Apple Maps has been trying to catch up to Google Maps since its launch in 2012, and has now finally made its debut on the web. This means you can access Apple Maps in any browser, whether you’re using macOS or Windows.
Until now, you were limited to the dedicated Apple Maps apps for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This meant that if you didn’t have an Apple phone, tablet, or computer, you couldn’t use it – which clearly limits the number of users who could access it.
Currently, Apple Maps is marked as beta on the web. It works in Safari and Chrome on macOS and Chrome and Edge on Windows. Support for additional browsers and platforms will be “expanded over time.”
First steps
Because it’s a beta, you won’t find all of Apple Maps’ features on the web interface, but there’s still plenty you can do. Open Safari or Chrome on macOS, or Chrome or Edge on Windows, and point your browser to https://beta.maps.apple.com to get started.
The map interface takes up most of the browser window, and you can zoom in and out using the buttons in the lower right corner (or using a mouse’s scroll wheel or a trackpad gesture). Click and drag the compass icon (top right) to change the map orientation, or click the navigation pointer (an arrow) to jump to your current location.
You can choose between three different map views, which you can access by clicking on the map icon in the upper left corner of the user interface: There is the standard View that satellite View and a Hybrid View that combines both (you get the satellite imagery with the standard map labels for streets and places on top).
On the left side you will see a Seek Option that lets you jump to a specific location, be it a restaurant, city or country. Start typing and you’ll be shown some suggestions. If you don’t type anything, you’ll get quick links to nearby places, be it gas stations, parking lots or bars – so you can search for a type of place too.
Click any place name on the map and, like in the Apple Maps apps, you’ll get more details about it. You can see information like photos, reviews, hours and menus, and you can share a place with someone else (or save it to an app like Notes) by clicking the Share button at the top (the square with an arrow above it).
Guides and directions
Under the Seek Option on the left is Instructions. This will take you to a curated selection of guides covering topics such as the best restaurants or the top attractions in a particular city. You can narrow down the guides by region using the dropdown menu at the top.
Click on any of the guidebooks, for example the best places to hear live jazz in New Orleans, and the map will zoom in on the locations the guidebook refers to. You can compare the guidebook text with the other information on the map, including photos of the venue and how easy it is for you to get to it.
The other main function of Apple Maps on the web is navigation: Click Directions on the left to enter start and destination points and choose between car, walking, public transit or bike. You get drop-down menus to specify a departure time (which affects traffic estimates) and to view routes that avoid toll roads, motorways, busy roads, steep hills and stairs.
You can also click on any location on the map and then select “Directions” from the tab that appears. No matter where you’re going and where you’re leaving from, you can choose between different routes and timings. Of course, there’s not much you can do with navigation directions on a desktop computer, but you can send those directions to someone else by clicking the “Share” button in the top right (the square and arrow icon).
Of course, there’s a lot more that can be done when it comes to Apple Maps on the web, and it’s not fully functional yet – right now, for example, you can’t log in with your Apple account to see your favorite places and saved locations. But it’s a solid start for the web app, and already gives you enough functionality to browse the map and find specific points of interest.
