Complete Guide: Export Google Maps Saved Places to Apple Maps

Why Transfer Google Maps Data to Apple Maps?

If you're switching from Android to iPhone, or simply want to take advantage of Apple Maps' deep integration with iOS, transferring your Google Maps saved places is essential. Apple Maps offers better privacy protection, seamless Siri integration, Apple Watch support, and native CarPlay functionality.

The challenge? Google Maps and Apple Maps are separate ecosystems with no official sync tool. That's where GoToAppleMaps comes in—a free, privacy-focused converter that transfers all your saved places in minutes with an 87% success rate.

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Step-by-Step: Export Google Maps Saved Places

Step 1: Download Your Google Maps Data

Google provides a data export service called Google Takeout that lets you download all your saved places as a CSV file.

Go to takeout.google.com
Click "Deselect all" at the top (you only need Maps data)
Scroll down and select only "Saved" — this includes all your Google Maps saved places, starred locations, favorites, and custom lists
Click "Next step"
Choose delivery method: "Send download link via email" (recommended)
Select file type: "Export once" and format: ".zip"
Click "Create export"

💡 Pro Tip: The export usually takes 5-15 minutes depending on how many places you've saved. Google will email you when it's ready to download.

Step 2: Extract the CSV File

Once your Google Takeout export is ready:

Download the .zip file from the link in your email
Unzip/extract the downloaded file
Navigate to: Takeout/Maps (your places)/Saved Places.csv
This CSV file contains ALL your Google Maps data: saved places, favorites, starred locations, want-to-go lists, and custom collections

Step 3: Import to Apple Maps with GoToAppleMaps

Now for the easy part—converting your Google Maps data to Apple Maps format:

Visit GoToAppleMaps.com
Click "Create your Guide" or drag-and-drop the Saved Places.csv file
Watch real-time progress as each location is matched and converted
Once complete, click "Open Apple Maps Guide" to view your transferred places
You can also copy individual Apple Maps URLs for each location

🎯 Success Rate: GoToAppleMaps uses both Google Places API and Apple Maps API to match locations with 87% accuracy. Generic pins or locations without names may not match perfectly, but you'll still get Apple Maps URLs for all your coordinates.

Understanding the Conversion Process

What Gets Transferred?

Location Names: Restaurant names, business names, landmark titles
Addresses: Street addresses and location coordinates
Categories: Place types (restaurants, shops, parks, etc.)
Notes: Your personal notes are preserved in the conversion results
Multiple Lists: All your Google Maps lists are combined into one comprehensive Apple Maps guide

How the Matching Algorithm Works

GoToAppleMaps uses a sophisticated multi-step process to ensure accurate location matching:

Name + Coordinates: First tries to match using exact place names and GPS coordinates
Google Places Enhancement: Uses Google Places API to get additional data (place IDs, ratings, categories) if you provide an API key
Apple Maps Search: Searches Apple Maps using enhanced data to find matching place IDs
Fuzzy Matching: Uses similarity algorithms to handle name variations (e.g., "McDonald's" vs "McDonalds")
Fallback URLs: If no exact match found, creates generic Apple Maps search URLs with your coordinates

Common Questions & Troubleshooting

Can I transfer multiple Google Maps lists at once?

Yes! The "Saved Places.csv" file from Google Takeout includes ALL your lists in one file. When you upload it to GoToAppleMaps, every list, favorite, and starred location is converted together into a comprehensive Apple Maps guide.

Will my notes and reviews transfer?

Personal notes you've added to Google Maps places are included in the export and displayed in the conversion results. However, Apple Maps guides currently have limitations on per-location notes. The tool preserves your notes in the output, and we're working on enhanced note export features.

What if some locations don't match?

GoToAppleMaps achieves an 87% success rate for exact place matching. Locations that don't match perfectly still get Apple Maps URLs based on their coordinates, so you won't lose any places. Generic pins like "Dropped pin" or coordinates-only entries may appear as search results rather than specific business listings.

Is my data private and secure?

Absolutely. GoToAppleMaps processes everything in your browser session with no account required. Your CSV file is never permanently stored—it's processed in memory and discarded after conversion. No tracking, no data retention, completely privacy-focused.

Can I sync Google Maps to Apple Maps automatically?

Unfortunately, there's no automatic real-time sync between Google Maps and Apple Maps (they're competing services). GoToAppleMaps provides the fastest manual transfer process—just re-export from Google Takeout whenever you want to update your Apple Maps guide with new places.

Does this work on iPhone, iPad, and Mac?

Yes! GoToAppleMaps is a web-based tool that works on any device with a browser. Upload your CSV from any device, then open the generated Apple Maps guide link on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The guide syncs across all your Apple devices via iCloud.

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Tips for Best Results

Before Exporting from Google Maps:

Clean up your lists: Remove duplicate or unwanted places before exporting
Add descriptive names: Generic pins like "Location" won't match well—rename them with actual place names
Verify addresses: Make sure important places have full addresses, not just coordinates
Update old places: Businesses change—verify your list is current before transferring

After Converting to Apple Maps:

Review the guide: Check that key locations matched correctly
Save to your device: Open the Apple Maps guide link on your iPhone to add it to your collections
Share with others: Apple Maps guides can be shared with friends and family
Edit in Apple Maps: You can add/remove places or adjust details directly in Apple Maps

Alternative Methods (Not Recommended)

Some users try manual methods like:

Copying each address individually: Extremely time-consuming for large lists
Third-party paid apps: Often have monthly subscriptions and privacy concerns
Custom scripts: Requires programming knowledge and API setup

GoToAppleMaps combines the best of all approaches: free, automated, privacy-focused, and no technical skills required.

Conclusion

Transferring your Google Maps saved places to Apple Maps doesn't have to be complicated. With GoToAppleMaps, you can export, convert, and import all your locations in under 5 minutes—completely free, with no signup, and full privacy protection.

Whether you're switching from Android to iPhone, want better privacy, or simply prefer Apple Maps' iOS integration, GoToAppleMaps makes the migration seamless. Try it now and bring years of curated locations to your Apple ecosystem!