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To add your business to Apple Maps, use Apple Business at business.apple.com, not the Maps app. Sign in or create an organization, verify the organization, then add a new location or claim the existing place card under Brands > Locations. Apple Business location management is free to get started.
Apple Business Connect is now called Apple Business. Older guides may show the former name and menu labels, but existing Apple Business Connect organizations can sign in and move to Apple Business. The workflow below is based on Apple’s U.S./English documentation as of August 18, 2026; features vary by country and region.
Key takeaways
- Apple Business, formerly Apple Business Connect, is the current portal for adding, claiming, and managing a business location that appears in Apple Maps.
- Use Brands > Locations > Add, then choose either Add a new location with this name or an existing location; do not create a duplicate when a place card already exists.
- Apple says organization verification can take up to five business days and gives organizations 60 days to complete verification, although high-volume periods can take longer.
- A correct place card should use the real business name, accurate category, customer-facing address and entrance, local phone number, official website, and current regular and holiday hours.
- Apple Business location management is free to get started; paid Apple Business partners are optional tools for franchises and large organizations, not a requirement for appearing on Apple Maps.
What changed from Apple Business Connect to Apple Business?
Apple Business is the current name of the platform previously called Apple Business Connect. Apple’s older support guide still uses “Apple Business Connect,” which explains why older search results and tutorials may not match the current portal. The current sign-up and management website is Apple Business.
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Apple Business manages a business’s location information across more than Apple Maps. Business details can also appear in Apple services such as Siri, Safari, Calendar, and other Apple experiences. Apple generally refers to the managed record as a location or place card, rather than simply an “Apple Maps listing.”
Can any business be added to Apple Maps?
Businesses with an eligible location can generally add a missing location or claim an existing place card through Apple Business, but Apple does not promise identical eligibility or features for every business type and region.
| Your situation | Correct Apple Business action | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Your business has no place card in Apple Maps | Add a new location. | Submitting repeated consumer edits instead of creating and verifying the location. |
| Your business already appears but is unclaimed | Locate the existing place card and claim or add it to your organization. | Creating a second location with the same name and address. |
| Another organization manages the location | Continue adding the existing location and request a transfer with an explanation and supporting documents. | Opening duplicate listings or trying to bypass the existing manager. |
| The business is missing or incorrect and you are not the owner | Use Apple’s consumer reporting or correction route. | Claiming a business you do not own or manage. |
| The business is online-only, mobile, home-based, or service-area-based | Check whether Apple offers an appropriate representation in your country or region. | Assuming every business type qualifies for a standard public address-based location. |
Apple’s owner-focused route is Apple Business. Apple’s general guidance for correcting business information is available in Apple Support’s Maps business-information article. Regional feature availability is listed in Apple’s availability guide.
What should you prepare before adding a business to Apple Maps?
Prepare the following information before opening Apple Business. Matching your legal records, official website, and submitted documents reduces avoidable verification problems.
- Organization identity: legal organization name, public-facing business or location name, country or region, business address, and contact information.
- Location details: complete physical address, customer-facing entrance, correct map position, primary category, and any appropriate additional categories.
- Contact details: main local phone number with country or region code. Apple’s location attributes do not support phone extensions.
- Website: the organization’s own website, preferably a page specific to the location. A Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok page may be accepted as an alternative, but a directory or review-site profile is not an accepted primary website.
- Hours: regular operating hours plus holiday, seasonal, and service-specific hours where applicable.
- Verification evidence: a business license, utility bill, lease or property agreement, tax permit, sales tax permit, food or health permit, alcohol permit, or another official document accepted by Apple.
- Alternative verification details: a D-U-N-S Number or EIN, if using that method, or access to the business domain so you can add a DNS TXT record for domain validation.
- Visual assets: a logo, cover photo, and high-resolution storefront, interior, product, or service photos.
- Customer actions: booking, reservation, ordering, appointment, or other action URLs if the business supports them.
For a location marked Opening Soon, Apple says the opening date cannot be more than six months in the future. Apple’s location setup requirements, including the primary category, phone number, status, website, and hours, are described in Apple’s location setup guide.
How do you add a brand-new business location to Apple Maps?
