bar, type "Home," and tap "Add Home." Type your home address and tap Done. Repeat for Work. Now you can always tap "Home" or "Work" in Maps for instant directions without typing your address.

Report an accident or road hazard while navigating

~30s

While you're navigating with turn-by-turn directions, tap the green arrow in the top right corner of the screen (it shows your travel time). You'll see options including "Report," "Share ETA," and others. Tap "Report," then choose what you want to report: Accident, Hazard (something in the road), or Speed Check (speed camera or enforcement). Tap the appropriate option. Your report is anonymous and helps other Maps users.

Warning

Never tap anything on your phone screen while you're driving. Pull over safely first, or ask a passenger to do it for you.

Use Look Around to preview a destination

~33s

Search for any address or business in Apple Maps. When you see the location highlighted on the map, look for a small binoculars icon or a small square thumbnail in the bottom left of the screen. Tap it. You'll see a full-screen street-level photo that you can drag left and right to look around. This helps you recognize what a building looks like before you arrive, which is especially helpful in unfamiliar areas.

Quick Tip

Look Around isn't available everywhere — it works best in major US cities and towns. If the binoculars icon doesn't appear, Look Around isn't available for that location yet.

Explore indoor maps at airports and malls

~31s

When you search for a major airport (like O'Hare, LAX, JFK) or a large shopping mall, Apple Maps may automatically offer an indoor map. Zoom in on the building on the map screen. You'll see individual shops, gates, restrooms, and escalators appear. A floor selector will appear on the right side of the screen if the building has multiple floors — tap a floor number to see that level.

Quick Tip

This is a real help at large airports. You can see exactly where your gate is relative to your terminal entrance before you even get there.

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Most iPhone users know that Apple Maps gives turn-by-turn directions. But the app has many useful features that most people never discover. These features can save you time, help you prepare for trips, and even make navigation safer.

Here's a summary of what this guide will cover:

Saving Home and Work:

You can tell Apple Maps where you live and where you work. Then instead of typing your address every time, you say "Take me home" or tap "Home" with one tap.

Reporting Hazards:

If you see an accident, a hazard in the road, or a speed trap, you can report it while navigating. Apple Maps shares this information with other drivers to improve their routes.

Indoor Maps:

In large buildings like major airports and shopping malls, Apple Maps can show you a floor-by-floor map of the inside of the building, including where shops and restrooms are located.

Look Around:

This is Apple's equivalent of Google's Street View. You can "stand" at a location and look around at 360-degree street-level photos, which is great for previewing what a place looks like before you get there.

All of these features are free and built into the Maps app on your iPhone or iPad. You don't need to download anything extra.

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Official Resources

Apple Support — iPhone Google Help — Android Samsung Support

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