How to Make Google Maps Default on iPhone

Ivana Kotorchevikj

Written by Ivana Kotorchevikj Apple iPhone

Linkedin Published 2 years ago / updated 2 months ago - 6 min read

Google Maps is a really helpful Google app that helps you navigate and find a location with your phone. It has become a synonym for a navigational app. However, if you are an iPhone user, your default maps app is Apple Maps. This means that every time you want to find a location on your iPhone, it is by default opened by Apple Maps.

So, if you have recently switched to an iPhone or just prefer using Google Maps, you would like to know how to make Google Maps default on your iPhone.

Can you set Google Maps as a default on your iPhone?

We are sorry to break it to you, but Apple doesn’t offer the option to select a default maps app on your iPhone. You can, nevertheless, choose other default apps on your iPhone, such as the default browser app and default mail app.

The reason for this is that Apple has made iOS a closed software ecosystem. This means that you are recommended to use Apple apps instead of third-party alternatives.

However, this doesn’t mean that it’s completely impossible and that there are no workarounds you can try.

How to make Google Maps default on iPhone

The only way to make Google Maps default on iOS is to jailbreak your iPhone. Keep in mind that jailbreak is against Apple’s Terms of Service and voids any existing warranties.

If you want to try less risky methods, you can simulate making Google Maps your default map app if you also make other Google apps your default apps.

Note: You need to have iOS 14 or newer to be able to use this method.

This is because the apps in Google’s ecosystem are designed to work with each other. So, if you are using other Google apps as default, they offer flexibility in using Google Maps as your preferred map app.

The relevant apps you can use that also let you set Google Maps as their default map app are Google Chrome as a default web browser and Gmail as a default email app.

How to make Google Chrome your default web browser to be able to use Google Maps

After you set Chrome as your default browser, when you tap on a location address in Chrome, you'll be able to open it in Google Maps.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down through the app list and select ‘Chrome’. Note: if you haven't already, download Chrome for iOS from the App Store.

3. Tap on ‘Default Browser App’.

4. Select ‘Chrome’.

Now, every time you tap on an address in Chrome to open its location, you'll be asked whether you want to view it in Apple Maps or Google Maps on your iPhone.

How to make Gmail your default email app to be able to use Google Maps

Apart from being able to use Google Maps instead of Apple Maps when you tap on an address in the Gmail app, switching from Apple’s Mail app to Gmail also lets you log into your Google account for better connectivity.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down through the app list and select ‘Gmail’. Note: if you haven't already, download Gmail for iOS from the App Store.

3. Tap on ‘Default Mail App’.

4. Select ‘Gmail’.

Now that you’ve made Gmail the default mail app on your iPhone, you need to change some settings in the app to make Google Maps the default app.

1. Open the Gmail app.
2. Tap on the menu icon in the top-left corner.

3. Scroll down and select ‘Settings’.

4. Tap on ‘Default apps’.

5. Under Navigate from your location, select ‘Google Maps’.

6. Also, under Navigate between locations, tap on ‘Google Maps’ again.

Now, any time you tap on an address within an email in the Gmail app, you can choose whether you want to use Google Maps or Apple Maps.

Possible issues with iOS 14 and switching default apps

If you are using iOS 14 and haven’t updated to the latest patches, you may encounter several issues after making the Google apps default on your iPhone. Some people have reported that after updating the preferred default apps, there are some bugs that reset the default apps to Apple’s factory settings. This means that every time you update Chrome or Gmail on your iPhone, you may need to repeat the steps above.

Apple has fixed the bugs since, but users who haven’t switched to the latest iOS versions may also experience these bugs. This is why it’s advisable that you update to the latest iOS version. The only exception is if the recent patch has additional issues and bugs.