How to Make Google Maps the Default on iPhone

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Do you want to make Google Maps the default navigation app on your iPhone? Unfortunately, you cannot directly change the default from Apple Maps to Google Maps. But, there are a few workarounds to make Google Maps a preferred app in most situations. This wikiHow article will show you how to set Gmail and Chrome as default apps and in doing so, make Google Maps the suggested navigation app for most interactions on your iPhone.

Can I make Google Maps the default on an iPhone?

Unfortunately, you can’t change the default from Apple Maps to Google Maps on an iPhone. You can, however, change your default browser app to Chrome and your default mail app to Gmail. When you tap on an address or location in either of these apps, it will open in Google Maps instead of Apple Maps.

Section 1 of 5:

Why can't I make Google Maps the default instead of Apple Maps?

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  1. Apple products, like the iPhone, are mostly closed ecosystems, which means that recommended apps are generally those created by Apple, like Apple Maps.
    • While iOS 14 and newer iPhones can set some default apps (like mail and web browser), they cannot change the default map app. [1] You can, however, download and use Chrome and Gmail to be able to use Google Maps by default instead of Apple Maps.
    • You can only change the default apps if you're using iOS 14 or newer. If you have an older phone, you won't be able to do this. [2]
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Section 2 of 5:

What are some workarounds so Google Maps opens instead of Apple Maps?

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  1. Google Maps is a Google product; Chrome and Gmail are also Google products. Since you want to use a Google product with your Apple device, you'll need to switch default apps like Chrome and Gmail so you can use Google Maps.
    • By changing your default mail and web browser apps, you'll be using Chrome and Gmail more often than Apple services like Safari and Mail. If you're using a product in the Google ecosystem, you're more likely to open another Google service, like Google Maps instead of Apple Maps.
Section 3 of 5:

Changing the iPhone Default Web Browser App

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  1. You can get this web browser for free from the App Store if you don't have it already.
    • If you use Google Chrome instead of Safari as your default web browser app, the links you tap will open in Google Maps instead of Apple Maps.
    • If you sign in, you'll be able to save your browsing history and view it on your computer or sync bookmarks.
  2. This app looks like gears on a light grey background. [3]
  3. You'll have to scroll down the menu to find this next to the Google Chrome logo (a red, yellow, and green orb surrounding a blue center).
  4. If this says "Chrome" instead of "Safari," you can skip this step. [4]
  5. A blue checkmark will show that Chrome is the default browser app instead of Safari, so whenever you tap a link, it will open in Chrome. [5]
    • Additionally, whenever you tap an address or location in Chrome, it will open in Google Maps.
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Section 4 of 5:

Changing the iPhone Default Mail App

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  1. You can get this mail service for free from the App Store if you don't have it already.
    • Switching to Gmail as the default mail service means that if you tap a map location from an email, you'll be directed to the map default listed with Gmail (like Google Maps) instead of the Apple Maps app.
  2. This app looks like gears on a light grey background. [6]
  3. You'll have to scroll down the menu to find this next to an icon of a red, blue, yellow, and green envelope. [7]
  4. If this says "Gmail" instead of "Mail," you can skip this step. [8]
  5. A blue checkmark will show that Gmail is the default browser app instead of Mail, so whenever you tap a location, it will open in Gmail's default instead of Apple Maps. [9]
    • Although you have set the default mail app, you still have not set the default maps app to Google Maps. Complete the next few sections to be able to use Google Maps instead of Apple Maps when you're using Gmail.
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Section 5 of 5:

Setting Google Maps as Default for Gmail

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  1. This app icon looks like a blue, red, yellow, and green envelope.
  2. You'll see this three-line menu icon in the top right corner of your screen.
  3. It's near the bottom of the menu next to an icon of a gear.
  4. This is near the bottom of the menu.
  5. If you want to use a different map service, like Waze, tap that instead.
    • This means that once you tap an address or location pin in Gmail, it will open in Google Maps (or Waze, if you picked that).
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104975
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104975
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95417?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95417?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95417?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/mail/answer/10079967?hl=en
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/mail/answer/10079967?hl=en
      8. ↑ https://support.google.com/mail/answer/10079967?hl=en
      9. ↑ https://support.google.com/mail/answer/10079967?hl=en

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