iOS 18: Use New Library and Notes Features in Apple Maps

[MacRumors]

Apple Maps in iOS 18 introduces two helpful new features: a centralized Library for saved content and the ability to add personal notes to locations. Here's how to take advantage of these new tools.

Using the New Library

Apple's iOS 18 update brings significant improvements to the Maps app, and streamlines the process of saving and organizing your favorite locations. Building on the existing Guides feature, the new version introduces a simple "+" button on location listings for quick saving.

A new Library menu now houses all of your saved places, including those from Guides and Pinned locations. The Library also automatically incorporates previously saved locations, offering a comprehensive view of your favorite spots.

You can individually search through your Pinned, Places, Guides, and Routes collections, and use the three-dot button to sort them by date added, name, or distance, and toggle between list and grid views. The update also enables direct saving of new locations from within the Library itself, via the + Add button.

In summary, the new Library consolidates content that was previously spread across different sections of the app, which makes your saved place information a lot more accessible.

Adding Notes to Locations

iOS 18 also introduces the ability to add personal notes to any location in Apple Maps. This feature allows you to jot down reminders, impressions, or any other information you want to associate with a specific place. To add a note:

1. Search for or tap on a location in Maps.
2. Tap the More button (three dots) in the location's information card.
3. Tap Add a Note.
4. Type your note, then tap Done.

Your notes are private and stored only on devices logged into your Apple account. This feature can be particularly useful for remembering details about restaurants, marking meeting spots, or keeping track of places you want to visit.

These new features in iOS 18's Maps app offer enhanced organization and personalization, and there are other additional tools checking out that we've covered elsewhere, including custom routes, hiking trails, and a new Search Here function.

Article Link: iOS 18: Use New Library and Notes Features in Apple Maps

 

[cjsuk]

Yeah not interested. It's very difficult to get something out of that later.

Notes.app is bad enough as the entire thing has no API and is not portable at all.

I'll stick to Organic Maps. I can dump kmz files out of that at least.

 

[stukdog]

Hmm, this looks nice. Maybe it's time to move my lists out of Yelp.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

This could be a nice feature for travel planning.

I've been using Tripadvisor's app, but I'm not too happy with that.

Have also been trying Google Maps, but find that a bit cumbersome.

Might try this for our 2025 travels.

 

[Minato1990]

This will help me greatly for my future Japan trips

 

[cjsuk]

This could be a nice feature for travel planning.

I've been using Tripadvisor's app, but I'm not too happy with that.

Have also been trying Google Maps, but find that a bit cumbersome.

Might try this for our 2025 travels.

I'm using OrganicMaps for that. And it works reliably offline everywhere, even rural middle of bloody nowhere in some backwater ex soviet hellhole.

 

[alexandr]

Yea,  Maps are still meh. They really need to increase the tiny size of favorite markings on maps, sometimes it's useful to see your favorite places on a map without having to zoom directly in. I only use  Maps because they show up in my HUD.

 

[alexandr]

This will help me greatly for my future Japan trips

Interesting, I always switch to Google Maps when I travel. Especially in Japan I found GM to work much better. Perhaps that was just my experience.

 

[citysnaps]

Excellent new and useful features for Maps. Something I'll use a lot.

 

[ShadowJamie]

Apple Maps are slowly getting better, but there is still a long way to go.

 

[jz0309]

I am still irritated when sometimes, seemingly at random, the map “moves” and North is not at the top anymore, happens in CarPlay and on phone…
Just give me a setting for “North at top” as in any printed map

 

[xtrmtrk]

Ever since Maps got the capability of pinning locations, I've wanted the ability to be notified when I'm near a pin or saved location. I always read reviews of restaurants in places away from home but forget about them when I travel there. I'd love to get off a plane and have a reminder with a list of places I should check out. The same capability would be useful for a lot of situations I think.

 

[Minato1990]

Interesting, I always switch to Google Maps when I travel. Especially in Japan I found GM to work much better. Perhaps that was just my experience.

Went there for the past 2 yrs
First time I just used google maps after Apple Maps got me lost after coming back from a club at 3am in Osaka lol
This yr it was much better

 

[alexandr]

Went there for the past 2 yrs
First time I just used google maps after Apple Maps got me lost after coming back from a club at 3am in Osaka lol
This yr it was much better

That's good to know, I'm going in 2 weeks, perhaps I'll give  another shot But it better not get me lost!!

 

[ogawa]

Still no collaborative maps! Disappointing.

 

[cjsuk]

That's good to know, I'm going in 2 weeks, perhaps I'll give  another shot But it better not get me lost!!

Some of the map data is terrible. There's a couple of roads near me that are completely wrong (in London, UK) and have been there at least 50-70 years. Not sure where the data comes from but it's not on OSM or Google Maps which are both correct.

