How to Use Street View (Look Around) in Apple Maps

We’ve all used Google’s Street View at some point, dropping that little yellow figure on a road to see the world at eye level. Apple Maps has its own version of this called Look Around, and it’s surprisingly good. It lets you explore cities as if you’re standing right there, moving along streets, zooming in on details, and even using AR directions in some places. Whether you’re planning a trip or just curious about how another city looks, here’s how you can use Look Around on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even the web.

What Is Look Around and Where Can You Use It?

Look Around gives you a 360‑degree, ground‑level view of supported locations. Think of it like a virtual walk. You can pan around, zoom in, and tap to move forward. But unlike Google Street View, coverage is still limited. It started with a few cities in the US when Apple launched it with iOS 13, and now includes parts of the following:

• US
• UK
• Canada
• Australia
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Singapore
• Japan and more.

Apple is slowly adding new areas, so don’t be surprised if your city isn’t supported yet. You can always check Apple’s official feature availability page for the latest list.

How to Use Look Around on iPhone or iPad

Using Look Around on iPhone feels natural because of the touch controls. Here’s how to try it:

1. Open the Maps app and search for an address, landmark, or city.
2. If the location supports Look Around, you’ll see a binoculars icon on the screen. Tap it.
3. A small window will appear showing the street‑level view. You can:
   • Swipe left, right, up, or down to look around.
   • Pinch to zoom in or out.
   • Tap on the road or path ahead to move forward.
4. Tap the double arrows icon to go full screen. This will also show street names and labels on top of the live view. If you want a clean look, swipe up from the bottom and choose Hide Labels.
5. Tap Done when you’re finished.

The binoculars icon can show up in different spots depending on your iOS version, usually at the bottom of the map, but sometimes at the top-right under the info button.

How to Use Look Around on Mac

If you’re on a Mac, the process is just as simple:

1. Open the Maps app and search for a place.
2. Select the location, then click the Look Around button in the toolbar (or press Command‑K).
3. Drag to pan around, click to move forward or sideways, and click another spot on the map to jump to a new location.
4. Click the expand button to enter full screen, and click again to exit.
5. When you’re done exploring, close the Look Around window.

How to Use Look Around on the Web

Apple recently added Look Around to Apple Maps on the web, still in beta on maps.apple.com. This works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on both Mac and Windows.

1. Search for a city or landmark.
2. If supported, click the binoculars icon in the bottom left corner.
3. Click and drag to pan the view. You can move along streets by clicking on them.

This is Apple’s first real attempt at bringing Maps to the web, and while some features are still missing (like saving favorite places with Apple ID), it’s a good start, especially since it works on non‑Apple devices.

AR Walking Directions

In some cities, Apple has gone a step further with AR Walking Directions. Instead of just following arrows on a map, you can hold your iPhone up and see arrows and labels overlaid on the real world through your camera. This feature is already available in cities like New York, London, Tokyo, Toronto, Singapore, and Austin.

To use it, start walking navigation, then tap the AR cube icon when it appears. If you want this to trigger automatically, go to Settings > Maps > Walking > Raise to View.

Apple Look Around vs Google Street View

This is where the comparison becomes interesting. Google Street View is the king when it comes to coverage; nearly every corner of the world is mapped, from small towns in Europe to streets in India and rural Australia.

Apple’s Look Around, while smoother and more high‑resolution, is still limited to select cities. That means if you’re exploring popular destinations like San Francisco, Tokyo, or Paris, Apple Maps Look Around works great. But for smaller towns or broader international coverage, Google still wins. Both Apple and Google offer AR walking directions, so the choice mainly comes down to where you’re looking.

Also check out the full comparison of Apple Maps vs Google Maps here.

Final Thoughts

Apple Maps’ Look Around is a feature you’ll love once you try it. It may not be everywhere yet, but when it is available, the views are crisp, the navigation feels fluid, and it makes exploring new places much more fun.

Whether you’re checking out a vacation spot before booking flights or simply curious about what a famous street looks like, Look Around lets you travel without leaving your couch. And with Apple slowly expanding coverage and even bringing the feature to the web, it’s clear they’re committed to making Maps a real alternative to Google. For now, consider it your virtual window into the world, one city at a time.

Don’t miss these related reads:

• How to use multi-stop routing in Apple Maps on iPhone and iPad
• How to use Guides in Apple Maps on iPhone, iPad or Mac
• How to use the Search Here feature in Apple Maps in iOS 18