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

Apple Maps, which comes built into iPhones and iPads, does not offer Street View — the tool that lets you see ground-level photographs of streets and buildings. When you open Apple Maps and zoom into a location, you see a map with roads, labels, and satellite imagery, but you cannot click on a street and walk through it visually the way you can in Google Maps Street View.

Apple has offered a different tool called Look Around in some cities, which serves a similar purpose. Look Around shows 360-degree imagery of streets in select areas, but it is available in far fewer locations than Google's Street View and only in certain countries. If you are looking for street-level photos of a specific address, you may need to use Google Maps instead, depending on where that address is located.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Maps does not have Street View, but it does offer Look Around in some cities as an alternative.
  • Look Around shows 360-degree street-level imagery but is only available in parts of the United States, Japan, and a few other countries.
  • Google Maps Street View covers far more locations worldwide than Apple's Look Around feature.
  • You can still use satellite view and standard map view in Apple Maps to see addresses and neighborhoods from above.

What Look Around actually shows you

Look Around is Apple's version of street-level imagery. When you open it in a supported city, you see a 360-degree photograph of the street as if you were standing there. You can swipe to look around, zoom in and out, and move forward and backward along the street by tapping arrows on the screen. It works similarly to Street View but with a different interface.

The catch is availability. Look Around is currently available in limited areas of California, Nevada, Hawaii, and a few other U.S. states, plus parts of Japan, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. If you try to use it in an unsupported area, the button straightforward will not appear. Apple has not announced plans to expand Look Around to all the places Google Street View covers, so it may remain limited for the foreseeable future.

How to find Look Around in Apple Maps

If you are in a supported area, finding Look Around is straightforward. Open Apple Maps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and search for or navigate to a location. Look for a small icon that looks like a person standing in a circle — this is the Look Around button. Tap it, and the view will switch to the street-level imagery if it is available for that address.

If the button does not appear, it means Look Around is not available for that location. You can still use the satellite view or standard map to see the area from above. On a Mac, you may need to click the "Look Around" option in the menu rather than tapping an icon, depending on your macOS version.

Why Apple Maps does not have Street View

Google Street View exists because Google spent years and significant money sending camera-equipped cars and people around the world to photograph streets. Apple chose a different approach. Instead of building Street View, Apple developed Look Around and has been gradually expanding it, but at a much slower pace than Google's coverage.

This difference comes down to resources and priorities. Google made Street View a core feature of Maps early on and invested heavily in it. Apple focused on other features like turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic, and integration with Siri. Look Around is newer and represents Apple's effort to catch up, but the company has not committed to the same level of global coverage that Street View offers.

When you should use Google Maps instead

If you need street-level imagery and you are not in a Look Around area, Google Maps is your only option. Google Street View covers most streets in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and many other countries. You can access it on any device with a web browser or the Google Maps app.

Even if you prefer Apple Maps for navigation, switching to Google Maps for Street View takes only a few seconds. Search for the same address in Google Maps, tap the Street View icon (a person in a circle), and you will see the street-level photos. This is especially useful if you are trying to verify an address before visiting, check what a building looks like, or explore a neighborhood you have never been to.

What you can do in Apple Maps without Street View

Apple Maps offers other ways to see locations even without Street View or Look Around. The satellite view shows aerial photographs of the area, which can help you see the layout of buildings, parking lots, and streets from above. You can zoom in quite close with satellite view and get a sense of what a place looks like, though it is not the same as seeing it from ground level.

You can also read reviews and see photos that other people have posted to Apple Maps. Many businesses and popular locations have user-submitted images that show what the place looks like inside and out. These photos are often more recent than satellite imagery and can give you a realistic sense of a location before you visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Look Around on my Android phone?

No. Look Around is exclusive to Apple devices — iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Android users can only access it through a web browser on Apple's website, and even then only in very limited ways. If you need street-level imagery on Android, Google Street View is your main option.

Is Look Around the same as Street View?

They serve the same purpose — showing you what a street looks like from ground level — but they are different tools made by different companies. Look Around is Apple's version and works similarly, but it covers far fewer locations. Street View is Google's tool and is available in many more places worldwide.

Will Apple Maps ever have full Street View coverage?

Apple has not announced plans to match Google's Street View coverage. Look Around is expanding slowly, but there is no timeline for global coverage. If you need street-level imagery in most locations, Google Maps remains the more reliable choice.

Can I see inside buildings with Look Around?

No. Look Around, like Street View, only shows public streets and outdoor areas. You cannot use it to see inside homes, businesses, or other private spaces. Some businesses do post interior photos to Apple Maps separately, but that is different from Look Around.

What if I am traveling internationally — will Look Around work?

Look Around is available in parts of Japan, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, but coverage is limited. For most international travel, Google Street View will give you much better coverage of streets and neighborhoods in your destination.