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As we navigate through 2025, mapping apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps have evolved into indispensable tools for travel, commuting, and exploring new places. With advancements in AI, augmented reality, and eco-friendly features, these apps offer more than just directions—they provide personalized, immersive, and sustainable navigation experiences. This comprehensive guide explores the latest tips and tricks for maximizing Google Maps and Apple Maps in 2025, with detailed instructions, practical use cases, and recommendations for complementary free apps. Whether you're a daily commuter, a frequent traveler, or a business owner leveraging local search, these strategies will help you unlock the full potential of your maps app.

Top Tricks for Google Maps in 2025

1. Customize Your Navigation Icon

Google Maps now allows you to personalize your navigation icon during driving directions, making your journey more fun and visually engaging. Choose from a variety of vehicle icons, such as a pickup truck, SUV, or racecar, in eight vibrant colors.

How to Customize Your Navigation Icon:

1. Open Google Maps on your smartphone or Mac.
2. Enter your destination and start driving navigation.
3. Tap the arrow icon representing your vehicle on the map.
4. Select from the available vehicle types (e.g., SUV, racecar) and choose a color.
5. Confirm your selection, and the new icon will appear during navigation.

Use Case: Brighten up long road trips by switching to a colorful racecar icon, or maintain a professional vibe with a sleek SUV icon for business commutes.

Source: Google Maps celebrates 20 years with 20 favorite features.

2. Use Lens in Maps for Augmented Reality Exploration

Lens in Maps, powered by AI and augmented reality (AR), lets you point your phone’s camera at your surroundings to get instant information about nearby businesses, ATMs, transit stations, or landmarks. This feature is ideal for urban explorers or travelers in unfamiliar areas.

How to Use Lens in Maps:

1. Open Google Maps on your mobile device.
2. Tap the Lens icon (a camera symbol) in the search bar.
3. Point your camera at a street, building, or business.
4. Google Maps overlays real-time information, such as business names, ratings, or transit schedules, on your screen.
5. Tap on a point of interest to view details or get directions.

Pro Tip: Lens in Maps works best in well-lit areas with clear signage. Ensure your phone’s camera has a clear view for accurate results.

Source: Posts on X mentioning Lens in Maps.

3. Leverage Eco-Friendly Routing

Google Maps’ eco-friendly routing, expanded globally in 2025, helps you choose routes that minimize carbon emissions. This feature is perfect for environmentally conscious users and has already reduced over 500,000 metric tons of carbon emissions in the U.S. and Canada.

How to Enable Eco-Friendly Routing:

1. Open Google Maps and enter your destination.
2. Select Driving as your mode of transport.
3. Look for the green leaf icon next to route options, indicating the most fuel-efficient path.
4. Tap the eco-friendly route to select it.
5. Optionally, enable eco-friendly routing as default in Settings > Navigation > Route Options > Prefer fuel-efficient routes.

Use Case: Use eco-friendly routing for daily commutes to reduce your carbon footprint while saving on fuel costs.

Source: Google Maps Statistics and Trends for 2025.

4. Save and Organize Places with Lists

Google Maps’ Lists feature allows you to save and categorize places for future reference, such as restaurants, attractions, or work-related locations. In 2025, enhanced list-sharing options make collaboration easier for group trips or team planning.

How to Create and Share a List:

1. Open Google Maps and search for a place (e.g., a restaurant or park).
2. Tap the place name, then select Save.
3. Choose an existing list (e.g., Favorites, Want to Go) or create a new one by tapping New List.
4. Name your list and add a description if desired.
5. To share, tap the list in Your Places > Saved, then select Share List to generate a link or invite collaborators.

Pro Tip: Use lists to plan multi-stop trips by adding destinations in order, then access them offline for areas with poor connectivity.

5. Explore Immersive View for 3D City Navigation

Google Maps’ Immersive View, expanded in 2025, provides photorealistic 3D renderings of cities, complete with real-time traffic, weather, and crowd data. This feature is ideal for planning visits to major urban areas.

How to Use Immersive View:

1. Open Google Maps and search for a supported city (e.g., New York, London).
2. Tap the Immersive View option if available for the location.
3. Use pinch-to-zoom and drag gestures to explore the 3D environment.
4. Toggle layers for traffic, weather, or crowd density to plan your visit.

Note: Immersive View is currently available in select cities, with more being added throughout 2025.

Source: Google Maps Platform Blog.

Top Tricks for Apple Maps in 2025

1. Utilize Preferred Routes

Apple Maps in iOS 26 (compatible with macOS Sequoia) learns your preferred routes based on your commuting habits and suggests them automatically. It also alerts you to delays and offers alternative routes.

How to Enable Preferred Routes:

1. Open Apple Maps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac running iOS 26 or macOS Sequoia.
2. Enter your regular destination (e.g., work or home).
3. Apple Maps will suggest your preferred route based on past trips.
4. If delays are detected, a notification will prompt you to choose an alternative route.
5. Access preferred routes via the Maps widget on your home screen for quick navigation.

Use Case: Save time on your daily commute by relying on Apple Maps’ proactive delay alerts and personalized route suggestions.

Source: Posts on X about Apple Maps in iOS 26.

2. Track Visited Places

Apple Maps’ new Visited Places feature automatically saves locations you’ve been to, such as restaurants, shops, or landmarks, with on-device processing for privacy.

