iPhone Maps: Change km to Miles

To change iPhone Maps from kilometers to miles, open the Settings app, tap Maps, then under Distances select Miles. This one setting switches all distance readouts in Apple Maps—driving, walking, and cycling directions, plus search results—from metric to imperial units. The change applies immediately and does not require restarting the app.

Why iPhone Maps Shows Kilometers

Apple Maps automatically follows the region and language settings of your iPhone. If your device is set to a country that uses the metric system—such as most of Europe, Australia, or Japan—the Maps app displays distances in kilometers. This is a deliberate design choice by Apple to match local conventions, so a user in Paris sees km while a user in Houston sees miles without any manual adjustment.

However, people often travel internationally or prefer one system over another. A US tourist in London may want miles for familiarity, or an expat may want kilometers for local context. Apple provides a manual override in the Settings app precisely for this reason.

How to Change the Unit in iPhone Maps

Here are the exact steps for iOS 17 and iOS 18 (the current versions as of this writing):

Open the Settings app on your iPhone (the gray gear icon).
Scroll down and tap Maps.
Under the Directions section, tap Distances.
Choose In Miles or In Kilometers.
Exit Settings. The change is saved automatically.

If you don’t see the Distances option, make sure you are looking at the Maps settings, not the general iPhone settings. The option is always present in the Maps section, regardless of your region, unless you have a very old iOS version (pre-iOS 6, which is unlikely on any modern iPhone).

What Changes Immediately

Once you switch to miles, all distance-related text in Apple Maps updates instantly:

Turn-by-turn directions show distances in miles (e.g., “In 0.3 miles, turn right”).
Search results for nearby places show miles (e.g., “0.2 mi”).
Route overviews and ETA screens use miles for distance.
The scale bar on the map (if visible) switches to miles.

Note that speed limits, if displayed, are not affected by this setting—they are always shown in the local unit (mph in the US, km/h elsewhere). This is because speed limits are legal road signs, and Apple Maps follows local regulations.

Why the Setting Doesn’t Affect Everything

Some users expect the Maps unit change to also alter the phone’s general units (like weight or temperature). It does not. The Maps setting only controls the Maps app. To change units system-wide, you would need to change your iPhone’s region format in Settings → General → Language & Region, which is a much broader change and not recommended just for Maps.

Also, the Maps setting does not affect other navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze. Each app has its own unit preference. For Google Maps, you change it in the app’s settings (tap your profile picture → Settings → Distance units). For Waze, go to Settings → Units of measurement.

Common Problems and Fixes

If you’ve changed the setting but still see kilometers, try these steps:

Force-quit Maps: Swipe up from the bottom (or double-click Home) to see app switcher, then swipe Maps away. Reopen it.
Restart your iPhone: A simple reboot often refreshes system settings.
Check iOS version: If you’re on a very old iOS (pre-iOS 6), the setting might be in a different location or missing. Update your iPhone if possible.
Check if you’re in a different region temporarily: If you’re traveling and your phone’s region is set to a metric country, the manual override should still work, but a bug may occur. Try toggling the setting off and on.

If none of these work, reset all settings (Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings). This does not delete your data, but it resets all system preferences, including Wi-Fi passwords, so use it as a last resort.

Background: Why Apple Uses Regional Defaults

Apple’s approach to units is consistent across its operating systems: the system uses the region format to determine defaults for dates, numbers, and measurements. This is why your calendar might show Monday as the first day of the week in Europe but Sunday in the US. For Maps, the default distance unit follows the same logic. The manual override exists because Apple recognizes that users may want a different unit than their region’s default, especially for travel or personal preference.

The setting has been present since iOS 6, when Apple replaced Google Maps with its own mapping service. It has remained largely unchanged in the Settings app, which makes it easy to find for long-time users and new ones alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing to miles affect my speedometer or car’s GPS?

No. The setting only affects the iPhone Maps app. Your car’s speedometer is mechanical or electronic and is set by the manufacturer. If you use a separate GPS device, it has its own unit settings. The iPhone’s own speedometer (if you use a speedometer app) is not affected by the Maps setting either.

Can I set the unit for walking directions separately from driving?

No. There is only one global setting for all directions in Apple Maps. Whether you walk, drive, or cycle, the distance unit is the same. If you need different units for different activities, you would have to switch the setting manually each time, which is not practical.

Why does my iPhone Maps still show km even after selecting miles?

This can happen if the app hasn’t refreshed. Force-quit Maps and reopen it. If that doesn’t work, restart your iPhone. If the problem persists, check that you’re on a recent iOS version. In rare cases, a software glitch may require resetting all settings, but that is uncommon.

Does changing the region in iPhone settings also change Maps units?

Yes. If you change your region to a country that uses miles (like the US), Maps will default to miles. If you change to a metric country, it will default to kilometers. However, the manual override in Maps settings will always take precedence over the regional default.

Is there a way to change units in the Maps app itself?

No. Apple Maps does not have a unit toggle inside the app. You must use the Settings app. This is a common point of confusion, but the setting is only in Settings → Maps → Distances.

Will this setting affect the lock screen or notification directions?

Yes. Turn-by-turn directions that appear on the lock screen or as notifications use the same unit setting, so they will also show miles after you change it.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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