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Offline Maps Guide

Download map tiles for offline use with explicit privacy controls. Learn how to enable, manage, and disable the Mapbox-powered offline maps feature.

Quick read

Offline Maps is off by default. Lens uses Apple Maps until you turn this on. If you enable it, Mapbox receives tile and location data after you consent. The guide below covers setup, storage, and how to turn it off.

Download map tiles to use without an internet connection.

Overview

Offline Maps is opt-in only. By default, Lens uses Apple Maps which keeps map viewing private within Apple's ecosystem. If offline access is needed, enable Mapbox-powered offline maps.

Privacy Notice: Enabling this feature shares data with Mapbox, a third-party service. Review the notice on the Offline Maps screen before enabling.

Enabling Offline Maps

Step 1: Access Settings

  1. Open Lens.
  2. Tap Settings (Lens icon in the top left).
  3. Scroll to Offline Maps.

Step 2: Review Privacy Notice

On the Offline Maps screen (before enabling), review:

  • A short summary that Mapbox receives limited data when maps download or update
  • What Mapbox receives (expandable): IP address, device info, approximate location (map tile area), session ID
  • A link to the Mapbox Privacy Policy

Step 3: Grant Consent

  1. Expand What Mapbox receives if more detail is needed.
  2. Tap Enable Offline Maps to consent.
  3. Or leave Offline Maps without enabling to keep map viewing private within Apple's ecosystem.

Important: Once enabled, Mapbox will receive data when maps are viewed or downloaded. This continues until the feature is disabled.

Downloading Map Regions

Method 1: Search by City

  1. In Settings > Offline Maps, tap the search bar.
  2. Type a city name (e.g., "Manila").
  3. Select the city from search results.
  4. The map will zoom to show the city region.

Method 2: Use Current Location

  1. Tap Use Current Location.
  2. Grant location permission if prompted.
  3. The map will zoom to your city/region.

Note: This shares your approximate location with Mapbox to determine the region name.

Step 3: Select and Download

  1. Pan and zoom to select the area you want offline.
  2. The viewfinder shows the download area.
  3. Tap Download Selected Area.
  4. Wait for the download to complete (progress shown).

Download Limits:

  • Maximum 6,000 tiles per download (~150 to 200 MB for a major city)
  • Storage limit: 1 GB total
  • If the area is too large, zoom in to reduce the tile count

Managing Downloaded Maps

View Downloaded Maps

In Settings > Offline Maps, scroll to DOWNLOADED MAPS to see:

  • Map name (e.g., "Baguio")
  • Storage size (e.g., "8.6 MB")
  • Download date

Delete Individual Maps

  1. Locate the map in DOWNLOADED MAPS.
  2. Tap the trash icon to the right.
  3. The map is deleted immediately.

Clear All Maps

  1. Scroll to DOWNLOADED MAPS.
  2. Tap Clear All Maps (if available).
  3. Confirm deletion.

Note: Downloaded maps only work while Offline Maps is enabled. If you disable the feature, all maps are automatically deleted.

Using Maps Offline

Once downloaded:

  1. Automatic: Maps appear automatically when you have no internet connection.
  2. No action needed: The app switches to cached tiles seamlessly.
  3. Overlay still works: Photo overlays with GPS coordinates work offline.

Weather data: Displays "Last Known" (cached) value when offline.

Privacy & Data Sharing

What Mapbox Receives

When Offline Maps is enabled, Mapbox receives:

Data TypeDetailsRetention
IP AddressYour network IP30 days
Device InfoOS version, device modelOngoing
Approximate Loc.Tile coordinates of viewed areasOngoing
Session IDAnonymous identifier (rotates 24h)24 hours

How Data is Used

  • Billing & Usage Reporting: Track API usage for Lens account
  • Performance Optimization: Improve tile delivery speed
  • Service Operations: Maintain map tile infrastructure

Third-Party Policy

Read Mapbox's privacy practices: Mapbox Privacy Policy

Disabling Offline Maps

Why Disable?

  • Privacy: Stop sharing location data with Mapbox
  • Storage: Reclaim device storage
  • Not Needed: You don't use offline maps

How to Disable

  1. Go to Settings > Offline Maps.
  2. Scroll to PRIVACY CONTROLS.
  3. Tap Disable Offline Maps.
  4. All downloaded maps are deleted.
  5. Data sharing with Mapbox stops immediately.

Re-enabling: You can re-enable at any time. You'll need to re-download maps.

Troubleshooting

"Region too large" error

Problem: Selected area exceeds 6,000 tile limit.

Solution:

  1. Zoom in to reduce the area.
  2. Download multiple smaller regions instead.

"Storage full" error

Problem: You've reached the 1 GB storage limit.

Solution:

  1. Delete old maps you no longer need.
  2. Or clear all maps and re-download essentials.

Maps not appearing offline

Problem: Downloaded maps aren't showing when offline.

Check:

  1. Offline Maps enabled? Settings > Offline Maps
  2. Maps actually downloaded? Check DOWNLOADED MAPS section
  3. GPS signal? You need GPS to determine your location on the cached map

"Use Current Location" does nothing

Problem: Button doesn't respond.

Solutions:

  1. Location permission: Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Lens
  2. Internet required: Initial location lookup needs connectivity
  3. Try again: Close and reopen the Offline Maps screen

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my privacy protected if I don't enable Offline Maps?

Yes. By default, Lens uses Apple Maps which operates within Apple's ecosystem. No data is shared with Mapbox unless you explicitly enable Offline Maps.

Can I download the entire country?

No. Downloads are limited to prevent abuse and excessive storage use. Maximum is ~150 to 200 MB per region (6,000 tiles at zoom level 16).

Do downloaded maps expire?

No. Maps remain on your device indefinitely until you delete them or disable Offline Maps.

Can I download maps on Wi-Fi and use them on cellular?

Yes. Once downloaded, maps work without any internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular).

Will this drain my battery?

No. Using cached offline maps actually reduces battery usage compared to live tile downloads.

Can I use offline maps for navigation?

Not currently. Offline Maps only provides static map tiles. GPS coordinates are still recorded on photos, but turn-by-turn navigation is not supported.

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Last updated: July 12, 2026