In 2013, Apple made a very wise decision to put their Maps app on every Mac. The Mac Maps app is generally similar to its iOS counterpart, so if you own an iPhone or iPad, you’re probably already familiar with it. But nevertheless, since our primary goal is to help you have a more enjoyable Mac experience, we’re sharing with you this guide on how to use the Maps app on Mac.
Searching for a Location on the Maps App
The most basic feature of Maps is to show you the exact location of a place, whether it’s a street, a restaurant, or a building you are most likely to find it on the app. To get an idea where something is located, just take these steps:
- Launch the Maps app. You can select it in the Dock or open it from the Finder.
- Click on the Search bar. Type in your query or keywords. Try specific names of businesses and buildings. If you know the street and city name or other specific details, input the details as well. Hit press Return or Enter.
- The location you are looking for will be shown on the map with a red pin.
Resetting your current location
If you find yourself exploring the map and have gone a bit far, you can go back to your location on the map by clicking on the arrow (Location icon) next to the Search bar. The map will then go back to your current location, which will be shown with a blue dot.
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Finding the Address of a Mac Contact
If you saved the address of individuals and businesses in your Contacts, you can also search their location in Maps.
- Click on the Search bar.
- Enter the name or business saved in your Contacts that you want to locate.
- The contact will appear in the search suggestions under the Contacts group. Click on the name or business you are looking for to show their location on the map.
Switching from Transit to Satellite View
In Transit view, you will see all available transit routes in the city you search for. Take note, though, that this feature is still being updated, so don’t get disappointed if you can’t find information for some cities.
Meanwhile, Satellite view gives you a bird’s eye view of the area. For instance, you’ll see the roofs of buildings, like you’re looking down at the city from the clouds.
To switch between these two modes, search first for the place you need to locate. Then, in the upper right corner of the Maps window, choose Transit to view transportation routes. Then, click on Satellite beside Transit to switch to satellite view.
Getting Walking, Driving, and Transit Directions
To get directions on how to go from your current location to your desired destination, follow these steps:
- While in Maps, click Directions in the upper left corner of the window.
- Type in a Starting location or simply choose My Location.
- Type in an Ending location.
- Click Drive to get driving directions, Walk to get walking directions, and Transit to get commuting directions, if available. The step-by-step directions will be shown on the left side of the window.
Showing Traffic
You can also use Maps to see real-time traffic in a certain area, allowing you to avoid going that route. Follow these steps to show the traffic on the Maps app:
- When in Maps, click on the Map tab in the upper right corner of the window (beside Transit).
- Go to the bottom left corner of the window. Click Show. Then, choose Show Traffic.
- To get more info about a slow-down, click on the traffic icon.
So, there you have it, the basics of your Mac maps app. We believe that these will help you get started on using this incredibly handy Mac app.