Protecting your personal data usually means tweaking phone settings and managing passwords, but keeping nosy eyes off your door requires a different kind of cleaning. Apple Maps makes it surprisingly easy for anyone to check out your neighborhood and see your home right down to the window frame.
Posting high-resolution imagery of your property online gives potential burglars, nosy neighbors and strangers a clear view of your entry points, security setup and personal belongings.
Provided Apple’s Look Around feature covers your area, scrubbing your residence off the map in Apple Maps is pretty easy. Here’s how to check if your location is eligible and your home will disappear, plus what to do if you need an alternative method.
Locate your home
Search for your address in Apple Maps and look for the binoculars icon on the place card or map. Type it to enter the street level view.
If you don’t see the binoculars icon, Apple’s Look Around imagery isn’t yet available for your area — meaning your home won’t be visible on Street View anyway. Desktop users can start full screen mode by clicking on the photo preview bottom left of the display.
With the Street View image of your property visible, swipe up from the bottom of your screen to bring up the menu options and scroll down select Report a problem.
If you are on a Mac or desktop browser, Click on the three-point menu icon in the top corner to find the same option.
Flag your privacy concern
In the report window you will see a preview of the saved images next to category options. Tap Privacy concerns. From there, select Obscure Imagery of my home.
If you only want to hide a car, you can choose Obscure Personal Information instead.
Double-check that the street address matches your residence enter your primary email address. If you are signed in to your Apple ID, this will automatically populate and save a receipt directly to your account history. Then Submit hit.
Unlike instant automated boxes, Apple processes manual requests for property removal. Check your inbox over the next few days – Apple will send a follow-up email asking for verification or proof from the home owner to finalize the blur.
Once confirmed, You will receive a final email notification confirming that your property has been hidden.
How to request a blur via email
You can also request a property poll directly by emailing mapsimagecollection@apple.com. Be sure to include your full name, exact address and a description or screenshot of your property from Apple Maps.
This email route is a convenient alternative if the in-app reporting feature doesn’t work for you or if you’re submitting the request from a non-Apple device.
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