What's New With the Maps App in iOS 16: Multi-Stop Routing, Transit Card Support and More

[MacRumors]

The iOS 16 Maps app didn't get as many changes as some of the other apps in the update, but there is at least one major change that's worth noting -- multi-stop routing. Multi-stop routing is a long-awaited Maps feature, plus there are a few other new options.

This guide highlights all of the features that are new to the Maps app in iOS 16, which is available now for all eligible devices.

Multi-Stop Routing

With iOS 16, you can plan a route that has multiple stops for the first time. Prior to now, you could only route yourself to a single location, and the Apple Maps app was far behind competitors like Waze and Google Maps when planning for more than one stop on a trip.

When you type in a destination in the Maps app in iOS 16, you can tap on the new "Add Stop" button to choose multiple locations. Up to 15 locations can be added on one route, and the Maps app will go to each stop in turn. Note that the Maps app does not optimize the route, so you'll need to do that manually when you type in stops.

• How to Use Multi-Stop Routing in Maps

Add Stops With Siri

If you're already on the road and want to insert a stop into your route, you can use Siri voice commands to do so.

Plan Routes on Mac

For planning a trip with multiple stops, you can get everything ready on the Maps app on Mac, then port it over to the iPhone when you're ready to go.

Maps Interface Updates

To accommodate the new multi-stop routing option, getting directions has been streamlined. It's simpler to change between driving, walking, transit, cycling, and ride share.

There are also drop down menus for changing travel mode, time you want to leave, and options to avoid tolls or highways, which makes it quicker to drill down into your preferences when getting directions.

The recent routes that you've used will show up in the Recent section for quicker access.

Transit Cards in Maps

Transit cards added to the Wallet app are integrated into the Maps app, so you can see if your balance is low and add more funds without having to swap over to the Wallet app.

Transit Fares

When planning a transit route, you can see how much it will cost in transit fares in select cities.

Photo Use Permissions

The Maps app in iOS 16 has a toggle for allowing companies to use photos that you upload using the built-in Maps rating feature. This is applicable to companies that provide photos to Maps, and it includes location information, but not identity.

Revamped Apple Map Design

Apple in iOS 15 introduced a new, more detailed Apple Maps design that provides more detail for roads, pathways, greenery, and more. The updated Maps app is coming to the following countries in iOS 16:

• Belgium
• France
• Israel
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Palestinian Territories
• Saudi Arabia

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Maps in iOS 16, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Article Link: What's New With the Maps App in iOS 16: Multi-Stop Routing, Transit Card Support and More

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Interesting how Apple’s hardware is now ahead of most but their first party apps are far behind. Most that needed these features have moved on and Apple isn’t doing much to bring them back.

 

[tYNS]

Just used Apple Maps on a trip we took. It is fantastic. Very accurate and the predictive assisted lane usage was great to making sure travel was easy. Can't wait for the multi-route feature. Great job the apple team is doing.

 

[_Spinn_]

I really like the improvements Apple has been making to Maps lately. One thing I would like to see is my actual speed when driving.

 

[Anijake]

did they do anything to the crash report. It really needs to go by distance instead of time when asking if its still there because if stuck in the traffic caused by the crash, it will timeout before I get there to see if it just traffic or the crash is still there..

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I really like the improvements Apple has been making to Maps lately. One thing I would like to see is my actual speed when driving.

Does your speedometer not work?

 

[Erkinshadow]

I run into issues with miss labeled business and roads on Apple Maps. Takes them forever to correct once it’s reported as incorrect.

 

[W£S]

Multi stop is great. But I still prefer the Waze interface when driving

 

[xxray]

I actually prefer Apple’s navigation directions more than any other app. The maps are the easiest on the eyes and the directions are the easiest to understand. Siri’s voice is a lot more natural compared to Waze too.

I wish Apple Maps had look around everywhere like Google Street View. Apple had cars all over the U.S. for years now, so I don’t know why look around is so slow to roll out and so limited.

I also desperately wish Apple Maps had first party reviews right in the app and showed how busy a location was (and it’s usual business depending on the hour and day of the week) like Google Maps does.

I find myself stuck in between maps apps because of this. Apple is great for navigation. Google Maps is better for discovering places, seeing business levels, and for reviews/questions about places. Waze is best for rough traffic, road trips, or the most up to date road status.