YMMV. Take more than one map everywhere.

 

[Tom Nash]

This could be a nice feature for travel planning.

I've been using Tripadvisor's app, but I'm not too happy with that.

Have also been trying Google Maps, but find that a bit cumbersome.

Might try this for our 2025 travels.

I have a huge number of saved places in Google Maps in several lists, particularly restaurants all over the world. Even in areas where Apple Maps is better (and there are more and more), it is my saved Google Maps places that keeps me coming back to Google. I would even pay money for an app that would copy Google place lists to Apple Map, or better still, sync them!

 

[alexandr]

Some of the map data is terrible. There's a couple of roads near me that are completely wrong (in London, UK) and have been there at least 50-70 years. Not sure where the data comes from but it's not on OSM or Google Maps which are both correct.

YMMV. Take more than one map everywhere.

I always do! I also download maps onto my phone in case there's no service where I am. Last trip to Japan I encountered several dead zones, so it's always a good idea.

 

[sxc7890]

Still no collaborative maps! Disappointing.

it’s been possible to collaborate on ”Guides” (which are essentially collections of bookmarks) for at least 2-3 years: swipe left on a guide and select ”share”. Alas the collaborative aspect has been randomly broken about a year after it was introduced: participants now get a copy of the Guide rather than a shared version. Haven’t tried recently to see if it’s fixed…

Those who suggest using Google Maps are obviously ok with their location being sold to anyone with even a remote interest… not for me, thanks v.m.

 

[ogawa]

it’s been possible to collaborate on ”Guides” (which are essentially collections of bookmarks) for at least 2-3 years: swipe left on a guide and select ”share”. Alas the collaborative aspect has been randomly broken about a year after it was introduced: participants now get a copy of the Guide rather than a shared version. Haven’t tried recently to see if it’s fixed…

Those who suggest using Google Maps are obviously ok with their location being sold to anyone with even a remote interest… not for me, thanks v.m.

Yes exactly. I can share a Guide I've made, but it just makes a copy of it for the person you share it with. There's no way to make a guide with another person. Which in 2024 is a bit ridiculous.

 

[SnowCrocodile]

it’s been possible to collaborate on ”Guides” (which are essentially collections of bookmarks) for at least 2-3 years: swipe left on a guide and select ”share”. Alas the collaborative aspect has been randomly broken about a year after it was introduced: participants now get a copy of the Guide rather than a shared version. Haven’t tried recently to see if it’s fixed…

Those who suggest using Google Maps are obviously ok with their location being sold to anyone with even a remote interest… not for me, thanks v.m.

So I take if you are not using a cell phone then ?

US cell carriers are selling access to your real-time phone location data

The company embroiled in a privacy row has "direct connections" to all major US wireless carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint -- and Canadian cell networks, too.

www.zdnet.com

Apple Maps is OK for getting to familiar places. However it left me stranded far too many times.

Just in the last two years:

- asked it for a gas stop before dropping off a rental. When resumed the trip, it routed me to a service drive at the wrong end of the airport. Took me an extra 25 minutes to get through the traffic. Barely made my flight.

- Went to a first meeting with a customer. AM gets me to the opposite side of a major freeway - I could see their office across the road, but had to drive a few miles and turn around to get there.

- Another customer moved their operations to a new building in 2021. Apple Maps still shows old location. They submitted error reports to Apple. I submitted error reports to Apple. Still showing old address as of last year.

- Just this past Sunday - driving back from a getaway weekend upstate, wanted to stop for lunch at a restaurant that we’ve been to a dozen times before. AM could not recognize the name or could not find it several times in a row. Finally I gave up and asked Google Maps, found it right away.

When it does work it’s great and super convenient. And I like the design more. But when I need to go to an unfamiliar location and it’s important to get there on time, I use Google Maps.

 

[theXid]

Instead of in-app notes, I'd love to see integration with the Notes app, so that I can plan trips and have the related notes overlaid on an actual map of the place I'm going. Would need great sharing capabilities to make that work for group trips, though.

 

[JohnC1959]

Every release I try to give Apple maps another try but especially for navigation while driving I like Google maps much more. Recent changes to Google Maps even fixed one of my main complaints which was poor contrast of roads vs the background. I like the idea of Apple Maps having better integration with the rest of my phone but that's not enough to offset other problems.

 

[svish]

Good article. Adding notes to location is a useful feature.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I'm using OrganicMaps for that. And it works reliably offline everywhere, even rural middle of bloody nowhere in some backwater ex soviet hellhole.

I've tried a few apps over the years (although it's been a while since the last one due to lack of travelling during covid, and a few other reasons after that, now it seems we're more or less back to how it was before 2020).

Never been quite convinced enough to pay for any of them.