Apple Maps: With iOS 26 & Co., the app can remember locations
Until now, users of Apple's Maps app have always had to mark locations themselves. However, privacy-friendly tracking is now on the way.
Places visited in iOS 26: useful as long as the data remains private.
(Image: Apple)
Many users of Google Maps and/or Android devices are unaware that these can remember their location history, also known as “timeline.” This feature is often activated, and users are often surprised when they discover that they (and Google) are being tracked. Apple has been very cautious with these features so far. The iPhone does recognize so-called important locations on request, for example, to calculate how long it takes to get to work. However, there is no regular location history, not even in Apple's own map app (Apple Maps). But sometimes a history is helpful, for example, if you want to retrace tourist routes. With iOS 26, Apple is now responding to this user request and incorporating a corresponding feature into Apple Maps. However, it is optional and is designed to save data by only storing information locally.
Places visited with detailed information
The feature is called “Visited Places” and will not be available in the European Union at first – offenbar, weil Apple $(LP:%5B%22ver%22%2C2%2C%22type%22%2C%22B%22%2C%22id%22%2C4884288%2C%22txt%22%2C%22Regulierung%20f%C3%BCrchtet%22%5D). “In Apple Maps, 'Visited Places' helps users remember places they've been. Users can choose to have their iPhone recognize when they're at a place like a restaurant or store and display all the places they've visited in Maps.” Apple writes. According to the company, visited locations are either only available locally or are protected by end-to-end encryption when synchronized via the cloud. They “cannot be accessed by Apple,” according to the iPhone manufacturer. src="/image/icon_inline.svg” />
In practice, you can find the places you have visited via a new menu that can be found via your profile picture (you must be logged into iCloud). There you will find both the places you have marked yourself and “Guides,” as well as the automatically saved locations. Apple does not track your route, only your location. Maps attempts to assign matching locations, such as the restaurants or shops mentioned. If this goes wrong, you can make a correction using a “wrong place” button. Useful: You can also add a note to each place you visit, rate it, or delete it from your location history.
iPhone as a location memory
Testers of the current developer beta of iOS 26 report that the feature already works well. For the first time, it is now possible to remember places that you have forgotten or did not mark manually. The location history grows constantly, and users can access it at any time.
Apple also plans to combine Apple Maps with Apple Intelligence in the future. Thanks to AI, the iPhone running iOS 26 will be able to better understand the user's daily route and suggest the preferred route on the way home or to work. Users will also be informed about possible traffic jams and delays and will then be offered alternative routes.
(bsc)
