With the second beta of iOS 26.5, Apple is continuing to prepare for ads in the Apple Maps app. There's a new splash screen in the app that says it will display ads based on approximate location, current search terms, or a view of the map when searching. Ads will also be shown in the "Suggested Places" section that was added in the first beta.
Apple says that advertising information is not linked to an Apple Account to preserve user privacy, so ads viewed and interacted with will not be associated with an Apple Account. Data is not collected or stored by Apple and not shared with third parties, according to Apple.
Signs of ads in the Maps app were spotted in the first beta, but iOS 26.5 testers could start seeing ads with the second beta. It's not yet clear if Apple has just implemented the splash screen, or if ads are going to begin showing up in the near future.
Apple announced plans to introduce ads for the Maps app back in March, with ads set to roll out to the public "this summer." Apple plans to include ads in the Maps app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac in the United States and Canada.
Ads in Apple Maps will have an "Ad" label, much like ads in the App Store.
Thursday April 23, 2026 4:20 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple Maps has updated its "2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World" guide with a dedicated experience for the Miami F1 Gran Prix, which takes place on May 3 and will be streamed exclusively on Apple TV in the United States.
The guide offers an immersive way to explore F1 circuits. It began with Albert Park in Australia, with more 3D circuit experiences to be added as the season progresses.
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Thursday April 23, 2026 5:29 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has named the botched 2012 launch of Apple Maps as his "first really big mistake" in the role, according to a Bloomberg report covering the town hall meeting that was held Tuesday with his recently announced successor, John Ternus.
The Maps app launched with mislabeled landmarks, faulty directions, and a user experience that fell well short of Google Maps at the...
Apple is planning to start showing ads in the Apple Maps app this summer, and signs of ads have already shown up in the iOS 26.5 beta as Apple prepares to roll them out.
Where Ads Show Up
Ads will be displayed in the Apple Maps search interface. Depending on the search, relevant ads will be shown first in search results.
Apple is also implementing a new Suggested Places feature in Maps ...
As much as Cook has been a good CEO for the most part, every now and then he falls back into COO mode and comes up with something that makes financial sense but that a good CEO should veto for the bigger picture of the brand and the customer experience.
Apple: "Everyone update to iOS 26.5!" Users: "Omg are we finally getting those AI features you promised 2 years ago?!" Apple: "Lol no. But you will be getting our awesome new ads in Maps!"
