DB LabsQuick Answer
To manage offline maps storage on iPhone, open Apple Maps > tap your profile icon > Offline Maps to view, update, or delete downloaded areas. Each offline map uses 50 MB to 1.5 GB. Delete maps you no longer need by swiping left and tapping Delete. For Google Maps, go to Google Maps > profile picture > Offline Maps to manage downloaded areas. Regularly review and remove old offline maps to reclaim storage.
How to Download Offline Maps in Apple Maps
Apple Maps has supported offline maps since iOS 17. Here is how to download an area for offline use.
1 Open Apple Maps
Launch the Maps app on your iPhone. Make sure you are running iOS 17 or later (check in Settings > General > About).
2 Tap Your Profile Icon
Tap your profile picture or initials in the bottom right corner of the Maps screen.
3 Tap Offline Maps
Select Offline Maps from the menu. Here you will see any maps you have already downloaded.
4 Download New Map
Tap Download New Map. Search for a city, region, or area. Adjust the blue rectangle to cover the area you want. The estimated download size is shown at the bottom. Tap Download.
How to Delete Apple Maps Offline Maps
1 Open Offline Maps List
Go to Maps > profile icon > Offline Maps. You will see a list of all your downloaded maps with their storage sizes.
2 Swipe to Delete
Swipe left on the map you want to remove and tap Delete. The storage is freed immediately.
3 Manage Auto-Updates
At the bottom of the Offline Maps screen, you can toggle Automatic Updates on or off. When enabled, Apple Maps periodically downloads updated map data, which uses additional storage and data. Disable this if storage is a concern.
Managing Google Maps Offline Areas
If you use Google Maps, offline areas are managed separately from Apple Maps.
Download an Offline Area
- Open Google Maps and search for the area you want.
- Tap the location name or address at the bottom.
- Tap the three-dot menu and select Download offline map.
- Adjust the blue rectangle and tap Download.
Delete a Google Maps Offline Area
- Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture.
- Tap Offline maps.
- Tap the three dots next to the map you want to remove.
- Tap Remove.
How to Check How Much Maps Use
To see exactly how much storage Maps apps are using:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down to find Maps (Apple Maps) or Google Maps.
- Tap the app to see its total storage usage, including offline maps.
If Apple Maps is using more storage than expected, it is likely due to downloaded offline areas plus cached map data. Deleting offline maps and clearing the cache (by offloading and reinstalling the app) can reclaim significant space.
Storage Management Tips
- Download only what you need: Download maps right before a trip and delete them when you return.
- Use smaller areas: Instead of downloading an entire state, download just the cities or routes you plan to visit.
- Pick one maps app: If you have offline areas in both Apple Maps and Google Maps, you are using double the storage. Choose one for offline use.
- Disable auto-updates: If storage is tight, turn off automatic map updates and manually update only when needed.
- Check before travel: Verify your offline maps are current before leaving Wi-Fi. Outdated maps may have incorrect road information.
For more ways to free up iPhone storage, see our complete iPhone storage guide or learn what is taking up storage on your iPhone.