How to Drop a Pin in Apple Maps on iPhone and iPad

Put a pin in Apple Maps to find destinations

A person is holding an iPhone next to a traditional map. The iPhone displays the Maps app.

Brook Pifer/Getty Images

by Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen has been writing about technology since 2010. Her work has appeared in Mashable, TechRadar, and many more publications.
Updated July 16, 2019

Placing a pin on a location in the Maps app on Apple's iOS devices makes it easier to get where you need to go. It's even possible to share your exact location with your contacts. Learn how to drop a pin on your iPhone so that you are never lost.

Instructions in this article apply to Apple iPhones and iPads running iOS 12 or iOS 11.

How to Drop a Pin on Apple Maps

To pin a location on Apple Maps using your iPhone:

  1. Launch Maps from your iPhone's Home screen. The screen opens up on your current location with a blue pin highlighting exactly where you are.

  2. Tap and hold on a location where you want to drop a pin. If you're using an iPhone X, iPhone XS, or iPhone XR, you feel a brief vibration from your iPhone as the pin appears on the screen. Older iPhones don't provide this tactile feedback. The pin is a red circle with a white pin in it.

    Maps icon, marker, dropped pin in iOS Maps

    Nothing showing up when you hold down on the screen? Try zooming in by moving your pinched fingers outward to enlarge the map.

  3. Tap Edit Location to view a zoomed-in shot of the road and get a realistic view of the location.

  4. Tap Done.

    Edit Location, Marked pin in Maps for iOS

How to Get More From Your Apple Maps Pin 

After you pin a location, swipe up on Marked Location to get more options:

  • Tap Directions to be given the fastest route to the location. Your iPhone automatically determines if the location is near enough for you to walk or if it needs to provide driving instructions. 
  • Want to add the location to a contact on your iPhone contacts list? Tap Create New Contact or Add to Existing Contact to send an address to a friend or colleague. 
Directions button, Create New/Add to Existing Contact in iOS Maps

To remove a marked location, press and hold the pin and select Remove Marker from the pop-up menu.

How to Save Pins as Favorites on Apple Maps

If you anticipate needing a pin in the future, save the marked location to the Maps app by adding it to your Favorites. This makes it easier to locate:

  1. Select the pin by tapping on it in the Maps app.

  2. Swipe up on Marked Location to bring up the lower pane.

  3. Tap Favorite.

  4. Enter a specific name or use the iPhone's suggested name instead.

    Favorite button, Save button, Saved location in iOS Maps

  5. When you name the location, the marked location changes to the name you give it and is displayed with a heart, indicating it is a Favorite and saved in the app. 

How to View Favorite Locations in Maps on iPhone

To see the locations you've marked as favorites:

  1. Tap the search bar at the bottom of the Apple Maps screen.

  2. Scroll down past the previous places you've searched for and tap Favorites at the bottom of the list.

  3. Tap the location you're looking for to bring it up on the map.

    Search field, Favorites places, Favorites tag in iOS Maps

How to Share Pins

It's possible to share your location and dropped pins with a friend. This is a great way to work out a meeting place. The Share option is in the same screen as the Favorite option.

  1. Tap the pin. 

  2. Swipe up on Marked Location to bring up the lower panel.

  3. Tap Share.

  4. Tap Message to send an iMessage or SMS text message that has the location and direction details attached.

    Marked location, Share button, Message button in iOS Maps