To add a brand-new location, create or access an Apple Business organization, verify the organization, and add the location under Brands > Locations.
1. Sign up for or sign in to Apple Business
Open business.apple.com and select Sign up now, or sign in if the organization already has an Apple Business, Apple Business Manager, Apple Business Essentials, or Apple Business Connect account.
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For a new organization, Apple requests organization details, website, address, enrolling-person information, country or region, phone number, and email and phone verification codes. Use an Apple Account that the organization can continue to access, rather than an employee’s account that may soon be deactivated.
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2. Verify the organization
After signing in, open Settings > Organization > Verify Now. Select one verification method, complete it, select a second distinct method, and choose Send for Review.
Apple lists several possible verification methods:
- D-U-N-S Number or EIN.
- Domain validation by adding a DNS TXT record.
- App Store Connect, where applicable.
- Business license.
- Sales tax permit.
- Food, health, or alcohol permit.
- Lease or property agreement.
- Utility bill or another official document accepted by Apple.
According to Apple’s organization verification documentation, an organization has 60 days to complete verification, and verification can take up to five business days. Apple notes that processing can take longer during high-volume periods. Unverified organization data may eventually be deleted if the organization is not approved within the verification window; treat the 60-day period as an account-maintenance deadline, not a guarantee that every account is deleted at exactly that point.
3. Open the location manager
After signing in, select Brands > Locations > Add. Enter the location name. Apple presents two important choices:
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- Locate and select an existing location when a place card already appears in Apple Maps.
4. Set the address and map pin
Enter the complete address and inspect the map marker carefully. Drag the map or enter coordinates if the marker is misplaced. Use Hybrid or Satellite view when the address is difficult to identify.
Place the pin on the correct premises and, where practical, the customer-facing entrance. Do not rely on a ZIP-code center point or a nearby street. Check the pin especially carefully for shopping centers, office towers, campuses, hospitals, hotels, malls, and buildings with multiple storefronts.
5. Enter the business information
Provide the default language, display name, primary category, location status, opening date if applicable, phone number with country or region code, website, and regular hours. Apple updates its category list periodically, so review the category later if the business changes or a more accurate category becomes available.
6. Associate the location with a brand
Choose an existing brand or create a new one. Brand information can cascade to associated locations, while location-specific details, such as a cover photo, can differ from one location to another.
7. Complete verification or submit the location
If the organization is already verified, Apple may allow the location to be completed directly. For an existing location, Apple may offer organization verification or phone verification. For a first location from an unverified organization, Apple requires organization verification and submission for review.
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Allow email from Apple domains so verification messages do not disappear into spam or quarantine folders. Apple’s new-location workflow and verification options are documented in Apple’s current location guide.
How do you claim an existing Apple Maps business listing?
To claim an existing Apple Maps listing, add the existing location from Apple Business instead of creating a new location with the same name and address.
- Sign in to Apple Business.
- Open Brands > Locations.
- Select Add.
- Enter the business name.
- Select Locate and choose the existing location.
- Confirm or adjust the map position.
- Enter or correct the category, name, phone number, website, and hours.
- Choose the appropriate organization or brand.
- Select the available verification method.
- Complete verification and submit the request.
If Apple says the location is already managed by another organization, continue adding the existing location and request a transfer. Include an explanation of the ownership or management change and attach supporting documentation such as a business license or utility bill. Apple says a transfer review can take up to five business days, although that is an estimate rather than a guaranteed result.
How does Apple Maps phone verification work?
Phone verification works for an existing location only when Apple has a phone number on record for that location, and the business must be able to answer that number.
- Select Location Verification.
- Select Next.
- Add an extension if the interface allows one for the call process.
- Choose phone verification.
- Answer the call at the number Apple has on record.
- Enter the four-digit verification code.
- Select Done.
The number must be the number Apple has on record. If the number is unfamiliar, disconnected, or inaccessible, do not create another listing to work around the problem. Use organization verification if available or contact Apple Business Support.
How should you complete and optimize the Apple Maps place card?
