Apple Watch includes a miniature version of Apple Maps, which offers many of the same features as the full iOS version if you know how to access them. Some of what Maps can do is fairly obvious, but there are a few features that require a bit more know-how.

Apple Watch Apple Maps 2If you are interested in learning the ins and outs of Apple Maps on Watch OS and would like to know some simple tips for getting the most out of the turn-by-turn directions feature, we've got a handy tutorial for you.

At first glance, Apple Maps on Apple Watch may seem like just a location browser. When you open the app, it automatically populates a map of your current location. You can drag your finger around on the screen to view nearby stores and landmarks. Turn the Digital Crown to zoom in on a particular location. You can also double-tap the screen.

If you find a business or landmark that you'd like to know more about, tap it to bring up the information window. You can see the business's rating, hours of operation, phone number, address, and walking or driving directions. Tap the phone number to call directly from Apple Watch.

Just like Apple Maps on iOS, you can drop a pin to save a location. Touch and hold the screen where you would like the pin to go. Let go of the screen after the pin drops. Then, tap the pin to see the address and use it as a starting or destination point for directions.

If you want to see the location on Apple Maps of someone in your contacts, firm press the screen with the app open to bring up your contacts list. Then, use the Digital Crown or swipe to scroll to a specific contact and tap it.

Apple Watch Apple Maps 3
You can use Apple Maps on Apple Watch to get turn-by-turn directions, too. First, you need to enter the destination. There are a number of ways to get an address in Apple Maps on Apple Watch.

  1. Tap a location on the map to call up the information screen and tap the directions button.
  2. Drop a pin and then tap it to call up the information screen and tap the directions button.
  3. Ask Siri for directions. The virtual personal assistant will automatically open Apple Maps with the directions ready to go.
  4. Firmly press the display and either find an address from your contacts, or use the Dictation feature to look up a business or landmark.
  5. Start on Apple Maps on your iPhone. The app will automatically sync with Apple Watch. After you've entered the information on the iPhone app, open the watch app to view the directions.

Apple Watch Apple Maps 1
After you have the destination location set, tap "Start" to begin turn-by-turn navigation. Apple Watch will send a series of 12 taps to your wrist to let you know to turn right at the next intersection. It will send three pairs of two taps to let you know when to turn left. You will feel a vibration when you are on the last direction and another one when you have arrived at your location.

You can also see the estimated arrival time in the upper left corner of the directions screen and if you swipe left on the screen, you'll see the map overview. If you don't need directions anymore, firmly press the display and tap "Stop Directions."

Even though Apple Maps on Apple Watch doesn't seem like much, it can be very useful when you need to figure out how to get somewhere. Just like the iOS version, you can find out more information about specific locations, call a business, and drop a pin anywhere on the map. If you know the name of a business, but not the address, use the Dictation feature to look it up.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch Series 9
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

nagromme Avatar
115 months ago
I like these feature walkthroughs. I won't be an early adopter, but I will get a Watch eventually, and these articles let me "try before I buy."

They've packed a lot of capability into that little screen.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmChimera Avatar
115 months ago
Has anyone used this while driving yet? Give us there experience of it (yet to get mine). :)
I just felt that it was redundant with my phone telling me directions AND my watch tapping me. It was much more handy for walking directions for me.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iBlazed Avatar
115 months ago
firm press the screen
Is that what Samsung is gonna call their version of Force Touch?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jtrenthacker Avatar
115 months ago
Step 1: Open google maps on iPhone...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SD449 Avatar
115 months ago
I used this on a 4h trip on Tuesday and both phone and watch battery got to 5% by the time i got to my destination from fully charged, leaving me without both for the remainder of the day.

whilst very good, i can't see the point when battery drain was so significant.

Also there is no obvious way to disable the watch directions and solely use the phone, or vice versa.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple to Launch New iPad Pro and iPad Air Models in May

Thursday March 28, 2024 11:07 am PDT by
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. 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...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

Apple Releases Revised Versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Updated Build Number

Wednesday March 27, 2024 5:59 am PDT by
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS...
applephilschiller

Apple's Phil Schiller Works 80 Hours a Week Overseeing App Store

Wednesday March 27, 2024 2:03 pm PDT by
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to "Apple Fellow" in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working...