Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors.

apple maps 3d feature
‌Apple Maps‌ does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in ‌iOS 18‌. Apple has pushed an ‌iOS 18‌ file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed by the file except for the name, it does mention that this upcoming feature will be limited to the United States at launch.

Custom routes would allow users to set what specific roads they want to travel down, whether for scenic purposes or for the familiarity of a route. Route options beyond the default have been a highly requested ‌Apple Maps‌ feature for several years now, and other services like Google Maps allow users to create custom routes on a computer and then view them on an iOS device.

‌iOS 18‌ will be introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, June 10. For more details about the update, check out our iOS 18 roundup.

(Thanks, Nicolás!)

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

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Top Rated Comments

coachgq Avatar
12 months ago

Another Apple app that has failed to gain any traction despite years of work and investment. It lags so far behind Google Maps it is embarrassing!

Add it to the ever growing bonfire of failures…. Fire is roaring now!
How does it lag behind? I put an address in and it tells me how to get there. Is there stuff I’m missing out on?
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jarman92 Avatar
12 months ago
I wanna switch to Apple Maps so bad but I just can't stand the Yelp integration ?

Also: FIRST!
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
12 months ago

Another Apple app that has failed to gain any traction despite years of work and investment. It lags so far behind Google Maps it is embarrassing!

Add it to the ever growing bonfire of failures…. Fire is roaring now!
This was true up until like 5 years ago. Now, even people on Android forums complain about how Google Maps has fallen behind.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
12 months ago
I’ve always wanted a feature since Sat Nav existed that would allow you to record a route. Many times I’ve had someone tell me they know a better route and they either guide me or I follow their car. Would be great if you could record the journey and then reference it as the preferred route for future journeys.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eric5h5 Avatar
12 months ago
Yeah, the only way Apple maps lags behind is not having street view in most areas. But where it does exist, it's much smoother and nicer than Google's. Otherwise, the idea of "lags so far behind it's embarrassing" is just...er...how to say..."special". Or mindless trolling.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iObama Avatar
12 months ago

Street view? Can’t just use Apple Maps have to keep another app around.
Look Around was launched a while ago (iOS 13, as a matter of fact! lol). Definitely not as pervasive as Street View yet, but I use it quite frequently in the Bay Area.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)