You can't remove Apple Maps ads entirely, but 3 settings make them anonymous: Personalized Ads off, Maps location While Using, Significant Locations cleared.
The direct answer: you cannot remove ads from Apple Maps entirely — there is no "hide ads" switch. What you can do is strip away the signals that make them targeted, so you only ever see generic, clearly labeled sponsored results instead of ads shaped by your location history and search patterns. That takes about two minutes and three settings. Here is exactly what works, what each toggle costs you, and what is not worth touching.
Source check: July 10, 2026. Based on Apple's advertising privacy documentation and the Maps ads rollout that began with iOS 26.5 in the United States and Canada.
Can You Turn Off Apple Maps Ads Completely?
No. Ads in Maps appear in search results and the Suggested Places section, marked with an Ad label — the same pattern as App Store search ads. Apple does not offer a paid tier or a setting that removes them. Importantly, Maps ads are contextual rather than profile-based: they respond to where you are, what you searched, and the map area you are viewing. That is why the controls below are about limiting data, not hiding placements.
Setting 1: Turn Off Personalized Ads (2 Taps)
Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → toggle off Personalized Ads.
This stops Apple from using your account data — App Store activity, News reading, purchase history — to target ads across all Apple services. Because Maps ads are contextual, this toggle changes them less than it changes App Store ads, but it is the single broadest privacy lever Apple gives you, and there is no downside: you see the same number of ads either way, just less tailored.
Setting 2: Rein In Location Signals
Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Maps → set to While Using the App. While you are there, scroll to System Services (bottom of Location Services) and review Location-Based Suggestions — turning it off stops location data feeding Siri Suggestions and related surfaces.
Do not set Maps location access to Never: navigation, nearby search, and traffic all stop working. "While Using" is the sensible floor — Maps works normally when open and gets nothing when closed.
Setting 3: Clear Significant Locations
Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations. This is the iPhone's memory of places you visit regularly. You can clear the history and switch it off. The trade-off: features like predictive traffic ("20 minutes to home") and some Photos memories get worse. If seeing eerily well-placed suggestions bothers you more than losing those conveniences, turn it off.
What Not to Bother With
Turning off Location Services globally, disabling Siri entirely, or signing out of your Apple ID all technically reduce ad signals — and all make the iPhone dramatically worse to use. The three settings above capture nearly all of the privacy benefit at almost no cost. For the deeper story of how Maps ads work, what data they use, and where Apple says they will and will not appear, read our full breakdown of Apple Maps ads in iOS 26.5 and what changes for privacy.
Bottom Line
You cannot switch Apple Maps ads off, but two minutes in Settings makes them anonymous: Personalized Ads off, Maps location access set to While Using, and Significant Locations cleared if you want the full sweep. After that, a promoted coffee shop is just a labeled listing — not a reflection of your movement history.
