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If I instructed you Apple rolled out a brand new characteristic with iOS 26 that enables Maps to trace your actions, and save that data for later, what would you assume? On the floor, it does sound fairly invasive, particularly from an organization that sometimes promotes consumer privateness. Whereas this actually is a brand new characteristic, this is the factor: It is not as unhealthy because it sounds. And, in case you actually do not prefer it, you may flip it off.

The characteristic, “Visited Locations,” is definitely meant to be a personal solution to preserve tabs on the locations you’ve got been to, and to simply recall your favorites sooner or later. When the characteristic is enabled, Maps will be aware of locations you go to, even in case you do not use Maps to get there. It is like a passive, computerized journal, being attentive to eating places, malls, parks, or just common places you enterprise to day-to-day. In response to Apple, all of this data is saved in your synced gadgets solely, and is end-to-end encrypted, which implies Apple has no solution to entry this knowledge.

When you have the characteristic enabled, you may discover your Visited Locations appropriately tucked away within the “Locations” menu whenever you launch Maps. I’ve solely had the characteristic turned on for a day or so, so I solely have three places presently saved, however all three had been locations I visited with out utilizing Maps to information me there.

Personally, I’ve no problem with holding this setting turned on: No one has entry to the information apart from me, and I can think about it reminding me of the locations I’ve loved visiting throughout a future scroll.

Apple says you may be requested to activate the characteristic whenever you open Maps after updating to iOS 26, and, in my expertise, that was the case. Nonetheless, for CNET author Zachary McAuliffe, the characteristic was already enabled with out his enter. As such, it is perhaps sensible to double-check that the characteristic is about to whichever setting you like, lest you enable Maps to trace your actions with out your data.

Find out how to handle ‘Visited Locations’ in Apple Maps

To examine whether or not the characteristic is turned on or off, head to Settings > Apps > Maps > Location. Alternatively, you may go to Settings > Privateness & Safety > Location Providers > Maps. Both manner, examine the toggle subsequent to “Visited Locations.”

You can even delete any Visited Locations with no need to show the characteristic off altogether. Open Maps, faucet “Locations,” then “Visited Locations.” Right here, you may swipe left on anyplace to delete it, or select “Clear Historical past” to delete all of them. Plus, you may select how lengthy you need Maps to retailer your Visited Locations: The default is “Ceaselessly,” however you can too choose “3 Months” or “1 12 months,” if you want.