Offline maps come to Apple Maps in iOS 17, plus one special related feature that Google doesn’t have
No one wants to be driving in an unfamiliar area and not be able to check a mapping and navigation app to see where they are and which way they should be going. Google Maps already allows users to download maps for offline use. On Google Maps, open the app and tap the profile picture in the upper right corner. Tap on Offline maps. You might already have a map downloaded based on your home address.
In iOS 17, Apple Maps will recommend when you should download a map for offline use
You can also tap on Select Your Own Map and use 30MB of your free storage space to download an area that you suggest by moving the map on the screen around a rectangular box. Once you have the general area you want downloaded in the box, pinch in or out to widen or narrow the area you want Google Maps to download for offline use. When you are ready, tap on “Download.”
In the example embedded with this article, when the iPhone user typed in Yosemite National Park as his destination, he was prompted to download the map. It isn’t clear where Apple gets the information about which areas don’t have cellular from although it may come directly from wireless providers.
Apple Maps has come a long way since it was called “life-threatening”
If you can’t wait for this feature to become available, you can install the latest iOS 17 Public Beta even though there still might be some kinks in the beta that might give you a little trouble. The final, stable version of iOS 17 should be released next month so you might want to hold off with the beta and wait for the final version of iOS 17 to be released in September.
