Apple Collecting Data to Improve Augmented Reality Location Accuracy in Maps

With the launch of iOS 17.2, Apple has outlined the Maps-related data that it is collecting in order to improve the augmented reality location function. In a new support document, Apple says that it is aiming to bolster the speed and accuracy of augmented reality features in the Maps app.

apple maps 3d feature
When using augmented reality features in Maps, including immersive walking directions or the refine location option, Apple collects information on "feature points" that represent the shape and appearance of stationary objects like buildings. The data does not include photos or images, and the feature points collected are not readable by a person.

According to Apple, Maps uses on-device machine learning to compare feature points to Apple Maps reference data that is sent to the iPhone. The camera filters out moving objects like people and vehicles, with Apple collecting just the feature points of stationary objects.

The comparison between the feature points and the ‌Apple Maps‌ reference data allows Maps to pinpoint a user location and provide detailed walking directions with AR context. Using either the AR Walking directions or Refine Location refreshes Apple's reference data to improve augmented reality accuracy.

Data that Apple collects is encrypted and not associated with an individual user or Apple ID. Apple also uses on-device machine learning to add "noise" to the feature points data to add irregular variations that prevent any "unlikely" attempt to use feature points to reconstruct an image from the data.

According to Apple, only an "extremely sophisticated attacker" that has access to the company's encoding system would be able to recreate an image from feature points, but because the data is encrypted and limited only to Apple, "an attack and recreation are extremely unlikely."

The use of AR data can be disabled to prevent Apple from collecting it. The "Improve AR Location Accuracy" toggle can be accessed in the Settings app by going to Privacy and Security and then tapping on Analytics and Improvements.

Popular Stories

Verizon New

Verizon is Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage [Resolved]

Wednesday January 14, 2026 10:18 am PST by
Verizon is experiencing a major outage across the U.S. today, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There are also complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms. iPhone users and others with Verizon service are generally unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE due to the outage....
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More

Thursday January 15, 2026 11:19 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased. iPhone ...
maxresdefault

Google Gemini-Powered Siri Will Reportedly Have These 7 New Features

Tuesday January 13, 2026 7:52 pm PST by
Apple and Google this week announced that Gemini will help power a more personalized Siri, and The Information has provided more details. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. As soon as this spring, the report said the revamped version of Siri will be able to… Answer more factual/world knowledge questions in a conversational manner Tell more stories Provide...

Top Rated Comments

ignatius345 Avatar
27 months ago
This is all great, but Maps is just sorely lacking in current business and point of interest information. I'm an enthusiastic user of Maps for navigation, but I end up looking up places in Google Maps quite frequently because Apple Maps has such spotty data. I hope Apple buys up or develops a really good database of this stuff and keeps it current because it's the one area in which Google Maps still has a huge advantage.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jimbobb24 Avatar
27 months ago
Just let people collaborate with iPhones to scan the entire outside and then stich it together. All the people with IR and cameras can just wave their phones around when they go somewhere and boom the data will be done in no time.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
27 months ago

"an attack and recreation are extremely unlikely."
So you’re saying there’s a chance. ;)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RealE Avatar
27 months ago

Just let people collaborate with iPhones to scan the entire outside and then stich it together. All the people with IR and cameras can just wave their phones around when they go somewhere and boom the data will be done in no time.
It would be nice for Apple to offer a crowd-sourced improvement of Maps.

You already can add public images to locations on Maps but it isn't a very easy or obvious process. That base of crowd-sourced images and reviews is what gives Google Maps an edge in certain cases.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
noraa Avatar
27 months ago

What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone

Yeah right. My take: if it was going to collect information either way might as well use Google Maps
Good job on not actually reading the article ?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Boy261 Avatar
27 months ago
Dont know how USA is at the moment but europe maps are absolute garbage. Need to improve the overall data first in here, a lot of stuff is non existing or is in the wrong place. i mean you would think they should be better if they are partnered with tom tom.

The route to your destiny is sometimes wrong, making it longer, just a mess since ios 6, though much better than back then thats for sure, but i cant see them equaling or overtaking google in the next 5 years at least. Had good times with google maps native app back then, good data and good and smooth app just like apple maps.


Unfortunately, Apple has always shown little interest in community or collaborative matters, which is why Google Maps is more 'rich' in content than Apple Maps.
This is also a reason why they lack. In USA it would have a big impact, iphones are a solid 50% of the market. Here in europe less but it would still make a big difference.

Just the other day i went to a supermarket on my street with google directions but the supermarket was wrong placed ( rare to see but it also happens ) changed it in 1 minute. Fun thing google tracks and tells you how many people have searched that specific supermarket since you change it, 70k people already searched and it just took 1 person to do it, helped that many.

Not saying people have to basically work for them, but little changes here and there are usefull. Though at the state apple maps is now you basically would have to work for them for the map to be in order. Apple just needs to get it right.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)