Apple Maps does not have a Street View feature like Google Maps does

Apple Maps does not offer Street View, the ground-level photo panoramas that let you see what a street actually looks like before you visit. If you open Apple Maps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and look for a Street View option, you will not find one. Google Maps has this feature built in — you can click the Pegman icon and see 360-degree photos of most streets in the United States and many other countries. Apple Maps took a different approach and never built that tool into their service.

This is one of the clearest differences between the two mapping services. Apple Maps focuses on turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic, and satellite imagery instead. If Street View is something you rely on — to preview a neighborhood, check what a building looks like, or see if a business is still open — you will need to use Google Maps or another service that offers it.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Maps does not have Street View; Google Maps is the main alternative if you need ground-level photos of streets and buildings.
  • Apple Maps does offer satellite imagery and 3D views in some cities, which show buildings and terrain from above but not from street level.
  • You can use both services on any iPhone or iPad — Apple Maps comes built in, and you can download Google Maps from the App Store.
  • If you need Street View on an Apple device, open Google Maps instead of Apple Maps and search for the location you want to see.

What Apple Maps shows you instead of Street View

Apple Maps offers satellite imagery and 3D views that show a location from above. When you zoom in on a city in Apple Maps, you can see buildings, roads, and terrain rendered in three dimensions. You can tilt and rotate the view to see building shapes and heights. This works well if you want to understand the layout of an area or see how buildings relate to each other, but it is not the same as standing on the street and looking around.

The 3D view is available in major cities across the United States and some international locations. You activate it by pinching and tilting your screen on an iPhone or iPad, or by holding down the mouse button and dragging on a Mac. The satellite layer shows you actual aerial photography, which can be useful for seeing parking lots, green space, and building footprints. Neither of these replaces the street-level perspective that Street View provides.

Why Apple Maps does not have Street View

Apple has never publicly stated a single reason for not building Street View into Apple Maps. The most likely explanation is that creating and maintaining Street View requires enormous resources — Google has spent years and millions of dollars photographing streets worldwide, and they continue to update those photos regularly. Apple chose to invest in other mapping features instead, particularly navigation and real-time traffic data, which are more directly useful for people actively traveling.

Street View also raises privacy concerns in some countries. Several European nations have restricted or banned Street View over privacy objections, and Apple may have decided the effort was not worth the complexity of managing different rules in different regions. Whatever the reason, Apple's decision has remained consistent — Street View is not part of their mapping product.

How to use Google Maps Street View on an Apple device

If you need Street View, you can use Google Maps on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Download the Google Maps app from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, or visit maps.google.com on a Mac. Search for the location you want to see, then tap or click the photo preview at the bottom of the screen. This opens the Street View interface, where you can swipe or click to look around in all directions.

On an iPhone or iPad, you can also use Pegman — the small figure icon in the bottom right corner of the map. Tap and hold Pegman, then drag him onto the street you want to see. On a Mac, click Pegman and drag him to a street. Street View works on most major streets in the United States and many streets in other countries, though coverage varies by region. Some rural areas and small towns may not have Street View available.

Other mapping services with Street View

Google Maps is the most widely used Street View service, but it is not the only one. Microsoft's Bing Maps also offers a Street View equivalent called Streetside, though coverage is more limited than Google's. Bing Maps is available on the web and as an app on some devices. You can search for a location and click the Streetside button to see ground-level photos.

Some specialized mapping services also offer street-level imagery for specific purposes. Real estate websites often include Street View photos of neighborhoods around properties. City planning departments and tourism boards sometimes publish their own street-level imagery. For most everyday use, though, Google Maps is the most complete and up-to-date option available.

Switching between Apple Maps and Google Maps on iPhone and iPad

You can set Google Maps as your default mapping app on iPhone and iPad, which means links to locations will open in Google Maps instead of Apple Maps. Go to Settings, scroll down and tap Google Maps, then tap Default Maps App and select Google Maps. This only works if you have the Google Maps app installed from the App Store.

You can also open Google Maps directly whenever you need it, even if Apple Maps is your default. Both apps can run on the same device without conflict. Many people keep both installed and use Apple Maps for navigation (because it integrates tightly with Siri and Apple's ecosystem) and Google Maps when they need Street View or want to see user reviews and photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see inside buildings with Apple Maps?

No. Apple Maps shows satellite imagery and 3D building shapes from above, but not interior views. Google Maps Street View also does not show inside most buildings, with rare exceptions like some museums and landmarks. If you need to see inside a business, check their website or social media for photos, or call them directly.

Does Apple Maps work offline like Google Maps does?

Yes, you can download maps for offline use in Apple Maps on iPhone and iPad. Go to the map you want, tap your profile picture, then tap Downloaded Maps and add a new area. Google Maps also offers offline maps. Both services let you download a region and use it for navigation without an internet connection, though neither shows Street View offline.

Is Apple Maps getting Street View in the future?

Apple has not announced any plans to add Street View to Apple Maps. The company has been steadily improving Apple Maps with better navigation, real-time traffic, and 3D views, but Street View has not been part of those updates. If this changes, Apple would likely announce it publicly.

Can I use Street View on Apple Watch?

No. Street View is not available on Apple Watch because the screen is too small to be useful for that kind of interactive viewing. You can use Apple Maps for navigation on Apple Watch, but you will need an iPhone or iPad to access Street View through Google Maps.

Why does Google Maps Street View sometimes look old?

Google updates Street View photos on a rolling schedule, so some streets are photographed more recently than others. Major streets and popular locations are updated more frequently, while rural areas and quiet neighborhoods may not be updated for several years. You can sometimes see the date a photo was taken in the Street View interface.