What is Windows Maps?
Windows Maps is a mapping service developed by Microsoft as part of the company's Windows services. It provides users with interactive road maps, aerial and streetside imagery, walking and driving directions, traffic information, location search, and the ability to save and sync collections like favorite places and routes across devices.
Key features of Windows Maps include:
- Interactive road, aerial, and bird's eye 3D maps for locations around the world
- Search for addresses, places of interest, and local businesses
- Get walking, driving, and public transit directions and traffic information along a route
- Streetside imagery for a ground-level view of destinations
- Indoor maps and directions for some malls, airports, and other public locations
- Create collections of favorite places and routes to save and access across PCs and mobile devices
- AR navigation and directions overlapping the real world (in Windows 11)
Windows Maps leverages Bing Maps data and imaging capabilities for its mapping platform. It comes preinstalled on Windows devices and is designed as an alternative to Google Maps or Apple Maps, offering deeper integration with Microsoft's ecosystem through features like search and offline maps powered by Azure services.
Waze, MAPS.ME, OsmAnd, HERE WeGo, Rome2rio, Organic Maps, Sygic GPS Navigation, Leaflet, StepMap, iCoyote, 2GIS, Magic Earth, Localscope, Transportr, WalkWay Navi, Maplorer, Car Dock v2 are some alternatives to Windows Maps.