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How to Transfer Google Maps Saved Places to Apple Maps: Complete Guide

Import your Google Maps saved places into Apple Maps on iPhone and Mac. Step-by-step guide for switching from Google to Apple ecosystem.

February 5, 2026

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7 min read

Switching from Android to iPhone? Prefer Apple's ecosystem? If you've built up years of saved locations in Google Maps and want them in Apple Maps, you'll need to export and manually transfer them. Apple and Google don't share saved places data.

This guide covers your options for bringing Google Maps saved places into Apple Maps.

Why Apple Maps?

Apple Maps has improved dramatically since its rocky 2012 launch. Today it offers compelling reasons to switch:

  • Privacy: Apple doesn't build advertising profiles from your location data
  • Integration: Seamless with Siri, CarPlay, Apple Watch, and all Apple devices
  • Look Around: Apple's Street View equivalent, available in many cities
  • Guides: Curated collections from trusted sources
  • Indoor maps: Detailed layouts of airports and malls
  • Flyover: 3D city views
  • No ads: Clean interface without promoted places

For iPhone users, Apple Maps often provides a smoother experience than running Google Maps as a third-party app.

The Challenge

Apple Maps doesn't support bulk importing places. There's no "Import GPX" or "Import KML" option. Apple's Guides feature is read-only for user data - you can save individual places but can't bulk upload.

This means transferring from Google Maps requires either:

  • Individual place transfers (one at a time)
  • Using your exported data as a reference while manually saving

Neither is ideal for large collections, but both work.

Transfer Methods

Method A: Share from Google Maps to Apple Maps

The most straightforward approach for individual places:

  1. Open Google Maps on your iPhone
  2. Find a saved place you want to transfer
  3. Tap the place to open its details
  4. Tap "Share" → "More" → "Maps" (Apple Maps)
  5. Apple Maps opens with the location
  6. Tap the "..." menu → "Add to Favorites" or "Add to Guide"

Repeat for each place. This preserves the exact location and name.

Method B: Export Coordinates, Search in Apple Maps

For more places, use your exported data as a reference:

  1. Export from Google Takeout and geocode (via Takeout Tools or similar)
  2. Open your CSV file in a spreadsheet on your Mac or iPhone
  3. For each place, copy the coordinates
  4. In Apple Maps, search for the coordinates (e.g., "37.7749, -122.4194")
  5. When the pin drops, tap "Add to Favorites" or create a Guide

This is faster than navigating Google Maps for each place, especially when working from a spreadsheet on your Mac.

Method C: Selective Transfer

Rather than transferring everything, consider what you actually need:

Worth transferring:

  • Favorites you visit regularly
  • Places you've been meaning to revisit
  • Upcoming trip destinations
  • Friends' and family members' addresses

Skip:

  • Places you've already visited once
  • Closed businesses
  • Outdated saves from years ago

A curated list of 20-50 places is more useful than 500 stale saves.

Step-by-Step: The Reference Method

1. Export from Google Takeout

  1. Go to Google Takeout
  2. Click "Deselect all"
  3. Scroll down and select only "Saved"
  4. Click "Next step" → "Create export"
  5. Wait for the email, download, and unzip

2. Add Coordinates

Google Takeout exports only include names and addresses - no coordinates. Use a geocoding service like Takeout Tools to add latitude and longitude. Export as CSV.

3. Open on Your Mac

For the easiest workflow:

  1. Open the CSV in Numbers or Excel on your Mac
  2. Open Apple Maps on your Mac
  3. Work through the list, searching coordinates in Apple Maps
  4. Save places to Favorites or a Guide
  5. Saved places sync to your iPhone via iCloud

Working on Mac with a large screen makes this much faster than doing it on your phone.

4. Organize with Guides

Apple Maps Guides let you create themed collections:

  1. In Apple Maps, tap your profile picture
  2. Tap "My Guides"
  3. Create new guides (Restaurants, Travel, etc.)
  4. Add places to relevant guides as you transfer

Guides sync across all your Apple devices.

Using iCloud Sync

Once you've saved places in Apple Maps, they automatically sync across your Apple devices via iCloud:

  • iPhone, iPad, Mac - all share the same Favorites and Guides
  • Changes on one device appear everywhere
  • No manual syncing required

Make sure Maps is enabled in your iCloud settings: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Maps.

What About Third-Party Apps?

Some apps claim to transfer Google Maps places to Apple Maps. Be cautious:

  • Most don't actually import into Apple Maps (no API for this)
  • They may store your data in their own app instead
  • Some scrape data in ways that violate Google's terms
  • Privacy implications of giving third parties your location history

The manual methods above are slower but reliable and keep your data under your control.

Limitations to Know

Apple Maps has some limitations compared to Google Maps:

  • No bulk import: Every place must be added individually
  • Fewer reviews: Less user-generated content than Google
  • Coverage gaps: Some areas, especially outside US/Europe/Japan, have less detail
  • No timeline: No equivalent to Google Maps Timeline
  • Guide limits: Guides have place limits (around 100 items)

For most users in supported regions, these limitations are minor. For international travel to less-mapped areas, Google Maps may still be necessary.

Pro Tips

  1. Start with your most-used places. Transfer your top 10-20 first. You can always add more later, but having your frequent destinations makes the switch usable immediately.

  2. Use Mac for bulk work. Transferring places on a large screen with keyboard shortcuts is much faster than on iPhone.

  3. Create themed Guides. Don't dump everything into Favorites. Use Guides like "Weekend Restaurants," "Travel: Japan 2026," or "Client Offices" for better organization.

  4. Check the location landed correctly. Especially for businesses with common names, verify Apple Maps found the right one.

  5. Keep Google Maps installed. For areas where Apple Maps lacks detail, or when you need reviews and photos, Google Maps remains valuable. Use Apple Maps as your default, Google for research.

  6. Enable Siri suggestions. Apple Maps with Siri learns your patterns - suggesting destinations at the right time without manual effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there really no way to bulk import places into Apple Maps?

Correct. Apple Maps has no import feature. Places must be added one at a time through the app interface.

Will my Apple Maps places sync to a new iPhone?

Yes. Saved places sync via iCloud. Sign into your Apple ID on the new device and your Favorites and Guides appear automatically.

Can I export places from Apple Maps?

Limited options. You can share individual places but there's no bulk export. Apple doesn't provide a Takeout-equivalent service.

Does Apple Maps work without internet?

Apple Maps can download offline areas (added in iOS 17). Download regions before travel for offline navigation.

How does Apple Maps compare to Google Maps for navigation?

Both are excellent in well-mapped areas. Google has broader international coverage. Apple has better iOS integration and privacy. Most users won't notice a difference in daily driving.

Should I delete Google Maps after transferring places?

Keep it installed. Google Maps has better business information, more reviews, and superior coverage in some regions. Use Apple Maps as your default, Google Maps when you need more detail.

Export with Coordinates

Get your places ready for manual transfer

Try Takeout Tools →

Free Tools

Need to convert geo files to CSV? Use our free browser-based converters:

See Other Export Guides