Windows Maps
{{short description|Web mapping software by Microsoft}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Windows Maps
| logo = Windows Maps computer icon.png
| screenshot = Windows Maps screenshot.png
| screenshot_size = 300px
| caption = Windows Maps screenshot on Windows 11 (2022 map)
| developer = Microsoft
| released = {{sda|2014|11|20|df=y}}
| latest release version = March 2025 Update (11.2503.1.0)
| latest release date = {{sda|2025|04|28|df=y}}{{Cite web
| url = https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9wzdncrdtbvb
| title = Windows Maps
| website = Microsoft Apps
| access-date = 2025-04-28}}
| operating system = Windows 10 to Windows 11, Xbox One system software, Xbox Series X/S, Windows 8, Windows Phone 7 to Windows 10 Mobile
| genre = Web mapping
| license = Proprietary freeware
}}
Windows Maps{{cite web|access-date=14 October 2016|title=Get Windows Maps - Microsoft Store|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/windows-maps/9wzdncrdtbvb|website=Microsoft Store}}{{cite web|title=Get Maps - Microsoft Store|url=http://apps.microsoft.com/webpdp/app/97a2179c-38be-45a3-933e-0d2dbf14a142|website=Microsoft Store|access-date=2 December 2017}} is a web mapping client software from Microsoft. It is included with Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems and is also available for the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One platforms.
Features
Its features include viewing classic style maps with roads and street names, getting directions, drawing on maps, traffic conditions, GPS location, and viewing Streetside panoramas of roads. Users can synchronise favourites and directions with a Microsoft account.{{Cite web|url=https://mspoweruser.com/windows-maps-for-insiders-updated-with-improved-feedback-options/|title = Windows Maps for Insiders updated with improved Feedback options - MSPoweruser|date = 15 November 2016}} Maps of countries can be downloaded to the user's computer so that they can be used offline.{{Cite web |last=Jacob@TWC |date=2021-07-20 |title=How to download offline Maps on Windows 11/10 |url=https://www.thewindowsclub.com/download-offline-maps-windows-10 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=The Windows Club |language=en-us}}
History
The original Maps app was based on existing Microsoft technologies such as Microsoft MapPoint and TerraServer that were already used in Bing Maps. It was first implemented on Windows Phone 7 as a Metro-style app using Bing Maps as its backend.{{Cite web |title=Windows Phone 7 review |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-10-20-windows-phone-7-review.html |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Engadget |date=20 October 2010 |language=en-US}} In 2012 Maps came included with Windows 8 as one of the many Bing Apps.{{Cite web |last=Duthie |first=G. Andrew |date=2012-10-08 |title=W8WIL #6: Leverage the Maps app for location-based features |url=https://devhammer.net/2012/10/08/w8wil-6-leverage-the-maps-app-for-location-based-features/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Low Code Life |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Bing Apps on Windows 8 Now Available Worldwide |url=https://blogs.bing.com/search/2012/10/26/bing-apps-on-windows-8-now-available-worldwide/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=blogs.bing.com|date=26 October 2012 }} The app was updated with new features in Windows Phone 8.1 where the Maps app took on a Purple paper map-looking logo. Bing Maps at the time was powered by Nokia's data, which later became HERE Maps.{{Cite web |last=Sterling |first=Greg |date=2012-01-19 |title=Nokia Now "Powering" Bing Maps |url=https://searchengineland.com/nokia-now-powering-bing-maps-108598 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Search Engine Land |language=en}}
Windows Maps on Windows 10 Mobile then changed the layout of the Maps app, including the logo. Since coming out of preview, there has been three different layout changes, including the introduction of tabs, the ability for users to sketch using ink, a switch for choosing between a light and dark interface for the app shell, and a switch for choosing between a light and dark map.{{Cite web|url=https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-maps-updated-for-fast-ring-insiders---heres-whats-new|title = Windows Maps updated for Fast ring Insiders - here's what's new| date=31 March 2024 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-ink-in-windows-10-maps-app|title = How to use Windows Ink in the Windows 10 Maps app|date = 24 November 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/03/17/new-features-in-windows-10-maps-app/#PcOZXKyeq5Tmeh89.97|title=New Features in Windows 10 Maps App|date=17 March 2016}}
After HERE Maps announced it was discontinuing its Windows 10 Mobile app in 2016, Windows Maps announced support for migrating up to 300 favorites from HERE Maps to Windows Maps.{{Cite web|url=http://www.windowscentral.com/heres-how-windows-10-mobile-here-map-fans-can-transition-microsofts-new-maps-app|title = Here's how Windows 10 HERE Map fans can move to Maps app|date = 21 June 2016}}
In 2016, Windows Maps was released for Xbox One.{{Cite web |author1=Jez Corden |date=2016-08-04 |title=Windows Maps is now live on Xbox One Preview, here's how it works! |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-maps-now-live-xbox-one-video |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Windows Central |language=en}}
Since 2020, the base map data in Windows Maps and Bing Maps has been provided by TomTom, having replaced Here Technologies.{{Cite web |last=Pradeep |date=2020-06-01 |title=Microsoft Bing Maps is switching to TomTom for base map data - MSPoweruser |url=https://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-bing-maps-switching-tomtom/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=mspoweruser.com |language=en-US}}
In April 2025, Microsoft announced Windows Maps will be removed from the Microsoft Store on July 2025 in favor of Bing Maps.{{Cite web |last=Sean Endicott |date=2025-04-25 |title=Windows 11 will soon lose the Maps app forever, affecting dozens of users — RIP a Windows Phone relic |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11-will-soon-lose-the-maps-app-forever-affecting-dozens-of-users-rip-a-windows-phone-relic |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Windows Central |language=en}}
Coverage
=Americas=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Country | Navteq coverage | Bird's eye | Map POIs |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States
| Full | Yes | Yes | |||
| Bahamas
