Set up in about a minute

Safari extensions are off until you turn them on. These are the exact taps.

1

Open Settings, then Apps

On iOS 17 and earlier, skip this step: Safari is directly in the main Settings list.

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2

Tap Safari

The list is alphabetical, so Safari is under S.

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3

Tap Extensions

Extensions is under the General section of Safari's settings.

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4

Tap “Maps Instead” and turn it on

Extensions are off until you turn them on. If you use Safari profiles, switch it on for each one. Private Browsing has its own switch.

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5

Open a Google page in Safari, then Manage Extensions

Tap the button at the left of the address bar, then Manage Extensions, and make sure “Maps Instead” is on. It then appears in that same menu; tap it.

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images/ios-safari-menu.png

6

Choose Always Allow…

"Allow for One Day" would mean setting it up again tomorrow.

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images/ios-safari-prompt.png

7

Choose Always Allow on Every Website

Safari's warning is the same for every extension. Maps Instead only asks for Google's domains and Google's short-link domains, so it can't touch any other site. This option covers all of Google's sites at once; Safari treats each one separately.

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8

Test it

Open the Maps Instead app and press Test it. Safari opens a real Google Maps directions link and Apple Maps should take over with directions to Apple Park.

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1

Open the Maps Instead app once

That registers the extension with Safari. You can quit the app afterwards; the extension lives in Safari.

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2

Safari, then Settings…, then Extensions

Tick “Maps Instead” in the list on the left. The app's Open Safari Extensions Settings button takes you straight here.

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3

Allow it on Google sites

With “Maps Instead” selected, click Always Allow on Every Website, or Edit Websites… to allow only Google. Maps Instead only ever asks for Google domains either way.

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4

Test it

Back in the Maps Instead app, the status card should now say On. Press Test it and Maps opens with directions to Apple Park.

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images/mac-test.png

That's it. Tap any Google Maps link in Safari. Dancing optional.

Not working?

The support page covers the three things that account for nearly every problem, and how to report a link that misbehaves.