Apple iOS 26 update: Apple maps introduces AI-powered navigation, preferred routes, and visited places with stunning new interface
The Liquid Glass design interface and AI-powered navigation capabilities that remember your favorite routes and provide alternate routes in the event of a delay are highlights of the iOS 26 update for Apple Maps.

Apple maps gets smarter iOS 26 update: With its gorgeous Liquid Glass overhaul and new personalized navigation capabilities, Apple Maps iOS 26 is about to revolutionize travel. Transparent, refractive buttons and streamlined UI elements that shimmer with each swipe are new features of the redesigned UX.
The true magic, however, is in Maps' newly acquired intelligence: it can identify your favorite routes, notify you of delays, and even provide alternate routes¡ªall while running solely on the device. Additionally, Visited Places, which is encrypted and swipe-deletable, discreetly logs your favorite cafes, stores, and monuments.
With this deliberate fusion of intelligence and aesthetics, Apple Maps is becoming a more intelligent and user-friendly travel and adventure companion. Explore each upgrade by reading on.
What new has iOS 26 got for Apple Maps?
iOS 26 update in Apple Maps brings the Liquid Glass design interface, and AI-powered navigation features | Credit: Apple
By adding translucent buttons that are reminiscent of Liquid Glass, the Liquid Glass design improves the program. The most recent design interface has also been applied to other application user interface components.
The iPhone can now better understand your routines thanks to on-device intelligence. Maps make ordinary travel more efficient and personalized by suggesting your typical preferred route, alerting you to any delays, and suggesting alternate routes in real time when you're on your way home or to work.
Also Read: iOS 26: How to install the latest update in your iPhone?
To assist users in remembering places they have been, such as eateries, stores, or landmarks, Apple Maps is launching a new feature called Been Places. When enabled, your iPhone may recognize and record these visits automatically, giving you the ability to view your location history within the Maps app.
Naturally, some privacy concerns may arise with the implementation of these capabilities. According to Apple, the favorite routes feature operates entirely within the device, guaranteeing that data about your travel habits never leaves your iPhone. Similarly, the Visited Places log is encrypted from beginning to end, so Apple cannot access the information. Additionally, users can swiftly remove entries with a single swipe.
Notably, iOS 26 is currently in beta testing and will be accessible to all users by the fall of 2025.
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