For years, Apple Maps users have been grappling with the app’s frustrating search behavior. When you’re exploring a new area and searching for something – say, a coffee shop – the results would often shift unexpectedly as you panned around the map. It was a digital game of whack-a-mole that left many frustrated and turning to rival Google Maps.

But relief might be on the horizon. The upcoming iOS 18 promises to introduce a game-changing feature: a dedicated “search here” button. This simple addition will give users much-needed control over where their search is focused. No more unpredictable jumps from one area to another.

Imagine you’re planning a weekend getaway. You search for “best restaurants” in the city center, but then decide to explore a different neighborhood. With the new “search here” button, you can easily refine your search to the new area without the app second-guessing your intentions.

While Apple Maps still plans to automatically update search results as you move around, the “search here” button offers a manual override. It’s a feature that Google Maps has had for a while, and it’s about time Apple caught up.

This is just one of the improvements coming to Apple Maps in iOS 18. The app is also set to gain better support for hiking trails and a web version. Whether these changes will be enough to convince long-time Google Maps users to switch remains to be seen. But for those who have stuck with Apple’s mapping app, the “search here” button is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.