How to use offline maps on your iPhone with iOS 17

With Maps in iOS 17, you can use offline maps to access information like hours and ratings for places, turn-by-turn directions, and estimated arrival times.

With offline maps in iOS 17 and later, you can use Maps for information and navigation even when you don’t have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Offline maps include details like hours and ratings on places, turn-by-turn directions for driving, walking, cycling, or riding transit, and estimated arrival times.

You should note that offline maps take up considerable storage space on your smartphone. However, Maps is kind enough to show you the file size for a potential offline map before you download it. 

Offline maps don’t sync across your devices and aren’t available in all areas. As Apple notes, features vary by country and region.

To use search in Maps

1. In the Maps app, search for a location, then tap the place in your search results.
2. Tap the Download button if it’s available, or tap More then tap Download Map.
3. If necessary, adjust the area that you want included in your offline map. Then tap Download.

Drop a pin

1. In Maps, tap an unmarked area to drop a pin.
2. Tap Download.
3. If necessary, adjust the area that you want included in your offline map. Then tap Download once more.

Use the offline maps settings

1. In the Maps app, tap your picture or initials next to the search field.
2. Tap Offline Maps.
3. Tap Download New Map, or select a map that you previously used or that Maps suggests.
4. Enter a location or select Current Location.
5. Adjust the size of the map area, then tap Download.

Edit or delete your downloaded maps

1. In the Maps app, tap your picture or initials next to the search field.
2. Tap Offline Maps.
3. Tap the offline map you want to edit or delete. You can rename your map, resize the area included, or view the file size.
4. When ready, tap Delete Map or Done.

You can delete offline maps only in the Maps app. 

Adjust your offline maps settings

1. In the Maps app, tap your picture or initials next to the search field.
2. Tap Offline Maps.
3. Under Settings, turn on the setting that you want to use.

Tap Downloads and choose whether to download offline maps only when you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Automatic Updates is on by default. Your offline map will automatically be kept up to date if things like a business or street name change.

Turn on Optimize Storage and any unused offline maps will be automatically deleted after a period of time.

Turn on Only Use Offline Maps to rely on your downloaded maps even when you have an Internet connection.

(This how-to is based on my experiences and info on Apple’s support pages.)