How to Create and Organize Saved Place Lists in Google Maps on iPhone

Google Maps is often used for navigation, but it can also help you organize places you want to remember. Whether you are planning a holiday, collecting restaurants to try, saving shopping destinations, or keeping a list of interesting places, you can group locations into separate lists.

These lists can be customized with names and descriptions, and you can also add personal notes to saved places. Depending on how you want to use a list, it can be kept private or shared with other people.

If you use Google Maps on an iPhone, the following guide explains how to create, edit, share, and manage saved lists.

Also Read: How to Use “Ask Maps” in Google Maps: A Simple and Practical Guide

Access Your Saved Places and Lists

Google Maps includes a Saved section where you can find both Google’s default lists and any lists you have created yourself.

To open it:

Launch the Google Maps app on your iPhone.
Tap Saved at the bottom of the screen.
Browse through your available lists.

Depending on your Google Maps setup, you may find default categories such as Favorites, Want to go, Travel plans, Labeled, or Starred places. Your custom lists will also be displayed in this area.

Create a Custom List in Google Maps

Creating a dedicated list can make it easier to organize places based on a particular purpose. For example, you could create lists for a future trip, cafes, hotels, shopping spots, or attractions.

Here’s how to create one:

Open Google Maps.
Tap Saved.
Select New list or tap the + option.
Give your list a name.
Add a description if you want to provide more information.
Select the appropriate privacy or sharing option.
Tap Save.

The list will then be available from the Saved section.

Understanding Google Maps List Privacy Options

When creating a list, the available sharing settings determine who can access it.

Private: The list is accessible only to you.
Shared: You can give other people access and, where supported, allow them to contribute or edit the list.
Public: The list can be made more widely available through Google’s services and may include your profile information.

Choose the option that matches how you plan to use the list.

Save a Place to a Specific List

After creating a list, you can add locations directly from their Google Maps pages.

Search for a place in Google Maps.
Open the location from the search results.
Tap Save.
Select the list where you want to keep the place.
Tap Done.

If none of your existing lists is suitable, you can create a new list from the same saving interface.

Add Several Places to an Existing List

You don’t always need to search for each place individually from the main map screen. You can also open an existing list and add more locations to it.

Go to Saved in Google Maps.
Open the list you want to update.
Tap Add.
Search for a location.
Select the place you want to save.
Repeat the process for additional locations.

This is particularly useful when building a list for a trip and adding several destinations one after another.

Add Personal Notes to Saved Locations

A saved place may not always remind you why you added it. Google Maps lets you attach a personal note to a saved location.

For example, your note could mention a preferred seating area, something you want to try, or a reminder about when you plan to visit.

To add a note:

Find and open the place in Google Maps.
Tap Save.
Choose the list where you want to save it.
Look for Add a note about this place?
Enter your note.
Tap Done.

The note can help you remember the reason behind saving that particular location.

Change a Note Later

Your plans can change, so you don’t have to keep an old note permanently.

To modify a saved note:

Open Google Maps.
Tap Saved.
Select the relevant list.
Locate the saved place.
Choose the option to add or edit its note.
Update the text.
Tap Done.

Rename or Update a Custom List

You can modify a custom list if its name or description no longer matches the places you’ve collected.

Follow these steps:

Open Google Maps and select Saved.
Find the list you want to modify.
Tap the three-dot menu beside the list.
Choose Edit list.
Change the name, description, or other available details.
Tap Save.

Keep in mind that Google’s default lists may offer different editing controls compared with lists you create yourself.

Share a Google Maps List With Others

A custom list can be useful when multiple people are planning something together. You can share a list with friends, family, or anyone who needs access to the saved locations.

To share a list:

Open Google Maps.
Tap Saved.
Locate the list.
Tap the three-dot menu next to it.
Select Share list.
Choose whether other people should be allowed to edit the list, if that option is available.
Tap Continue.
Select an app from the iPhone sharing options.

The other person can use the shared link to open the list.

Change Access to a Shared List

You can review or modify the sharing settings after a list has already been shared.

Open Saved in Google Maps.
Find the shared list.
Tap its three-dot menu.
Select Sharing options.
Review the available access and sharing controls.
Change the permissions as required.

If you previously allowed other people to edit the list, you can remove that editing access when it is no longer needed.

Follow a Google Maps List Someone Shared With You

You may also receive a Google Maps list created by someone else. If you want to keep it easily accessible, you can follow the list.

After opening the shared list:

Open the Google Maps list link.
Select View only if you don’t need editing access.
Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
Choose Follow list.

The followed list can then be accessed from the Saved section.

Stop Following a List

If a followed list is no longer useful, you can remove it from your followed lists.

Open Google Maps.
Tap Saved.
Open the list you are currently following.
Select Unfollow list.

The list will no longer appear among the lists you follow.

Hide Saved Locations From the Map

Having many saved locations can make the map look crowded. Google Maps provides an option to hide a list from the map while keeping the list itself available.

To hide one:

Open Google Maps.
Go to Saved.
Find the list you want to hide.
Tap the three-dot menu beside it.
Select Hide on your map.

Your saved places remain in the list, but they won’t be displayed on the map in the same way while browsing.

Delete a Custom List

When you no longer need a list, you can remove it from Google Maps.

Open Saved.
Find the list you want to delete.
Tap the three-dot menu beside it.
Select Delete list.
Confirm the deletion if prompted.

Before deleting a list, check its contents carefully if there are places you may want to save for future use.

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Why Google Maps Lists Can Be Useful

Saved lists can make everyday planning much easier. Instead of repeatedly searching for the same locations, you can organize them into groups that make sense to you.

For example, you could maintain separate lists for:

Restaurants you want to visit
Places for an upcoming vacation
Hotels and accommodation options
Shopping destinations
Tourist attractions
Favorite local businesses
Places you want to explore later

You can also use notes for additional reminders and share selected lists when planning something with other people.

With a few simple lists, Google Maps can work as more than a navigation app—it can also serve as a convenient way to keep your favorite and planned destinations organized in one place.