How to use the Flyover feature in Apple Maps for Mac

By Allyson Kazmucha
last updated

Apple Maps has a cool feature called Flyover that lets you get 3D views of a selected area. While it doesn't serve much purpose in a navigational sense, it's still a cool feature to play around with and has some practical use if you're trying to scope out certain areas before visiting them. Here's how to use it on your Mac:

  1. Launch the Maps app on your Mac running OS X Mavericks or higher.
  2. Type in the search bar either a general area or an exact address.
  3. Once Maps finds it, zoom in a reasonable amount.
  4. Now click on Satellite and Flyover.
  5. You are now free to pan around and zoom in and out.

It's worth noting that Flyover isn't available everywhere and mainly sticks to urban areas. So if the icon is greyed out, you aren't doing anything wrong. Flyover may just not be available in that specific area. For those familiar with Google Street View, how do you think Flyover compares? Better, worse, or two different things?

Allyson Kazmucha
Allyson Kazmucha

iMore senior editor from 2011 to 2015.

5 Comments
  • I really enjoy exploring areas with Flyover. It's a lot if fun!
    :D Sent from the iMore App
  • 3D flyover was Apple's attempt to out-cool Google Maps and it failed. Who ever uses this feature? Sure, it's neat for 5 or 10 minutes but it has little practical value. Street-view, on the other hand, has real-world value and is something that I use weekly.
  • Agree, more fun than practical. Apple maps needs street view badly. Sent from the iMore App
  • Its also a disgrace in residential areas, looking like a 3d game from the late 90s, with messed up cars and etc. Posted via the Android iMore App!
  • Apple maps has catching up to do with Google on the server side, but I've preferred Apple's client side UI over Googles from the day Apple maps launched. I like flyover better than street view because part of navigating is gaining perspective on adjacent landmarks. Using flyover is fluid and fast versus the slow and awkward process of marching down the street in street view.