How to name and save locations with Maps on iPhone and iPad

How-to
By Contributions from , last updated

Remember that spot you just parked at just by dropping a pin on the map!

Apple Maps on Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom on top of a MacBook
(Image credit: iMore)
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Did you just park your car and want to remember where you parked for later? Or maybe you just want to remember where your friends and family are, or your new favorite business. Apple's Maps app can help you out! All you need to do is just name and save where you currently are, so you can reference it later. No more circling the parking lot the next time you're at the happiest place on Earth!

But how do you name and save such locations in Apple Maps? Don't worry, it's pretty easy on iOS, and gives you the best iPhone experience you could ask for, including on the upcoming iPhone 14.

How to add your current location to a contact

You can quickly add the current location to any Contact you have on your iPhone or best iPad. It's a great way to collect or update the addresses of the places you go to or the friends you visit.

  1. Launch Maps from the Home screen on your iPhone or iPad
  2. Tap the current location button.
  3. Tap on the blue dot, which represents your current location.

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. Swipe up on the lower panel, then tap the ... button.
  2. Tap on Add to existing contact.
  3. Tap on a contact you want to use.
  4. Type in your contact's complete address information. It should auto-fill but make sure everything is right.
  5. Tap on Update in the top right corner.

(Image credit: iMore)

Once an address is in the Contacts app, you can tap it at any time to bring up the location again in Maps.

How to view recent searches in Maps

If you often find yourself traveling to the same place, you can easily pull up a list of locations you have searched for recently.

  1. Launch Maps from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap on the search bar at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Choose the previous location on the list.

(Image credit: iMore)

How to drop a pin in Maps on iPhone and iPad

You can drop a pin at any point in the Maps app except when using guided directions. The effect is more natural to see when you are zoomed in on the map a little already, not to mention easier to make sure you drop a pin in the right place! This is also a great way to remember where you parked your car if you don't have Bluetooth or CarPlay.

  1. Launch the Maps app from your Home screen.
  2. Tap and hold on the location where you want to drop the pin.

(Image credit: iMore)

Just like that, you have dropped a pin, giving you some information on the location. Depending on how close it is to your current location, you can see how far it is away from you either by driving or walking. If you drop a new pin, it will replace the old pin you added earlier.

How to delete a pin in Maps on iPhone and iPad

When you drop a pin, it will stick around until you remove it.

  1. Launch the Maps from your Home screen.
  2. Tap the pin you want to delete.
  3. Swipe up on the lower panel.
  4. Tap the delete icon.

(Image credit: iMore)

How to add favorite locations in Maps on iPhone and iPad

Favoriting a location allows you to bookmark it, so it's much quicker to find while searching. Less time mapping equals hitting the road sooner, which also means getting to your destination quicker. You can favorite any location. So whether you type in an address, drop a pin, or select a business, the steps are mostly the same.

  1. Launch the Maps from your Home screen.
  2. Find the location you want to favorite. You can do this in a few different ways.
    • Typing the address into the search bar.
    • Dropping a pin.
    • Tapping on a location already on the map. This is what we did for this example.
  3. Swipe up on the lower panel.
  4. Tap on Add Favorite. You may have to scroll down to see it.

(Image credit: iMore)

How to view favorite places in Maps on iPhone and iPad

  1. Launch the Maps app from your Home screen.
  2. Scroll down, and then tap See All under Favorites. You can also click on your favorite from the recent list.

(Image credit: iMore)

A list of all your favorite locations will now appear. Tap on any site to bring it up on the map.

How to delete favorite sites in Maps on iPhone and iPad

  1. Launch the Maps app from your Home screen.
  2. Scroll down and tap See All/More under Favorites. You can also click on your favorite from the recent list.

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. Scroll to left on the location to delete.
  2. Tap Delete.

(Image credit: iMore)

Always save your favorite places for quick access later

We all go to many places every day, and sometimes we just want to save them for quicker access later. No matter what the situation is, Apple Maps makes it easy to name and save your favorite spots for later. After all, saving them means faster access, which means less time searching for it. Who doesn't want to save some time?

As you can see, it's pretty easy and straightforward to name and save locations in the Apple Maps app. Once you do that, just tap on those locations to easily get turn-by-turn directions and more. And don't forget to drop a pin to prevent yourself from circling the parking lot asking yourself, "where did I park?"

Updated August 2022: Updated to reflect newest iOS.

Christine Chan
Christine Chan

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed. When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.

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