How to Drop a Pin on iPhone in 2 Steps, with Photos

Key Points

• Dropping a pin on an iPhone means tagging a location in Apple Maps, which is useful for saving points of interest or getting information about a location.
• You can also drop a pin on Google Maps using the same process as Apple Maps.
• You can share your location or send a pin to a friend using the Message app or other communication apps.
• To remove a pin on an iPhone, simply tap the pin and select “Remove” from the sub-menu.

The wonderful world of iOS has brought us many features that we can use to make our lives easier. The ability to drop a pin on an iPhone is one such feature. You can save a location in Apple Maps or send your location to a friend in a text message!

Moreover, you can drop a pin on your iPhone and send it to other devices. It’s a neat feature that will help you stay the course when you’re on an adventure. The following sections explain everything you need to know about this nifty feature.

What Does It Mean to Drop a Pin on iPhone?

Before taking a deep dive into tutorials, let’s take a moment to explain what a pin is and why you would drop it. Of course, if you’re in a hurry, skip ahead. However, our readers who want to learn more can browse this section for more insight.

Dropping a Pin on an iPhone

Dropping a pin on an iPhone means tagging a location in Apple Maps. This is useful if you’ve found a secluded spot in nature or want to keep a point of interest for future reference. You can follow the instructions below and drop a pin. This is also an excellent way to get information about a location, such as the GPS coordinates and the distance between you and a particular place.

Of course, you can drop a pin on Google Maps if the app is installed on your iPhone. What’s better is that the process is the same for both devices. Whether you’re team Apple Maps or Google Maps, the instructions below will help you!

Sharing Your Location

Another helpful feature iPhone users have is to drop pins for friends. If you’re stranded somewhere or want to meet friends, you can use this to send a pin to your current location. Of course, you can also share a pin for a meeting place.

Typically, we use this feature in the Message app. However, you can also use it in Apple and Google Maps on your iPhone. We’ll show you how to do it in the following sections.

How to Drop a Pin on an iPhone for Yourself

Perhaps you love fishing or hiking, or maybe you’ve found an exciting place that doesn’t have an address. When you find yourself in these predicaments, you can pin your iPhone’s location in Google Maps or Apple Maps.

Follow these simple steps to do it:

Step 1: Open Apple or Google Maps

You can tap on either map app on the home screen. Or, you can swipe to the right and type “maps” in the search bar. Choose the app from the list that appears.

Step 2: Long Press the Screen

The Maps app will open at your current location. Use your finger to move to another location. When you find it, long press that spot on the screen. A pin will appear automatically.

How to Share a Dropped Pin on an iPhone

Now that you know how to drop a pin on an iPhone, it’s time to learn how to send it to your friend. If you want to share your current location, scroll to the next section. If you want to send a pin to a friend or family member, follow these steps:

Note: You can send a pin to a location anywhere in the world. In this hypothetical scenario, we’re sending our friends to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Step 1: Tap the Pin

Open the Maps app on your phone and set a pin. Then, tap the pin to access the sub-menu.

Step 2: Tap the Share Icon

Apple’s share icon looks like a box with an arrow pointing up. You’ll see this icon in the top right corner of the sub-menu on Apple and Google Maps. Tap the share icon.

Step 3: Select the Contact or Communication App

A new sub-menu will appear. Select the contact or messaging app you want to use to send the pin. Then, tap the contact or input the user’s name. Finally, hit Send, and the user will receive the pin.

How to Drop a Pin on an iPhone for Someone Else

Apple lets us share our location with friends and family. You can enable the feature to always share your location or drop a pin occasionally to help people find you. If you want to share a pin with someone else, follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to a Conversation in the Message App

Sending a pin to another person on an iPhone is a straightforward process that starts in the Message app. Open the Message app and choose a conversation in the list.

Step 2: Tap the Contact at the Top

When you see the conversation between you and the person you’re sharing your location with, tap their contact at the top of the page.

Step 3: Tap Send My Current Location

A new menu will appear. Tap the Send My Current Location option about mid-way down the page.

How to Remove a Dropped Pin on an iPhone

If you’re adventurous, your Maps app can become overwhelmingly filled with red blips quickly. If you accidentally mark a spot, you’ll need to redo it. So, the question is, “How do you remove a pin on an iPhone?”

Fortunately, we wouldn’t leave you without an answer. This section covers removing a pin that you added on an iPhone. Follow these steps to clean up your maps:

Note: There’s no need to worry about removing a pin if you sent your location in a text message. Following the steps above only sends one pin, which won’t stay on your maps or provide your future locations.

Step 1: Tap the Pin

Open the Maps app. Locate your pin and tap it.

Step 2: Tap Remove

After tapping the pin, a sub-menu will appear at the bottom of the page. Scroll down the sub-menu and tap Remove.

Note: Apple Maps does not prompt you to confirm the action. The red blip will disappear when you hit Remove.

How to Drop a Pin on iPhone: Wrap-Up

We’ve covered a lot in this article because there are many ways to drop a pin on an iPhone. You can send one to your friends, share your current location, or save your favorite fishing spot. No matter your goals, the instructions above will help.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©chrupka/Shutterstock.com.