The Maps app in iOS 11 is outfitted with several new features that significantly improve the app's functionality. Indoor maps let you find restaurants, bathrooms, and other locations in airports and malls, while other new features like speed limits and lane guidance improve turn-by-turn directions.

Fun fact: In iOS 11, Apple has also updated the Maps icon. The new version is meant to show off a corner of Apple Park, Apple's new campus with its now-famous enormous ring-shaped main building.

Indoor Mapping

For the first time, Apple is introducing detailed indoor maps in iOS 11, finally making use of all those mapping companies that it's purchased over the course of the last few years.

indoormapsmallsios11
iOS 11 includes indoor maps of select malls and airports around the world, displaying full layouts of each location with icons for restaurants, elevators, bathrooms, shops, and other notable indoor landmarks. In airports, you'll see a clear view of the different terminals and gates so you can find your way to your flight.

indormapsairportios11
Right now, indoor mapping is limited to a handful of malls and airports, but Apple says support will be dramatically expanded over time.

Lane Guidance

If you've ever missed a turn because the Maps app didn't let you know what lane to be in, you're going to be happy with the changes made in iOS 11. With a new lane guidance feature, Maps will always let you know what lane you should be in so you'll never miss a sudden turn or an exit.

mapsios11laneguidance
Lane guidance displays the number of lanes on the road and highlights the lane you're supposed to be in. It is currently available in the United States and China.

Speed Limits

Speed limits, initially launching in the United States and United Kingdom, is a small but highly useful change, and it's one of those features that makes you wonder why it wasn't in the Maps app all along. Speed limits displays the speed limit of the road you're on right on your iPhone's display when you're using turn-by-turn directions.

ios11mapsspeedlimit

Light Guidance

For routes that you travel often, there's an option to enable "Light Guidance." Light Guidance, previously available to CarPlay users, cuts down on the directions you receive, since you likely know the route, and instead displays an overview of the trip and alternative routes.

Augmented Reality Flyover

When using the Flyover feature in iOS 11, you can explore cities by tilting and moving your device, mimicking the feel of actually being in the citing you're looking at. You can rotate the iPhone or iPad 360 degrees in the new Flyover mode for a much more immersive experience, and it will even move forward as you walk forward in real life.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Top Rated Comments

Uaaerospace2 Avatar
100 months ago
I was always the first to install the updates and lately betas, this year, no beta and not really interested in upgrading to iOS 11, I don't even care about Watch OS4

Really think that Apple is loosing the magic.
Cool story bro. Care to share anything useful to the conversation?

Lane guidance is the one feature of google maps that I really missed. I hated how Google maps app drained my battery but had to use Google maps when I needed that info. Glad it’s in the included maps app now.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mtmspa Avatar
100 months ago
I was always the first to install the updates and lately betas, this year, no beta and not really interested in upgrading to iOS 11, I don't even care about Watch OS4

Really think that Apple is loosing the magic.
Nope. All the upgrades are great. Especially the watch.
[doublepost=1505870667][/doublepost]
Still uses Apple Maps data unfortunately :(. Times are always off, traffic data never right.. can they just give up already and use Google Maps data??? I swear Google Maps must be the first app people install on an iPhone when they get it.
Never installed any google apps. Apple maps works great for me.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
campyguy Avatar
100 months ago
It also now has one-finger zoom, borrowed from Google Maps.
Apple "borrowed" this from Google? Take off, eh? Trying to start a kerfuffle? Check out "Fat Thumb", courtesy of U of Calgary, developed on iOS - beauty, that. I'd say that Google "borrowed" it first from those hosers…:p
[doublepost=1505888305][/doublepost]
Apple Maps use data from TomTom don't they?
Yes, and dozens of other companies/agencies. Within 25 miles of where I am now I can identify data from two DOTs, 7 counties, at least 20 cities, two pseudo-agencies, and the Corps of Engineers - all of them I can count as my present and former clients. And, Mapbox. That's just eyeballing the Maps apps. TomTom/Tele Atlas is just another data aggregator which packages and resells data…
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zadigre Avatar
100 months ago
How do you turn on Light Guidance in Maps?
I would like to know too!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
100 months ago
Lane guidance is a real plus. We made extensive use of such functionality in the TomTom iOS mapping app when in the UK about 4 years ago. Also very useful was the alarm function for exceeding the speed limit. this feature paid for the 100$ app several times over by preventing speeding tickets.

Given that Apple uses data from TomTom, it should have been possible for Apple Maps to both show speed limits and alarm the user in the event of exceeding the limit. I can only guess it was withheld by TomTom so that its products had a USP, or not purchased by Apple due to high licensing costs or perceived liability issues.

If we are to become dependent on CarPlay, we need real-time speed alarms.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bchery21 Avatar
100 months ago
It also now has one-finger zoom, borrowed from Google Maps. Now if only they can borrow Google Maps' data : )
One finger zoom is a nice, welcomed addition!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.5 With New Wallpaper, Screen Time Changes, Carrier Satellite Support for iPhone 13 and More

Monday May 12, 2025 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, the fifth updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 come a little over a month after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. The iOS 18.5 update has a...
iPhone 12 Made in India

Trump Tells Tim Cook to Stop Building iPhones in India

Thursday May 15, 2025 2:21 am PDT by
President Donald Trump has asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to halt the company's manufacturing expansion in India, in a potential disruption of Apple's plan to shift iPhone production away from China. "I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday," Trump said during his state visit to Qatar, according to Bloomberg. "He is building all over India." "They [India] have offered us a deal where...
apple music

Apple Music Gets New Transfer Tool to Make Switching From Spotify Easier

Wednesday May 14, 2025 5:17 pm PDT by
Apple this week introduced a new feature designed to allow prospective Apple Music users to import their saved music and playlists from third-party music services to Apple Music. The feature is either in an expanded testing phase or it has started rolling out, and it is available in Australia and New Zealand according to an Apple Support document. Signs of the transfer option first surfaced...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
maxresdefault

Here's the First Real-World Look at Apple's CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:52 am PDT by
The first videos of Apple's CarPlay Ultra experience are now available, providing a never-before-seen look at the long-anticipated iPhone-linked infotainment software. British automaker Aston Martin today shared the first video of Apple's CarPlay Ultra experience in-action, followed by a detailed walk-through of the CarPlay Ultra system on Top Gear's YouTube channel, which provides the...