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How to Use Maps on the Apple Watch

Get turn-by-turn directions on your wrist

By Emily Price Emily Price Writer Harvard University The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Emily Price is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a freelance tech writer who focuses on emerging technology. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 4, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Set Apple Watch Preferences on iPhone Navigate From Your iPhone Interact With Maps on the Apple Watch After You Find Your Destination

What to Know

Set up Watch: Select the Watch app, tap Maps, and turn on the features you want to use on your Apple Watch.Press digital crown, tap Maps app > Location for a map of current location or scroll down for saved locations.Choose a destination and select a travel method. Directions display one by one with a haptic tap or via map. This article explains how to set up the Apple Watch Maps app and receive turn-by-turn directions or a map to a destination, just like on your iPhone. With the Apple Watch, however, directions come with a gentle tap on your wrist. It's perfect when you're in a new city or when you need GPS directions while biking or riding a scooter.

Set Apple Watch Preferences on iPhone

Before you can use the Maps app on the Apple Watch, adjust the settings in the Watch app on the iPhone. Here's how: Tap the Watch app on the iPhone Home screen. Scroll down the list of apps that are loaded on the Apple Watch and tap Maps. Turn on the features you want to use on the Apple Watch by moving the toggle switch next to each on to the On/green position. Options are Driving, Driving with CarPlay, Walking, and Transit (where available). You can't get Google Maps on the Apple watch, so use the Apple Maps app instead.

Navigate From Your iPhone

The easiest way to use Apple Maps on your Apple Watch is to start from the Apple Maps app on your iPhone. When you have an Apple Watch paired with your phone, any directions you start on the iPhone are automatically sent to the watch. The location appears in the Collections section of the Apple Watch Maps app, which includes the recent searches you performed in Maps on your iPhone. You can put your phone away and follow turn-by-turn directions on your watch. Directions are also displayed on your phone, so if you walk around with headphones, you hear the directional cues. If you plan to go to a friend's house or a hard-to-pronounce location, start the Maps process on your iPhone. This ensures you have a backup on your phone. That way, if you decide to detour into a coffee shop or see what restaurants are nearby, you can make the transition quickly.

Interact With Maps on the Apple Watch

On the Apple Watch, there are several ways you can interact with Maps. One way is to tap on an address in a text message, email, or other notification you receive on the watch. From there, Maps launches and shows you where on the map that destination is located.

Find Your Current Location

To get a feel for where you are currently, press the digital crown to open the Apps screen and tap the Maps app on the watch. Tap Location to display a map of your current location. Turn the digital crown to zoom in or out on your location to get a better feel for where you are. Tap your location at the top of the screen to return to the Maps menu.

View Saved Locations

In the Maps menu screen, use the digital crown to scroll down and select a location from saved Favorites, Collections (which includes recent searches you performed on your iPhone), and Recents, which are locations you visited or pinned. Tap any entry for a saved map.

Look for a New Location

To look for a new location, tap Search on the menu screen. In the Search screen, enter search information by selecting Dictation, Scribble (writing on the watch screen with your finger), or Contacts. You can also scroll down using the digital crown and select from nearby categories of businesses, including Hotels, Fast Food, and Gas Stations, among others.

After You Find Your Destination

No matter how you search for a destination, after you find one, the process is the same. Tap a destination to open a screen and scroll down using the digital crown to view any information the phone has or can get from the internet. For businesses, this information includes the hours of business and a phone number. For all locations, the estimated amount of time it takes to reach the destination via walking, car, or transit (if you activated this preference on your iPhone) is listed. Tap the method you plan to use on the screen that gives the times for walking, driving, and transit. After you choose the directions for the method you plan to use to travel (walk, drive, or transit), a screen opens. This screen shows an icon for your chosen travel method, along with the time and distance of the drive or walk. Tap the icon to begin the journey. If you tap the three-dot menu, you can view the turn-by-turn directions. After viewing them, tap Close to close the directions, and tap the car logo (if driving) to start. Directions are displayed one by one on the screen on your Apple Watch with a haptic tap on your wrist. The estimated time (ETA) to your location is displayed at the top of the screen so that you know your approximate arrival time. You don't hear verbal directions from the Apple Watch, but if you have your iPhone with you, you hear directions from the phone. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Drop a Pin in Maps on iPhone How to Hide the Red Dot on Apple Watch How to Reset Your Apple Watch How to Unpair Apple Watch How to Set Alarm on Apple Watch How to Use Apple Watch With Siri How to Remove Apps from Apple Watch Is Google Maps Available for Apple Watch? How to Make Phone Calls With the Apple Watch How to Use WhatsApp on Your Apple Watch How to Close Apps on an Apple Watch How to Use Your Apple Watch How to Add Google Maps to CarPlay How to Zoom In and Out on Apple Watch Everything You Can Do With Force Touch on the Apple Watch How to Set up and Use Apple Watch Nightstand Mode Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies