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 walk through streets virtually on Google Maps. If you open Apple Maps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you will not find a button or option to switch to a street-level view. Apple has never built this feature into its mapping service, even though Google has offered it since 2007.

What Apple Maps does offer instead is Look Around, a similar but more limited feature available only in certain cities. Look Around lets you see street-level imagery in select areas, but it covers far fewer locations than Google Street View and works only on Apple devices — not on the web or Android phones.

If street-level imagery is important for what you are trying to do — checking what a building looks like before you visit, previewing a neighborhood, or verifying an address — you will need to use Google Maps instead of Apple Maps, or use Look Around if your location is covered.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Maps has no Street View feature and never has, so you cannot view ground-level photos of streets the way you can on Google Maps.
  • Look Around is Apple's alternative, but it only works in major cities and only on iPhones, iPads, and Macs — not on computers using a web browser.
  • Google Maps Street View covers far more locations worldwide and is accessible from any device with a web browser.
  • If you need street-level imagery for a location, checking whether it is covered by Look Around or using Google Maps is faster than searching for the feature in Apple Maps.

What Look Around does and does not cover

Look Around launched in 2019 and has expanded slowly. As of now, it covers major cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, London, Tokyo, and a few dozen others, but the list is much shorter than Google Street View's global coverage. Apple has not announced a timeline for expanding Look Around to more cities.

To use Look Around on an iPhone or iPad, open Apple Maps, search for a location, and look for the binoculars icon in the information panel. Tap it and you can pan around street-level imagery. On a Mac, the same icon appears in the location details. If the icon is not there, Look Around is not available for that address.

Look Around imagery is also fresher than Google Street View in the cities where it exists — Apple updates it more frequently. But this advantage matters only if your location is one of the covered cities.

Why Apple Maps lacks Street View

Apple has chosen to build its own street-level imagery instead of licensing it from Google or another provider. This means Apple controls the data but also bears the cost of photographing and updating every street. Google Street View works partly because Google uses data from many sources, including user contributions and partnerships with local governments and businesses.

Apple's approach has let the company avoid paying licensing fees to competitors, but it has also meant slower rollout. Look Around exists only where Apple has invested in sending out camera cars or partnering with local providers. Expanding to smaller cities or rural areas would require more investment, which Apple has not prioritized.

How to find street-level imagery if Apple Maps does not have it

If you need to see what a street or building looks like and your location is not covered by Look Around, open Google Maps instead. Google Street View is available in most countries and covers far more addresses than Look Around. You can access it on any device — iPhone, Android phone, computer, or tablet — through the Google Maps app or website.

To use Street View on Google Maps, search for an address, tap or click the street view thumbnail at the bottom of the screen, and you can navigate the street-level imagery by dragging your finger or mouse. You can also use the Pegman icon (the small figure) and drag it onto the map to set up Street View for that location.

If you are already in Apple Maps and need street-level imagery, you will have to switch apps or open Google Maps in a web browser. There is no way to access Google Street View from within Apple Maps.

Comparing Apple Maps and Google Maps for navigation

Beyond street-level imagery, Apple Maps and Google Maps differ in several ways that might affect which one you use. Google Maps generally has more detailed business information, user reviews, and real-time traffic data. Apple Maps integrates more tightly with Siri and other Apple services, and it prioritizes privacy by not tracking your location history the way Google does.

For navigation and directions, both services are reliable in most areas. The choice often comes down to which features matter most to you and which service you trust with your location data. Street View is one reason some people prefer Google Maps, but it is not the only difference between them.

Using Look Around on your Apple device

If your location is covered by Look Around, the feature is straightforward to use. Open Apple Maps, find the address you want to explore, and look for the binoculars icon in the location card. Tap it, and the view switches to street-level imagery. You can swipe to look around, pinch to zoom in or out, and tap arrows to move forward or backward along the street.

Look Around works the same way on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The imagery is usually recent — Apple updates it more often than Google updates Street View — so you are seeing a fairly current view of the street. If you are checking what a business looks like or previewing a neighborhood before you visit, Look Around can be useful if it is available for that area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google Street View on my iPhone through Apple Maps?

No. Apple Maps does not integrate Google Street View. To use Street View on an iPhone, you need to open the Google Maps app or visit Google Maps in Safari. You cannot access Street View from within Apple Maps on any device.

Is Look Around available everywhere Google Street View is?

No. Look Around covers only major cities, while Google Street View is available in most countries and many smaller towns. If your location is not covered by Look Around, you will need to use Google Maps to see street-level imagery.

Can I access Look Around on my computer?

Look Around works on Mac computers through the Apple Maps app, but not on Windows computers or through a web browser. If you are using a Windows PC, you will need to use Google Street View instead.

Does Apple Maps show any street-level photos at all?

Yes, through Look Around in covered cities. If Look Around is not available for your location, Apple Maps shows only the standard map view with satellite imagery and street names — no ground-level photos.

Why does Apple not just use Google Street View?

Apple prefers to build its own services rather than rely on competitors. Using Google Street View would mean paying licensing fees and depending on Google's infrastructure. Look Around lets Apple control the data, though it means slower coverage expansion.