How to use Apple Maps to find your parked car

Ever walk out of a mall and have absolutely no memory of where you parked? Apple’s got your back.

For many of you, this may be old news since this feature’s been around since iOS 10, but if you have an older car you might not know about it. That was certainly the case for me as, up until recently, I didn’t have a car new enough to have built-in Bluetooth. But I recently upgraded to a new-to-me 2013 Volkswagen Passat (like the one in the picture above) and was delighted to discover the “Parked Car” feature in Apple Maps. Here’s how Apple describes it:

When you disconnect iPhone from your car’s Bluetooth or CarPlay system and exit your vehicle, Maps drops a parked car marker so you can easily find the way back to your car.

This should happen automatically if you have a compatible car Bluetooth system. If it doesn’t, make sure the feature is enabled by going to Settings > Maps > Show Parked Location. And just to make sure it’s clear, your car doesn’t have to be equipped with Apple CarPlay, it just needs built-in Bluetooth. Neat!