To turn off satellite view in Google Maps on your iPhone, tap the Layers button at the top right of the map, then tap Default under Map type. The aerial photos disappear and the normal Google Maps view, with its flat roads and labels, comes back right away.
The same Layers panel also controls extra overlays such as Traffic, Transit and Street View, so if your map still looks cluttered after switching back, you can turn those off there too. The steps are the same on an iPad.
Quick Answer
- Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Layers button at the top right of the map (its icon typically looks like stacked squares).
- Under Map type, tap Default.
- Close the Layers panel.
In This Guide
- Before You Start
- Turn Off Satellite View in Google Maps on iPhone
- Turn Off Other Layers (Traffic, Transit, Street View)
- Default vs. Satellite vs. Terrain
- Turn Off Satellite View on a Computer
- Google Maps vs. Apple Maps
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Start
This guide is for the Google Maps app on iPhone and iPad, as of September 2026, with a short section for Google Maps in a web browser on a computer. The button names come from Google’s official Google Maps Help pages.
- Which app are you using? Google Maps and Apple Maps are different apps. Google Maps has a white icon with a colorful pin. Apple Maps is the app that comes preinstalled on the iPhone and is simply called “Maps.” The steps below only change Google Maps. If you’re in Apple Maps, jump to the Google Maps vs. Apple Maps section.
- Keep the app updated. Google changes the Maps layout from time to time. If your screen doesn’t match these steps, update Google Maps from the App Store first.
- No account needed. You don’t have to be signed in to change the map type.
A quick definition: satellite view shows real aerial and satellite photos of the ground, so you see rooftops, trees and fields. The Default view is the standard drawn map with roads, place names and landmarks, which is usually easier to read while navigating.
Turn Off Satellite View in Google Maps on iPhone
- Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad. Expected result: the map appears, showing aerial photos if satellite view is on.
- Look at the top right of the map for the Layers button. It’s a small round button, typically just below the search bar, and its icon usually looks like stacked squares. The exact icon can vary by app version.
- Tap Layers. Expected result: a panel slides up with a Map type section and a Map details section.
- Under Map type, tap Default. Google describes Default as “the normal Google Maps view.” Expected result: the selected option is outlined, and the map behind the panel switches from photos to the regular drawn map.
- Close the panel (for example, with its close button or by swiping it down, depending on your app version).
That’s it. The satellite imagery is replaced by the standard map, and you can keep searching, getting directions or navigating as usual.
If you only wanted to see a place from above for a moment, you can switch back to Satellite the same way whenever you like. Map type is a display choice, so switching back and forth doesn’t affect your saved places, history or directions.
Turn Off Other Layers (Traffic, Transit, Street View)
Sometimes the map looks “wrong” not because of satellite view but because an extra layer is switched on. The Map details section of the same Layers panel controls these overlays. According to Google’s help page for iPhone and iPad, the options include:
- Transit: public transportation information, like train lines and bus routes.
- Traffic: the flow of traffic on the roads, shown as colored lines.
- Bicycling: bicycle paths you can take.
- Street View: shows where street-level imagery is available (often as blue lines).
- Raised buildings: makes buildings appear raised instead of flat.
- Air quality: air quality information.
To turn one off:
- Tap Layers at the top right of the map.
- Under Map details, tap any highlighted option. Google’s instruction is simply to tap it again to turn off a view or hide map details. Expected result: the outline disappears and the overlay is removed from the map.
- Close the panel.
The exact list of map details can vary by location and app version. Google notes that some layers are listed as unavailable when there isn’t enough information for an area, and you can’t select them there. If labels are what’s cluttering the view, our guide on how to turn off labels in Google Maps covers what’s possible.
Default vs. Satellite vs. Terrain
Google Maps on iPhone offers three map types. Here’s how they compare:
| Map type | What you see | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Default | The normal drawn map with roads, place names and landmarks | Everyday searching, directions and driving |
| Satellite | Aerial photos showing buildings and objects in more detail | Checking what a place looks like, finding parking lots or entrances |
| Terrain | Mountains, lakes and other landscape features in more detail | Hiking, outdoor trips and seeing elevation |
If you find the Default map hard to read at night, a dark map theme may help more than switching map types. See our guide on how to make Google Maps dark mode. And if you want to look at how a street looked in the past, that’s a Street View feature rather than satellite view; our guide on how to see old Google Street View explains it.
