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Apple Maps to include ads in iOS 26.5

Pururaj Dutta
April 13, 2026 - 3:12 pm ET
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Apple has rolled out the second betas of iOS 26.5, two weeks after the release of the first beta, and about a week after the release of its updated build. The previous betas had re-enabled support for end-to-end encrypted RCS communication between iPhone and Android devices, added Suggested Places in Apple Maps, and more.

Last month, Apple announced its plans to launch ads in Apple Maps in the U.S. and Canada by “this summer”. The second beta of iOS 26.5 includes a new Splash Screen upon opening the Apple Maps app for ads, indicating that it might launch with the final release.

According to Apple,

“Ads on Maps will appear when users search in Maps, and can appear at the top of a user’s search results based on relevance, as well as at the top of a new Suggested Places experience in Maps, which will display recommendations based on what’s trending nearby, the user’s recent searches, and more. Ads will be clearly marked to ensure transparency for Maps users.
Ads on Maps builds on Apple’s broader privacy-first approach to advertising, and maintains the same privacy protections Maps users enjoy today. A user’s location and the ads they see and interact with in Maps are not associated with a user’s Apple Account.”
 
Here is what ads would look like on Apple Maps:
Apple Maps Ads
Image: Apple Newsroom
 
We can expect the next beta of iOS 26.5 to be rolled out after one week. Users who are registered as a developer on www.developer.apple.com can opt in to receive beta updates by going into Settings>General>Software Update>Beta Updates and selecting Developer Beta.

Do note that these versions are not stable and are meant for testing purposes. What are your thoughts on advertisements on Apple Maps? Let us know down in the comments or write to us on @appleosophy! Be sure to download the Appleosophy App from the App Store or visit our website to stay updated with the latest Apple news!

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