Fix Apple Maps on iOS 26 not updating when iPhone is locked

Just like Google Maps, Apple Maps should also update in the background and announce the next direction to take, even if your iPhone is locked. But if this doesn’t work for you after updating to iOS 26, then the solutions below will help address the problem.

These tips will also help if you don’t get the updated Apple Maps alerts on your Apple Watch. Just also follow the iPhone solutions mentioned below on your Apple Watch.

1. Update to the latest version of iOS 26

Apple Maps location issues were most prominent in the initial builds of iOS 26. Simply update to iOS 26.1 from iPhone Settings > General > Software Update, and this problem should no longer plague you.

2. Turn on the Directions Wake Device toggle

Follow these steps if your locked iPhone or Apple Watch doesn’t wake up to tell you about the next turn or the relevant instruction:

1. Open iOS 26 Settings, tap Apps from the bottom, and select Maps.
2. Tap Spoken Directions.
3. Turn on Directions Wake Device.

3. Turn on background app refresh for Apple Maps

Apple Maps and other iOS apps may have difficulty updating in the background if this feature is disabled. So, go to iPhone Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it on for Apple Maps for both Wi-Fi and cellular data.

4. Turn off low power mode

Battery saving modes such as Low Power mode and the new Adaptive Power mode in iOS 26 may interfere with the background functioning of some apps. Go to iPhone Settings > Battery > Power Mode and turn both off.

5. Check your internet connection

GPS works even when your iPhone moves from 5G to a slower LTE connection or if the cellular connection becomes very poor. However, performance and reliability may still be impacted if mobile data becomes unavailable. If you frequently miss new navigational updates from Apple Maps, ensure you have a working cellular connection at the time.

6. Allow Apple Maps the right location permission

Like other location-based apps, Apple Maps will fail to work and send the right alerts if you have restricted its location permission. Follow these steps to allow Apple Maps to access your device location when you use the app or widgets.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Privacy & Security.
2. Tap Location Services and make sure it’s on.
3. Tap Maps from the list of applications and services.
4. Set it to “While Using the App or Widgets” and turn on Precise Location.

Going forward, the Maps app should work reliably. If you don’t see Maps in the Location Services section or if you don’t get the option for “While Using the App or Widgets,” reinstall the Maps app and add its widget (both mentioned later below).

7. Force restart your iPhone

Like other apps, Apple Maps can fail to work properly because of system glitches that have cropped up simply because it has been a while since you restarted your iPhone. So, start by turning your iPhone off and back on. If that doesn’t help, force-restart it by following the dedicated steps.

8. Turn off CarPlay widgets if you have this issue in your car

If Apple Maps doesn’t update when locked during CarPlay, try turning off the new iOS 26 CarPlay widgets. Some people have shared that this workaround helped fix Apple Maps issues on their iPhone.

1. Open iPhone Settings and go to General > CarPlay.
2. Select your car from here.
3. Tap Widgets.
4. Turn off Show Widgets.

Now, restart your iPhone and your car’s infotainment system and retry using Apple Maps. It should work fine even when the iPhone is locked.

9. Delete and reinstall the Maps app

Like many other Apple stock apps, you can delete and reinstall the built-in Maps app to troubleshoot issues or force it to ask for location permission again (another way to force all iPhone apps to ask for permissions is to reset all device settings).

If you don’t see Maps in the Location Services settings screen or if the above tips fail to resolve delayed or missing directions alerts, delete the Apple Maps app, restart your iPhone, and reinstall the app from the App Store.

Then, open the app and allow it to access your location. Soon, you may get another pop-up, asking to allow widgets from Maps to use your location; tap Allow here.

10. Try adding the Maps widget to Home and Lock Screen

After performing a fresh installation of the Apple Maps app, add its widget to your iPhone’s Home Screen or Lock Screen. Then, tap the widget to open the app, and you should get the pop-up to allow the Maps widget to access your location (if not already in the previous tip). Tap Allow, and things should work fine now.

11. Reset iPhone network settings

If the above solutions, including deleting and reinstalling the Maps app, haven’t helped, reset your iPhone’s network settings from Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. Then, use Apple Maps, and it should work flawlessly.

12. Use Google Maps or Waze

Lastly, if nothing works, consider switching to another maps app for the time being and stay on the lookout for new iOS 26 updates that will hopefully address the Apple Maps bugs.

Which of the above solutions worked for you?

Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/11/05/apple-maps-issues-locked-iphone/