Ever since the launch of iOS 9, search Apple has withdrawn the access of Google Maps or any third party app to set as default for viewing the maps in search iPhone. The search iPhone users are forced to use search Apple Maps as their default app. However, it is quite inconvenient for some users to switch their habit of using Apple Maps instead of Google Maps. The reason is, both the apps are somewhat differently designed and share a lot of dissimilarities in functioning.

Here the point arises that, is it even possible to set Google maps as default on iPhone? So, the answer is yes, but in some exceptional ways. You should know exactly how to do it because the settings do not appear as direct.

There are various alternatives to using Google Maps as default on search iPhone, but unfortunately none of them are fool proof.

Using Google Maps as default in search iPhone through Gmail and Chrome

First of all, for using Google Maps as your default map viewer you need to install Google Chrome and Gmail.

By setting Google Chrome as your default browser

Let’s talk about chrome first. Once the app is installed follow these steps to make it a default app.

  1. Go to your settings.
  2. Open the lists of installed apps and scroll down till chrome and tap.
  3. On the screen, you will see the Default Browser App. Tap on it.
  4. From the list choose Chrome to make it your default browser.

And you’re done. Now every time when you open a map link from this browser, it will ask you to choose your preferred app for opening the map. Make sure you choose Google Maps. Or else, in the first attempt, disable the button asking for ‘Ask me every time which app to use’ to avoid prompting.

By configuring Gmail

Now, another method of using Google maps as default on search iPhone is by setting gmail as your default mail app. Here is how –

Step 1 – Set as default mail app

  1. Go to your settings
  2. In the app list search or scroll down to gmail and tap on it.
  3. Go to the Default Mail App.
  4. Select gmail from the appeared list.

Step 2 – Configure Gmail

  1. Now open gmail.
  2. Go to the menu appearing on the left top corner.
  3. Tap on settings from the opened list of options.
  4. You will see a Default App option in the list, tap on that option.
  5. From the list of options, under ‘Navigate from your location’ and ‘Navigate between location’ select Google Maps.

And you are done. Now make sure you select Google Maps whenever you are asked to choose one app for opening the appeared link of map. Or to avoid the pop up, disable the switch ‘Ask me every time which app to use’ in the bottom.

How to make Google Maps default on search Apple CarPlay

After four years of launch, search Apple has finally given the option of switching the navigation app in CarPlay. So, now you can finally replace Apple maps with Google maps in your CarPlay in a few simple steps. All you need to do is –

  1. Make sure you are using iOS 12 in your search iPhone phone and google maps with 5.0 or higher version.
  2. Now go the settings in your search iPhone
  3. Tap on General.
  4. Go to CarPlay
  5. Choose your Vehicle.
  6. Now slide the screen to go to the Google maps. Hold it and bring on the home screen.

And from now, Google Maps will appear as your navigation app in your CarPlay.

Bottom Line

So, these were a few hacks by which you can temporarily replace search Apple Maps with Google Maps as your default app in iPhone. However, no solid feature of switching the apps is featured in iOS till now. But we are hoping that, in the near future, search Apple will surely give access to the search iPhone users for choosing the Map viewer of their preference in search iPhone.