I wish Apple Maps could combine the best features of all three apps.

 

[reden]

Multi stop is great. But I still prefer the Waze interface when driving

Then why are you in this thread lol?

 

[fwmireault]

Can’t believe it took this long to implement a feature as basic as multi stop. It is one of the biggest reasons why I keep a third party map app on my iPhone, even if I’d prefer to stay on Apple Maps

 

[GregoriusM]

Is anyone using iOS 16 beta along with someone else to see if it has the real-time Location Sharing that was announced a couple of WWDCs ago?

 

[Aerisdies]

Wow, still no Offline maps download? Pathetic.
Phone turns into a brick when you're out hiking or no reception, damn. 🧱

Very late edit (2022-07-22):
I'm using Google Maps, though.

 

[GregoriusM]

Wow, still no Offline maps download? Pathetic.
Phone turns into a brick when you're out hiking or no reception, damn. 🧱

Except you can do that with Google Maps on iPhone. I would still like it if Apple Maps could do it, but your phone doesn’t have to be a brick.

 

[Nykolaz]

I’m not seeing the option to add stops! Is it only available in select countries??? God I hate being in China.

 

[Velli]

No single Apple iOS app is ever going to be the best choice if you want advanced features. Apple’s goal seems to be to create apps that gives people a nice experience for doing basic things. If you want to do advanced things, you need a third party app, which mostly means you give up yhe nice interface.

Like, I use Apple Maps in my car, to go somewhere. If I want to plan a hining trip, I use a hiking app, because Apple Maps sucks for that. But, I don’t use my hining app when I just want to go somewhere in my car, because that’s way too cumbersome.

That’s the beauty of Apple’s ecosystem. There is a really good option built-in for everything most simple tasks, which is what most people need for most tasks. Then different people have their own individual special needs, and Apple leaves that to third party developers.

In this way, you can get a third party app specialized for whatever you happen to care about, while you don’t have to think about stuff you don’t care about - just use the built-in option for those.

In other words, please stop complaining that first party apps don’t cover every single use case.

 

[GregoriusM]

I’m not seeing the option to add stops! Is it only available in select countries??? God I hate being in China.

Are you on iOS 16?

 

[handsomekilla]

No improvements to the DIY Guides feature in Maps, I guess? I’ve made a bunch of them and would like to be able to add notes to my pins, edit the names of custom pins, and share the live guides (not just static copies) with others.

Sigh. I do prefer Apple Maps over others due to the much more elegant visual interface, the superior CarPlay support and the less invasive privacy implications, but they have so much catching up to do.

 

[svish]

Multi stop routing is a nice addition along with routes planning on Mac.

 

[zaxxon72]

The updated Maps app is coming to the following countries in iOS 16:

and…. Switzerland!!

Don’t let Biden confuse you

 

[ForkHandles]

Could this be used for planning circular cycle/running routes and have it sent to your Apple Watch? At present apple maps doesn't let you plan routes, just start and end points.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Can I finally download maps for offline use?

 

[Jeaz]

Wow, still no Offline maps download? Pathetic.
Phone turns into a brick when you're out hiking or no reception, damn. 🧱

Except you can do that with Google Maps on iPhone. I would still like it if Apple Maps could do it, but your phone doesn’t have to be a brick.

For hiking, there are a lot better map apps for that than both Google and Apple maps, with hiking paths, offline downloading and so on. Both apps are for generalist needs, but if you have specific detailed need, then you’d want a specialist app.

Not saying they shouldn’t add offline maps, just normal travelling where you don’t have free roaming can get quite expensive fast without offline maps.

 

[Nykolaz]

Are you on iOS 16?

Yes, public beta. I tried planning longer routes, planning routes in another country, but nothing… Maybe the local map provider hasn’t adapted to the new function…

 

[DreadedFun]

Living in Denmark I expect not to see any of these features. Apple is very limited in their features when it comes to spread it out to more countries. It’s like they develop a feature, include it in the product for the US, set the tick mark that’s it is done and then stop spreading it out to the rest of the world.

Sorry, I need to rant every time I see some new Maps features and know that the rest of the world only gets small part of these features and Apple don’t seem to care.

Still don’t have swipe keyboard in my native language. No word predictions. Stuff that 3rd party keyboards have had since 3rd part keyboards became a thing.