Easily Locate Your Parked Car with iPhone Maps: A Comprehensive Guide

Forgetting where you parked your car is a common frustration, especially in busy areas or unfamiliar locations. Fortunately, if you are an iPhone user, the built-in Maps app offers a convenient feature to automatically remember and help you find your parked vehicle. This guide will walk you through how to set up and effectively use the “Parked Car” feature in iPhone Maps, ensuring you can always quickly locate your car.

Setting Up the Parked Car Location Feature on Your iPhone

Before you can start using this helpful feature, you need to ensure that it is enabled and configured correctly within your iPhone settings. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get everything set up:

1. Enable Location Services

The foundation of the Parked Car feature is Location Services. Your iPhone needs to know your location to mark where you park. To turn on Location Services:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Privacy & Security.
3. Select Location Services.
4. Make sure the Location Services toggle is switched to on (green).

2. Activate Significant Locations

Significant Locations is another crucial system service that needs to be enabled for the Parked Car feature to function correctly. This allows your iPhone to learn important locations, including where you frequently park your car. To enable Significant Locations:

1. In the Settings app, navigate back to Privacy & Security and then Location Services.
2. Tap on System Services at the bottom of the Location Services menu.
3. Scroll down and find Significant Locations.
4. Toggle Significant Locations to on (green). You might be prompted to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

3. Turn On Show Parked Location in Maps

With the necessary location services enabled, you now need to specifically activate the “Show Parked Location” feature within the Maps app settings:

1. Open the Settings app again.
2. Scroll down and tap on Maps.
3. Look for the Show Parked Location option.
4. Toggle the switch next to Show Parked Location to on (green).

4. Configure Notifications for Your Parked Car (Optional)

To receive alerts about your parked car location, you can also enable notifications for the Maps app. This is an optional step but can be helpful:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Notifications.
3. Scroll down and select Maps from the list of apps.
4. Ensure that Allow Notifications is turned on.
5. Customize the type of alerts you wish to receive (e.g., Lock Screen, Notification Center, Banners) according to your preferences.

Finding Your Parked Car Using iPhone Maps

Once you have configured these settings, your iPhone will automatically drop a parked car marker in Maps when you disconnect your iPhone from your car’s Bluetooth or CarPlay system and exit your vehicle. Here’s how to find your car when you are ready to return:

Method 1: Searching in the Maps App

1. Open the Maps app on your iPhone.
2. In the search bar at the top, type “Parked Car”.
3. “Parked Car” should appear as a suggestion below the search bar. Tap on it.
4. Maps will display the location of your parked car on the map.
5. From here, you can:
   • View the parked car location.
   • Edit the location if the marker is slightly inaccurate.
   • Add Notes to remind yourself of parking details (e.g., parking level, section).
   • Tap Directions to get turn-by-turn navigation from your current location to your parked car.

Method 2: Using Siri Suggestions on the Home Screen

1. Go to your iPhone Home Screen.
2. Swipe down from the middle of the screen to bring up the Search field (Spotlight Search).
3. Type “Parked Car” in the search field.
4. Under the Siri Suggestions section, you should see “Parked Car”. Tap on it.
5. This will directly open the Maps app and show you the location of your parked car, similar to Method 1.

Key Requirements for the Parked Car Feature

To ensure the Parked Car feature works seamlessly, keep these requirements in mind:

• iPhone Model and iOS Version: You need an iPhone 6 or later running iOS 10 or later. For the best and latest features, it’s always recommended to keep your iPhone updated to the newest iOS version.
• Bluetooth or CarPlay Connection: The feature is triggered when your iPhone disconnects from your car’s Bluetooth or CarPlay system. Therefore, you must have your iPhone connected to your car via Bluetooth or CarPlay when you park.
• Location Services and Significant Locations Enabled: As detailed in the setup section, these location services must be active for the Parked Car feature to function.

By following these steps, you can leverage the Parked Car feature in iPhone Maps to effortlessly find your vehicle, saving you time and reducing stress, especially when you are in unfamiliar places or busy parking lots. This feature is a valuable tool for any driver, making the iPhone a helpful companion for your Mercedes-Benz or any other vehicle you drive.