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Canada
| Full | Yes | Yes | |||
| Cayman Islands
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Mexico
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Puerto Rico
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Virgin Islands
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Argentina
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Brazil
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Chile
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Colombia
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| French Guiana
| Full | No | No | |||
| Guadeloupe
| Full | No | No | |||
| Martinique
| Full | No | No | |||
| Saint Barthelemy
| Full | No | No | |||
| Venezuela
| Full | No | Yes | |||
| Anguilla
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Antigua and Barbuda
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Aruba
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Barbados
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Belize
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Bermuda
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Bolivia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Costa Rica
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Cuba
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Dominica
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Dominican Republic
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Ecuador
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| El Salvador
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Greenland
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Grenada
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Guatemala
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Guyana
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Haiti
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Honduras
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Jamaica
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Montserrat
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Netherlands Antilles
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Nicaragua
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Panama
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Paraguay
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Peru
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Saint Kitts and Nevis
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Saint Lucia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| St. Pierre and Miquelon
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Suriname
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Trinidad and Tobago
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Turks and Caicos Islands
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs | |||
| Uruguay
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
=Africa=
| class="wikitable" |
| Country
! Navteq coverage ! Bird's eye ! Map POIs |
|---|
| Algeria
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Angola
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Botswana
| Full | No | Yes |
| Benin
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Burkina Faso
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Burundi
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Cameroon
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Cape Verde
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Central African Republic
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Chad
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Comoros
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Congo
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Côte d'Ivoire
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Djibouti
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Equatorial Guinea
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Eritrea
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Ethiopia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Gabon
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Gambia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Ghana
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Morocco
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Guinea-Bissau
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Kenya
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Liberia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Lesotho
| Full | No | Yes |
| Namibia
| Full | No | Yes |
| Madagascar
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Malawi
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Mali
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Mauritania
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Mauritius
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Mayotte
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Mozambique
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Niger
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Nigeria
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Rwanda
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| São Tomé and Príncipe
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Senegal
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Seychelles
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Sierra Leone
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Somalia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| South Africa
| Full | No | Yes |
| St. Helena
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Sudan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Swaziland
| Full | No | Yes |
| Tanzania, United Republic of
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Togo
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Tunisia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Uganda
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Western Sahara
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Zambia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Zimbabwe
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
=Europe=
| class="wikitable" |
| Country
! Navteq coverage ! Bird's eye ! Map POIs |
|---|
| Andorra
| Full | No | Yes |
| Austria
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Belgium
| Full | Yes | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Croatia
| Full | No | Yes |
| Czech Republic
| Full | No | Yes |
| Denmark
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Estonia
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Finland
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| France
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Germany