After the location is verified or approved, complete the place card with accurate information that helps customers find, contact, and use the business.
| Place-card element | What to enter | Accuracy rule |
|---|---|---|
| Display name | The real-world business or location name. | Do not add keywords, slogans, neighborhood names, services, or promotional text unless those words are genuinely part of the name. |
| Primary category | The most specific accurate category. | Do not choose a popular category that misrepresents the business; recheck Apple’s category list periodically. |
| Address and pin | The official address and precise customer-facing location. | Place the marker on the correct building or entrance, not merely near the address. |
| Phone | The main local customer-facing number with country or region code. | Keep it consistent with the official website; phone extensions are not supported in the location attribute. |
| Website | The organization’s own website or location page. | Do not use a directory or review-site profile as the primary website. |
| Hours | Regular, holiday, seasonal, and service-specific hours. | Keep place-card hours aligned with the official website whenever possible. |
| Photos and logo | Current, high-resolution images of the premises, products, services, and customer experience. | Avoid screenshots, misleading graphics, watermarks, and unrelated images. |
| Attributes | Supported details such as payment methods, Wi-Fi, parking, and accessibility. | Publish only attributes the location actually provides. |
Use an accurate name and category
Apple’s place-card guidance says the display name should contain no details other than the business name. Keyword stuffing can make a listing less trustworthy and can create a mismatch with the business’s real-world signage and official website.
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Make the address and pin easy to navigate
The official mailing address and the customer entrance are not always the same point. For a mall, hospital, hotel, office complex, or campus, verify where customers should arrive and place the marker accordingly.
Keep phone, website, and hours synchronized
Use the local customer-facing phone number and the organization’s own website, preferably a location-specific page. Apple says regular place-card hours should match the official website whenever possible. Update holiday and seasonal hours before customers rely on them.
Add professional photos and a logo
Use current photos that represent the actual storefront, interior, products, services, or customer experience. Apple reviews uploaded logos and cover photos before they appear, so image publication may not be immediate. Apple’s image and place-card guidance is available in Apple’s place-card media documentation.
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Custom actions give customers a direct route to reservations, appointments, ordering, booking, or another supported task. Add an action URL only when the destination works for that specific location and leads customers to a clear next step.
Showcases are temporary promotional modules for products, offers, sales, events, or similar content. A showcase can include a call to action and is tied to a location and time period. Apple’s documentation gives approximately 30 days as an example of a showcase period; the example should not be treated as a universal maximum without checking the current interface.
Showcases and some actions may have separate country, region, or eligibility requirements. Check Apple’s regional availability information before building a campaign around a feature.
What happens after you submit an Apple Maps location?
Apple separates organization verification, location verification, transfer review, image review, and public propagation. A successful submission does not create a universal promise that every change will appear immediately in every Apple product.
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Organization verification | Apple says verification can take up to five business days, with longer processing possible during high-volume periods. |
| Location verification | An existing location may use organization verification or phone verification, depending on what Apple offers. |
| Transfer request | Apple says a transfer review can take up to five business days. |
| Logo and cover photo | Apple reviews these assets before they appear. |
| Public updates | Changes can flow to Maps, Siri, Safari, Calendar, and other Apple surfaces, and may not propagate everywhere at the same time. |
Check the organization’s status and watch for requests for additional information. Avoid submitting conflicting edits repeatedly; multiple competing changes can make the underlying location record harder to diagnose.
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How do you fix common Apple Maps listing problems?
| Problem | Best recovery step |
|---|---|
| The business already exists | Use Brands > Locations > Add, locate the existing place card, and claim it. Do not create a second listing. |
| The location is already managed | Request a transfer, explain the management change, and attach a business license, utility bill, or similar evidence. |
| The verification phone is wrong or unavailable | Use organization verification if available or contact Apple Business Support. Phone verification requires the number Apple has on record. |
| The map pin is wrong | Edit the location, drag the marker, or enter coordinates, then confirm the exact building and entrance. |
| A duplicate was created | Stop editing both records. Identify the correct location, claim it, and request transfer or support assistance for the duplicate. |
| The listing does not update immediately | Allow time for review and propagation across Apple services; check for pending requests and do not submit conflicting edits. |
| The verification request stalls | Check that the legal details match the documents, the website belongs to the organization, Apple emails are allowed, the country or region is correct, and two distinct verification methods were submitted. |
| The business permanently closed | Use the removal workflow and select the permanent-closure reason so Apple can remove the location from the organization and mark it permanently closed on Maps. |
Does removing a location delete it from Apple Maps?
