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Change Maps Default Settings on iPhone and iPad

By Michael | Last Updated

There is a great feature of Apple Maps humanized setting. Taking the different using habits and its huge number of users around the world, Apple Maps allow you to change the Maps default settings on iPhone and iPad to suit your daily usage habits. You can change the units of distance, preferred transportation type, English Map labels and the navigation voice volume in the extremely easy steps. Besides, you can improve Maps and enable Compass in iPhone map for your convenience.

  1. Part 1: How to change preferred direction from Driving to Walking
  2. Part 2: How to change the units of distance for Map
  3. Part 3: How to turn off English map labels on iPhone and iPad
  4. Part 4: How to change navigation voice volume in Maps
  5. Part 5: How to enable or disable compass in Map
  6. Part 6: How to make Maps better work for you

Part 1: How to change preferred direction from Driving to Walking

If you resort to the Maps navigation with a destination, you will be offered two methods: driving or walking (in the higher new version of iPhone, you have the transit option). By default, you will get the driving route and directions. If you want the walking directions to be the first choice, you can change the preferred direction from Driving to Walking.

Step 1: Access Settings from Home screen and open Maps.

Step 2: Under PREFERRED DIRECTIONS, select Walking.

Part 2: How to change the units of distance for Map

For those people in United States, Miles is the default unit for distance in Maps app. For the people live outside United States, Kilometers will be the default unit for distance in Maps app. Of course, you are in the control of the default settings in your iPhone or iPad at anywhere and anytime.

Step 1: Enter Settings > Maps.

Step 2: You have two options here: Miles and Kilometers. Choose the one in your favor.

change preferred direction from Dricing to Walking

Part 3: How to turn off English map labels on iPhone and iPad

As English is the most popular language in the world, Apple sets the English as the default language for Maps. But it is inconvenient for the people to search the routes if he is in China. In this situation, Apple enables you to turn off the English map labels any time in following steps.

Step 1: Open Settings > Maps.

Step 2: Tap on the On/Off switch beside Always in English.

turn off language label in maps

There are more things you can do in Maps, such as enable the compass and change the navigation voice volume. With the above details, I believe now you can do any settings for Maps on iPhone and iPad easily.

Part 4: How to change navigation voice volume in Maps

The navigation voice volume is available on iPhone & iPad with iOS 6/7/8 and higher version.They can change the navigation voice according to their needs.

Step 1: Open Settings and access Maps.

access maps settings

Step 2: Choose from Low Volume, Loud Volume or Normal Volume in the NAVIGATION VOICE VOLUME settings, you can choose one for your need.

choose navigation voice volume

  • No Voice: The navigation prompts will be silent.
  • Low Volume: You will hear the same volume level in the navigation prompts and media.
  • Normal Volume: It will help you to play media at a lower volume during navigation prompts.
  • Loud Volume: It will lower media volume and raise navigation prompts.

If you want to disable the navigation voice in Maps on iPhone or iPad, you should choose No Voice to turn off the navigation sound.

Part 5: How to enable or disable compass in Map

The compass function is not enabled by default in your Map. But you can turn it on in Apple maps easily.

Step 1: Tap Settings and then scroll down to hit Maps option.

Step 2: In Map settings, tap Driving & Navigation.

Step 3: Finally, you can toggle Compass on and make it show in navigation. When it is on, the button in Compass section is in green. If you think compass is useless for you in map, you can make this button to be grey—disable status.

enable compass in iPhone Map

Part 6: How to make Maps better work for you

There is Improve Maps feature which allows Apple users to use your frequently-visited location information to better approximate the geographic location of your current address. It is easily to enable/disable it in iPhone/iPad.

Step 1: Find and open Frequent Locations.

Enter Settings, choose Privacy, tap Location Services, select System Services and click Frequent Locations.

click frequent locations

Step 2: Turn on or off Improve Maps.

1. To enable Improve Maps, click the switch on the right to turn it on.

enable improve maps

2. To disable Improve Maps, tap the switch to turn it off.

isable improve maps

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