Where Does Apple Maps Store Offline Maps?
Apple Maps keeps downloaded areas in private app storage on iPhone and Mac. Management, expiry and backup notes.
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Apple Maps stores downloaded areas inside private app storage on both iPhone and Mac. You fetch them from inside Maps: tap your picture, choose Offline Maps, then download a new area or open an existing one. The map, names and routing for that box then work without signal.
There is no areas folder to copy. Downloads belong to the device that fetched them, while favorites and guides sync through iCloud separately. Areas expire after about a year without refresh. Check dates before a trip and redownload over Wi-Fi when one looks stale.
Where Apple Maps stores this, by platform
App-private storage (managed under Offline Maps)
Download from your picture, Offline Maps, Download New Map. Choose downloaded-only routing in Settings, Maps for pure offline trips. Storage pressure can evict areas, so verify before leaving coverage.
App-private storage (managed under Offline Maps)
Same in-app management on current macOS. Favorites and guides arrive via iCloud, map tiles download per Mac. Keep the Mac on Wi-Fi and power while large areas fetch.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download an offline area in Apple Maps?
Tap your picture in Maps, open Offline Maps, then Download New Map and frame the area. Name it something you will recognize later. Leave Maps open on Wi-Fi until the progress ring finishes.
Do Apple Maps downloads transfer to a new iPhone?
Favorites and guides transfer through iCloud, downloaded tiles do not. Sign in on the new phone and download each area again. Recordings or pins made offline sync once the old phone regains signal, so sync it before wiping.
Do offline maps expire?
Yes, after about a year without an update. Maps refreshes them on Wi-Fi automatically when possible. An expired area still opens but can miss new roads, so update manually from the Offline Maps list before traveling.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.