While iOS 14 and newer iPhones can set some default apps (like mail and web browser), they cannot change the default map app. You can, however, download and use Chrome and Gmail to be able to use Google Maps by default instead of Apple Maps. You can only change the default apps if you’re using iOS 14 or newer. If you have an older phone, you won’t be able to do this.
By changing your default mail and web browser apps, you’ll be using Chrome and Gmail more often than Apple services like Safari and Mail. If you’re using a product in the Google ecosystem, you’re more likely to open another Google service, like Google Maps instead of Apple Maps.
If you use Google Chrome instead of Safari as your default web browser app, the links you tap will open in Google Maps instead of Apple Maps. If you sign in, you’ll be able to save your browsing history and view it on your computer or sync bookmarks.
Additionally, whenever you tap an address or location in Chrome, it will open in Google Maps.
Switching to Gmail as the default mail service means that if you tap a map location from an email, you’ll be directed to the map default listed with Gmail (like Google Maps) instead of the Apple Maps app.
Although you have set the default mail app, you still have not set the default maps app to Google Maps. Complete the next few sections to be able to use Google Maps instead of Apple Maps when you’re using Gmail.
This means that once you tap an address or location pin in Gmail, it will open in Google Maps (or Waze, if you picked that). [2] X Research source