How to Use Visited Places:

1. Open Apple Maps and go to Settings > Privacy > Visited Places.
2. Enable the Visited Places toggle.
3. Access your visited locations in Library > Visited Places.
4. Tap a location to view details, add it to a favorites list, or get directions back.

Pro Tip: Visited Places uses end-to-end encryption, ensuring your location history remains private and stored only on your device.

Source: Posts on X about Apple Maps features.

3. Create Custom Guides

Apple Maps allows you to create personalized guides for trips or local exploration, similar to Google Maps’ Lists. Guides can include multiple stops and be shared with others.

How to Create a Guide:

1. Open Apple Maps and tap Create Guide in the Library tab.
2. Name your guide (e.g., “Weekend Getaway”).
3. Search for places and tap Add to Guide for each location.
4. Share your guide via Messages, Mail, or AirDrop by tapping Share.

Use Case: Plan a weekend trip by creating a guide with hotels, restaurants, and attractions, then share it with travel companions.

4. Use Look Around for Street-Level Exploration

Apple Maps’ Look Around feature, similar to Google’s Street View, provides high-resolution street-level imagery. In 2025, Look Around has expanded to more cities and includes smoother transitions.

How to Use Look Around:

1. Open Apple Maps and search for a supported location.
2. Tap the Look Around icon (binoculars) if available.
3. Swipe to navigate streets or tap to move to a new point.
4. Pinch to zoom for a closer view of buildings or signage.

Note: Look Around is available in select cities, with coverage expanding in 2025. Check Apple’s website for supported locations.

Advanced Tips for Both Apps

1. Offline Maps for Reliable Navigation

Both Google Maps and Apple Maps now support offline maps, perfect for areas with poor connectivity or international travel to avoid roaming charges.

Google Maps Offline Maps:

1. Open Google Maps and search for a city or region.
2. Tap the place name, then select Download Offline Map.
3. Adjust the map area and tap Download.
4. Access offline maps in Your Places > Offline Maps.

Apple Maps Offline Maps:

1. Open Apple Maps and search for an area.
2. Tap Download and adjust the map boundaries.
3. Save the map and access it in Library > Offline Maps.

Pro Tip: Download offline maps before traveling to ensure navigation without Wi-Fi or cellular data.

2. Optimize for Local SEO (Business Owners)

For business owners, optimizing your Google Maps listing is crucial, as 46% of Google searches have local intent. Apple Maps also supports business listings via Apple Business Connect.

How to Optimize Your Google Maps Listing:

1. Claim and verify your business on Google Business Profile.
2. Add accurate details: name, address, phone number, website, and categories.
3. Include keywords in your business description (e.g., “best coffee shop in Seattle”).
4. Upload high-quality photos and respond to customer reviews.
5. Use Google Posts to share updates or promotions.

How to Optimize Your Apple Maps Listing:

1. Sign up for Apple Business Connect.
2. Verify your business and add details like hours, photos, and services.
3. Enable Showcase to highlight promotions or events.
4. Encourage customers to leave reviews to boost visibility.

Source: How to Rank Higher on Google Maps in 10 Steps.

3. Use Real-Time Traffic and Incident Reports

Both apps provide real-time traffic updates and incident reports (e.g., accidents, road closures) contributed by users. Google Maps leverages 500 million contributors annually, while Apple Maps uses anonymized crowd-sourced data.

How to Access Real-Time Data:

• Google Maps: Tap the layers icon (square with an arrow) and select Traffic to view live conditions. Enable Incident Reports in Settings > Navigation.
• Apple Maps: Tap the Traffic toggle in the map view to see real-time traffic. Incident reports appear automatically during navigation.

Use Case: Avoid delays by checking traffic conditions before starting your commute.

Source: Google Maps Statistics and Trends for 2025.

System Requirements

• Google Maps: Compatible with macOS, iOS, Android, and web browsers. Requires iOS 16 or later, Android 8 or later, or a modern browser for Mac.
• Apple Maps: Requires iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS Sequoia (version 15 or later). Some features, like Visited Places, require an M-series chip for on-device processing.
• Internet: Most features require an internet connection, except offline maps.
• Storage: Offline maps may require 500 MB–2 GB, depending on the area.

Free Apps to Enhance Your Maps Experience

To complement Google Maps and Apple Maps, consider these free apps for macOS and mobile devices:

• Waze: A community-driven navigation app with real-time traffic and incident reports, ideal for avoiding delays during commutes.
• OsmAnd: An open-source mapping app with detailed offline maps and hiking trails, perfect for outdoor adventures.
• Citymapper: A transit-focused app for urban areas, offering detailed public transport schedules and multi-modal route options.
• MapTiler: A tool for creating custom maps, useful for developers or businesses integrating maps into apps or websites.

Conclusion

Google Maps and Apple Maps in 2025 are more than navigation tools—they’re powerful platforms for exploration, planning, and business growth. From Google’s Lens in Maps and eco-friendly routing to Apple’s Visited Places and Preferred Routes, these apps offer innovative features to enhance your travel experience. By mastering the tricks outlined in this guide, you can navigate smarter, save time, and reduce your environmental impact. For business owners, optimizing your listings on both platforms can boost local visibility and attract more customers. Pair these apps with the recommended free tools to create a seamless navigation ecosystem tailored to your needs.