Apple Maps has had a real offline mode for a while — downloadable regions, on-device navigation, full turn-by-turn directions without burning through cellular data or relying on a signal that may not exist. Most iPhone users have never touched it. In this episode, Laura Thomas walks through exactly how to set it up in iOS 26, what features hold up without a connection (turn-by-turn, speed limits, saved Favorites), and what quietly stops working (business search, real-time traffic, transit directions).

She also covers how downloaded maps expire after 30 days, how automatic updates keep them fresh, and the one thing most people skip before a trip that they end up regretting. Plus: the offline voice guidance quirk you'll want to know about before you're navigating a mountain road for the first time.

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