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Gibraltar
| Full | No | Yes |
| Greece
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Guernsey
| Full | No | Yes |
| Hungary
| Full | No | Yes |
| Ireland
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Isle of Man
| Full | No | Yes |
| Italy
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Jersey
| Full | No | Yes |
| Latvia
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Liechtenstein
| Full | No | Yes |
| Lithuania
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Kosovo
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Luxembourg
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Monaco
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Netherlands
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Norway
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Poland
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Portugal
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Russian Federation
| Full | No | Yes |
| San Marino
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Slovakia
| Full | No | Yes |
| Slovenia
| Full | No | Yes |
| Spain
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Sweden
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Switzerland
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Turkey
| Full | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Vatican City State
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Albania
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Belarus
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Bosnia and Herzegowina
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Bulgaria
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Iceland
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Macedonia
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Moldova, Republic of
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Montenegro
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Romania
| Full | Yes | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Serbia
| Full | Yes | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Azerbaijan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Faroe Islands
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Georgia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Armenia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Cyprus
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Malta
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Ukraine
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
=Asia and Oceania=
| class="wikitable" |
| Country
! Navteq coverage ! Bird's eye ! Map POIs |
|---|
| Brunei
| Full | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Japan
| Full | Yes | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Afghanistan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| American Samoa
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Bangladesh
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Bhutan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Cambodia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| China
| Limited | No | No |
| Cook Islands
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Fiji
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| French Polynesia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Guam
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Kiribati
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Kyrgyzstan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Maldives
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Marshall Islands
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Micronesia, Federated States of
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Mongolia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Myanmar
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Nauru
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Nepal
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| New Caledonia
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Niue
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Norfolk Island
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| North Korea
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Northern Mariana Islands
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Pakistan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Palau
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Papua New Guinea
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Philippines
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Solomon Islands
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| South Korea
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Sri Lanka
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Tajikistan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Timor-Leste
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Tonga
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Turkmenistan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Tuvalu
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Uzbekistan
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Vanuatu
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Vietnam
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Wallis and Futuna Islands
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Australia
| Full | Yes | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Hong Kong
| Limited | No | Yes |
| India
| Full | Yes | Yes |
| Indonesia
| Limited | No | Yes |
| Macau
| Limited | No | Yes |
| Malaysia
| Limited | No | Yes |
| New Zealand
| Limited | No | Yes |
| Singapore
| Limited | No | Yes |
| Taiwan
| Limited | No | Yes |
| Thailand
| Limited | No | Yes |
=Middle East=
| class="wikitable" |
| Country
! Navteq coverage ! Bird's eye ! Map POIs |
|---|
| Bahrain
| Full | No | Yes |
| Kuwait
| Full | No | Yes |
| Oman
| Full | No | Yes |
| Qatar
| Full | No | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia
| Full | No | Yes |
| United Arab Emirates
| Full | No | Yes |
| Iran
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Iraq
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Israel
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Lebanon
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Syria
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Yemen
| Limited | No | Named Places & Transportation Hubs |
| Jordan
| Full | No | No |
| Reunion
| Full | No | No |
| Egypt
| Limited | No | No |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Microsoft Windows components}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}