Apple Maps lists your location incorrectly? Here’s how to report it

No map is perfect; all are approximations. But it’s galling to business owners when a modern digital map lists the wrong address, has incorrect business hours, or even says the business is closed when it’s still open. Many, many people email Mac 911 asking for help with this when customers can’t find them. Or, to take real examples I’ve received, when an address listed offered a dangerous turnoff that wasn’t the main entrance–or when people living in a newly-issued U.K. post code were directed miles away from their destination.

Apple Maps offers a correction feature that’s changed and expanded slightly in recent releases for iOS/iPadOS and macOS. You don’t have to be a business owner to suggest changes or request a correction. Mistaken addresses and routes of course affect homeowners and renters, too, as well as non-profits, schools, and other organizations. (Google Maps years ago placed my house four miles west for about six months, which was a constant problem for deliveries, service people, and parents trying to bring their kids over for playdates and birthday parties.)

Follow the steps below to report errors or add places that aren’t listed. Note that human beings do review the additions and changes; they’re not made higgledy-piggledy.

If you don’t have access to an Apple device or don’t want to use a Maps app to report, you can use a little-known form to report the problem. Apple also says you can call their helpline, AppleCare 1-800-APLCARE in the U.S. or 0800 0480408 in the U.K., to report map problems, though I know no one who has.

How to correct and add address information on iPhone or iPad

To correct a listing:

1. Launch Maps.
2. Tap a location.
3. Tap the three-dot menu to the right of the estimated time of arrival.
4. Tap Report an Issue.
5. Tap the issue you want to correct.
6. Edit the information.
7. Tap Submit.

To add a listing:

1. Launch Maps.
2. Hold down on the map to create a Dropped Pin.
3. Tap the three-dot menu.
4. Tap Add to Maps.
5. Tap what you want to add (address, place, transit stop, etc.).
6. Fill in details and ensure the pin is over the correct location.
7. Tap Send.

You can also tap Mark My Location at the bottom of the screen to quickly drop a pin at your location and then follow the steps above.

How to correct and add address location on a Mac

macOS Big Sur and later

To correct a listing:

1. Launch Maps.
2. Click a place’s icon.
3. Tap the three-dot menu next to the right of the location name.
4. Scroll down to Report an Issue at the very bottom and click it.
5. You can then modify and detail, including location, and click Submit.

It’s not at first obvious that there’s more to the dialog in some cases, as the map may appear to be the only thing you can select. Jiggle your pointing device to display the scroll bar or use a trackpad or scroll control on a mouse to scroll down to uncover categories, hours, and other details.

To add a listing:

1. Launch Maps.
2. Control-click and select Drop Pin.
3. Click the pin, then the three-dot menu, and select Add a Missing Place (Big Sur to Monterey) or Add to Maps (Ventura).
4. Fill out details and click Submit.

macOS Catalina and earlier

To correct a listing:

1. Launch Maps.
2. Select a place’s icon.
3. Click its info (i) icon and then click Report an Issue at the very bottom of its panel.
4. Select the kind of issue. In Mojave, these options appear: Location on Map, Place Details, Place Closed, or Other Issue. In Catalina, only Edit Place Details appears.
5. Click Continue.
6. Perform the necessary action associated with that choice (see below).
7. Click Send.

Each of the four actions has a separate process:

• Location on Map: Move the pin to the correct location.
• Place Details or Edit Place Details: Revise information or add it.
• Place Closed: Write a description providing documentation.
• Other Issue: In freeform text, explain the problem.

macOS Mojave and earlier

1. Control-click and drop a pin and then select it.
2. Click its info (i) icon and then click Report an Issue.
3. Click Add a Place and click Continue.
4. Move the pin to the correct place, and then click Continue.
5. Choose the type of place, like Business or Landmark, fill in the details, and click Send.

The only way to add an address in macOS Catalina

This also works in Mojave and earlier:

1. Choose Maps > Report an Issue.
2. Click Add a Missing Place (Catalina) or Add a Place (Mojave and earlier) and click Continue.
3. Move the pin to the correct place, and then click Continue.
4. Choose the type of place, like Business or Landmark, fill in the details, and click Send.

This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Anne.

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