Removing a location from Apple Business does not necessarily remove the public location from Apple Maps. Apple warns that the place may remain visible while no longer being manageable from the organization’s account. Use the permanent-closure workflow for a closed business, and use support for an incorrect duplicate or ownership problem. See Apple’s location editing and removal guidance.
How should franchises and agencies manage multiple locations?
Use one Apple Business organization with appropriate brands and locations instead of creating disconnected accounts for every branch. Centralized management makes it easier to maintain consistent brand information while preserving location-specific details such as hours, photos, phone numbers, and cover images.
Apple supports managing one location or many locations. Franchises and agencies handling large numbers of locations can also compare approved Apple Business partners that provide shared API access and centralized listing management. Apple’s partner directory lists providers including Yext, Uberall, SOCi, Rio SEO, and DAC at Apple’s official partner directory.
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| Business size or need | Practical choice |
|---|---|
| One location or a few locations | Use Apple Business directly; the native location-management platform is free to get started. |
| Several branches with a small internal team | Use one organization, brands, and locations with carefully assigned account permissions. |
| Franchise or hundreds of locations | Compare an approved partner if bulk updates, data feeds, permissions, reporting, or agency support justify the cost. |
| Business considering Apple device management or storage | Do not purchase unrelated Apple Business services merely to add a location to Apple Maps. |
Apple Business partners are optional. Paid listing-management services are not required for a business to appear on Apple Maps, and reliable public pricing for the listed providers was not available in the research used for this article. Costs can depend on location count, contract terms, API access, managed services, reviews, social publishing, and enterprise support.
How much does it cost to add a business to Apple Maps?
Apple Business location management is free to get started, according to Apple Business Support. A small business does not need to buy Apple device management, AppleCare+ for Business, storage, or another unrelated Apple service merely to create or manage its Apple Maps location.
Optional paid partner services may make sense for large multi-location organizations that need bulk updates, centralized permissions, reporting, or managed local marketing. A paid vendor is not necessary for the standard owner workflow.
Final Apple Maps setup checklist
- Open Apple Business at business.apple.com.
- Use an existing organization or create one with the correct legal details.
- Complete two organization verification methods and submit the organization for review.
- Search for the business before adding anything new.
- Claim the existing place card when one already exists.
- Request a transfer if another organization manages the location.
- Use the real-world display name without keyword stuffing.
- Select the most specific accurate primary category.
- Verify the address, building, and customer-facing entrance on the map.
- Enter the local phone number with country or region code.
- Add the organization’s own website, preferably the location page.
- Set regular, holiday, seasonal, and service-specific hours accurately.
- Upload a current logo, cover photo, and useful location photos.
- Add only supported attributes and customer actions that the location actually provides.
- Check the place card and related Apple services after review and propagation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add my business to Apple Maps without using Apple Business?
Business owners should use Apple Business to add, claim, and manage a business location on Apple Maps. The Maps app’s consumer correction tools are a fallback for customers and non-owners, not the primary owner workflow.
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What is the difference between adding and claiming a business on Apple Maps?
Adding creates a new location when no suitable place card exists, while claiming adds an existing Apple Maps place card to your Apple Business organization. Claiming the existing record is the correct choice when the business already appears, because creating another record can produce a duplicate.
How long does Apple Business verification take?
Apple says organization verification and transfer reviews can take up to five business days, although processing may take longer during high-volume periods. Apple does not provide a universal guarantee that every public Maps update will appear immediately.
Is Apple Business free for adding a business to Apple Maps?
Apple Business location management is free to get started. Optional paid listing-management partners may charge for bulk management, reporting, permissions, or managed services, but a paid partner is not required for a standard Apple Maps location.
The Bottom Line
Use Apple Business to add or claim your business on Apple Maps. Search for an existing place card first, verify the organization with two approved methods, position the pin at the correct customer entrance, and keep the name, category, phone, website, hours, and photos accurate. The direct Apple route is free to get started; paid partners are mainly for large multi-location operations.
