iOS 19 will be unveiled next month, but plenty of iPhone users still haven’t discovered all the new features of the last major update.Apple Maps, for example, scored a great addition inspired by the Notes app in iOS 18, but it’s completely hidden by default.Here are the details.
Maps’ new save feature unlocks a hidden notes interface I’ve been a longtime Apple Maps user, but several iOS 18 improvements have made this an especially strong year for the app.The ability to search a specific map area has been huge for me, and I’m a big fan of the new save button too.For those who haven’t used it much, the save feature lets you quickly add a location to your Library.
By hitting the plus button in the top-right of a place listing, you can save it to: find the place more easily later and make it appear prominently on the map moving forward.Saving places comes with a third benefit, though: it unlocks a hidden notes feature.Notes in Apple Maps let you save key info about a place After you hit the ‘+’ button to save a place, you may or may not notice that a new section appears on that place’s listing.
Just below information on its hours, ratings, cost, and distance, you’ll find a new notes section.It reads: Tap the note section and you’ll be able to jot down anything you want to remember about that place.There aren’t any formatting options, but here’s hoping Apple adds those in a future update.
Regardless, notes are still a great way to save important information about a place for later.Recently, I’ve been exploring different bakeries throughout New York City.My Instagram ‘Search & Explore’ page is packed full of cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and more.
It’s dangerous.Now, when I come across a bakery I want to try out, I’ll save it in Apple Maps and add a note mentioning the specific pastry I need to try out.You can, of course, use notes in whatever other way makes sense to you.
Maybe you use it like a diary of places you’ve been, or to save key information like I do with bakeries.Notes can even be added to dropped pins, so for example you might use a note to save instructions about the best place to enter a large building.It’s a flexible feature to suit any need.
I’m not sure why Apple hid notes behind the save function, other than I suppose to keep the Maps UI from getting cluttered.But if you’re like me, once you find it, you won’t want to go back to saving your notes in a separate app.How have you been using the notes feature in Apple Maps, or how do you plan to use it? Let us know in the comments.
Best iPhone accessories
AirPods Pro 2 (now only $169, down from $249)
MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone
HomeKit smart plug 4-pack
10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack
100W USB-C power adapter for fast charging
You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop.Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel
