Use Apple Maps Offline to Save Data When Travelling

· 1:01 · Maps · iPhone

Use Apple Maps Offline to Save Data When Travelling – video thumbnail

Stop paying for data roaming just to find your way around a new city. Your iPhone can store maps offline, so you get directions and search for places abroad without using a single megabyte of mobile data. In this guide I'll show you how: on Wi-Fi, open Apple Maps, tap your profile picture, choose Offline Maps, search the area you're visiting, and download a small, sensible selection so it doesn't eat your storage. Once it's saved, it works even in aeroplane mode, perfect for exploring without the fear of a huge roaming bill. Do it on the hotel Wi-Fi before you head out and you're sorted for the day. If this helped, hit subscribe for more simple iPhone tips.

Transcript

If you’re travelling abroad and relying on mobile data for maps, you’re probably spending far more than you need to on data roaming. Because every time your phone is loading directions or searching for a place, it’s quietly using data.

So, here’s a simple way to avoid that completely. Open up the Apple Maps app while you’re on Wi-Fi, then tap onto your profile picture and choose Offline Maps.

From here, search the area you’re going to or the area you want to explore, and make sure you zoom in or out so everything’s covered. Try to be sensible here - if you’re going to Munich, don’t download the map for the entirety of Germany. That will use all of your iPhone storage. Make it as small as you can.

Then, when you’re ready, press Download.

And that’s it. Your map will now work without using any mobile data. Even if your phone is completely in aeroplane mode, you can still get directions, search for places, and explore the city, all offline.

I generally do this on the Wi-Fi at the hotel before I head out because it saves me from burning through expensive data roaming during the day.

If you found this tip useful, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Technical details: This QuickTip was recorded on an iPhone 17 Pro Max running iOS 26.5 in May 2026.

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