Turn Off Satellite View on a Computer
If you also use Google Maps in a web browser, the layout is different from the iPhone app:
- Open Google Maps in your browser.
- At the bottom left, find the Layers box. It typically shows a small preview of the other map type.
- If the map is in satellite view, the box shows the drawn map. Click it to switch to the Map view. Expected result: the aerial photos are replaced with the standard map.
- For Terrain and Globe view, point to the Layers box and click More.
Changing the map type on your computer doesn’t change it in the iPhone app, and vice versa, so switch each one separately. Google’s computer instructions for map layers have the full list.
Google Maps vs. Apple Maps
A common mix-up: many people open the built-in Maps app, which is Apple Maps, and then look for Google’s Layers button. It isn’t there, because Apple Maps is a separate app from a different company with its own settings.
- Google Maps: change the view with the Layers button at the top right, then choose Default, Satellite or Terrain.
- Apple Maps: has its own map choices, including a satellite-style map, reached from its own map options rather than Google’s Layers button. The button names and layout can differ by iOS version, so look for the map options in Apple Maps and choose a standard (non-satellite) map.
Changing the view in one app never affects the other. If you’re not sure which app you’re in, check which icon you tapped on your Home Screen: Google Maps shows the colorful pin icon.
Troubleshooting
I can’t find the Layers button
Make sure you’re in Google Maps, not Apple Maps. Then close any open place card or directions panel, since they can cover the top of the map, and look below the search bar on the right. If it’s still missing, update Google Maps from the App Store and reopen the app.
I tapped Default but the map still looks like photos
Wait a second for the map tiles to reload, especially on a slow connection. If it still looks off, open Layers again and confirm Default is the highlighted map type. Also check that Street View or Raised buildings isn’t turned on under Map details.
Satellite view keeps coming back
Google’s help pages don’t say whether the map type is remembered in every situation, so it may behave differently after an update or when you open Maps from another app. If it switches back, repeat the steps above. Also check whether you’re viewing Google Earth, a separate app that’s built around satellite imagery.
A layer option is grayed out
Google says some layers are listed as unavailable when there isn’t enough information for that area. Move the map to a different location or zoom in, and try again.
The map looks cluttered with colored lines
Those are likely Traffic (road colors that show traffic flow), Transit (train and bus lines), Bicycling or Street View lines. Open Layers and tap each highlighted item under Map details to turn it off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Layers button in Google Maps on iPhone?
It’s at the top right of the map, just below the search bar. Google’s iPhone instructions say, “At the top right, tap Layers.”
What is the normal view in Google Maps called?
It’s called Default. Google describes it as the normal Google Maps view. On a computer, the same drawn view is labeled Map.
Does turning off satellite view use less data?
Google doesn’t publish a comparison, but photo-based imagery is generally more detailed than the drawn map. If you’re concerned about data, using the Default view is a reasonable choice.
Will switching map types delete my saved places?
No. The map type only changes how the map looks. Your saved places, lists and history stay the same.
Can I use satellite view while navigating?
You can pick a map type from the Layers panel, but the navigation screen may show a simplified view, and options there can vary by app version. For the clearest turn-by-turn directions, the Default view is the easiest to read.
How do I turn off satellite view in Apple Maps?
Apple Maps uses its own map button and map choices, not Google’s Layers button. Open the map options in the Maps app and choose a standard map instead of the satellite one. Exact labels can vary by iOS version.
Summary
- Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Layers at the top right of the map.
- Under Map type, tap Default to turn off satellite view.
- Under Map details, tap any highlighted overlay to turn it off.
- On a computer, use the Layers box at the bottom left to switch back to Map.
- If you’re in Apple Maps, use that app’s own map options instead.
Next step: open Google Maps, switch to Default, and check the Map details list for any overlays you don’t need. For every layer option on iPhone and iPad, see Google’s Google Maps layers help page.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.