Since iOS 6, Apple has locked Apple Maps as the default navigation app, preventing users from changing it. While you cannot officially set Google Maps as the default, this guide provides a popular workaround for making Google Maps your primary navigation app on an iPhone by changing other related settings.

Before you start: You will need an iPhone running iOS 14 or later. You must also have the Google Maps, Google Chrome, and Gmail apps installed from the App Store.

How to prioritize Google Maps for links on your iPhone

This process involves setting Google Chrome and Gmail as your default apps, which forces map links from those applications to open in Google Maps instead of Apple Maps.

  • First, open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  • Scroll down the list of apps and tap on Chrome.
  • Select the Default Browser App option.
  • ChooseChrome from the list to set it as your default browser.
  • Tap the back button to return to the main Settings screen.
  • Next, scroll down again and tap on Gmail. If you don’t see it, you may need to search for it in the settings search bar.
  • Select the Default Mail App option.
  • ChooseGmail from the list to set it as your default mail app.
  • Now, any address link you open from within the Google Chrome or Gmail app will launch directly in Google Maps. Note: This does not change the behavior for links opened in other native iOS apps like Messages.
Pro tip: To make Google Maps easier to access, press and hold its icon and drag it to the dock at the bottom of your home screen. This provides one-tap access at all times.

Apple maintains a closed ecosystem, which traditionally limits user choice for default applications like browsers, mail clients, and maps. This is unlike Android, where users can freely change default apps. For many, Google Maps offers superior features, more comprehensive global data, and a familiar interface, making it a preferred choice over Apple Maps.

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While this workaround is not a perfect solution, it’s the most effective method currently available for prioritizing Google Maps on iOS. Future software updates or regional regulations, such as those anticipated in the EU, may eventually allow users to officially change their default navigation app. Until then, using this method ensures that most of your web-based and email-based navigation starts in Google Maps.