How to change km to miles on iPhone: Apple Maps, Google Maps and system units

You moved, you are traveling, or you simply grew up with a different system, and now your iPhone shows distances in kilometers when you want miles, or the other way round. The fix depends on the app. On recent iPhones, Apple Maps does not have its own unit switch any more, and uses a system setting instead. Google Maps and Waze have their own. This guide covers each one, plus temperature, so every app agrees. Menu names can differ slightly by iOS version.

How do you change km to miles in Apple Maps?

Why is there no distance setting in the Maps app?

On iOS 15 and earlier, Settings › Maps had a Distance option with Automatic, Miles and Kilometers. Apple removed it from Maps in iOS 16, and Maps now follows the Measurement System in Language & Region. If an older guide tells you to look in Maps settings, it is describing an older version. That is also why you only see choices called US, UK and Metric, not Miles and Kilometers.

How do you change units in Google Maps?

The setting applies to directions and distances inside Google Maps, and does not change Apple Maps.

How do you change units in Waze?

Open Waze, tap the menu, go to Settings and look for Distance units under the navigation or general options. Choose Miles or Kilometers. The location of this option has moved between versions, so use the search box in Waze settings if you cannot find it.

How do you change the temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit?

Open Settings › General › Language & Region and tap Temperature Unit, then choose Celsius or Fahrenheit. The Weather app also has a Units option in its menu if you want to change only the Weather app. Many apps follow the system setting, so one change can fix several places at once.

Does the measurement system change other apps?

Yes. The setting is system-wide, so other Apple apps and many third-party apps follow it for distance, and sometimes for weight and height. Health and fitness apps often have their own unit options as well, so check the app’s settings if workouts or body measurements still show the wrong unit. If you change it and do not like the result, set it back the same way.

What if you are moving to another country?

Changing units is separate from changing your Apple Account country, which controls the App Store and payment. If you are moving, you may want to change both, as explained in how to change country on iPhone. For a short trip, you do not need to change anything, and you can switch units while you are there.

Why do distances look wrong after the change?

Restart the app, or the iPhone, so that apps pick up the new setting. In Apple Maps, end the current route and start it again. If a navigation voice still says the old unit, check the language and region of the voice under Settings › Maps › Navigation Voice or in the Google Maps voice settings.

What about CarPlay and the car display?

CarPlay uses the same Maps settings as your iPhone, so changing the Measurement System should change CarPlay too. Your car’s own screen may have its own unit settings for speed and trip data, which you change in the car’s menu. If CarPlay does not behave after changes, restart the iPhone and reconnect.

How do you check distance on a trip abroad?

Download offline maps before you leave, check that Wi-Fi Calling and data roaming are set up, and make sure the time zone updates. See an iPhone time zone that will not change automatically and how to use your phone in Europe for trip planning.

Quick checklist

How do you change speed units on a map?

Speed and speed limits in Apple Maps follow the same Measurement System. With US selected, speeds show in miles per hour, and with Metric they show in kilometers per hour. In Google Maps, the speedometer and limits follow the distance units you picked, so set Miles in Google Maps if you want mph. Your car’s own screen may have a separate speed unit.

How do you change units in the Weather app?

Open the Weather app, tap the list icon and then the three dots, and choose Units. You can set temperature, wind speed, precipitation and pressure. These apply only to the Weather app. To change the temperature everywhere, use Settings › General › Language & Region › Temperature Unit.

Why does the iPhone use miles or kilometers by default?

When you set up the iPhone, it picks a Region, such as United States, and the Region sets the default measurement system, date format and currency. If you bought the phone in a different country, or you restored from a backup made in another region, the default may not match what you want. Changing Region in Language & Region updates several formats at once, and Measurement System lets you set only the units.

How do you change units on an iPad or a Mac?

On an iPad, the path is the same: Settings › General › Language & Region › Measurement System. On a Mac, open System Settings › General › Language & Region and look for Measurement system, Temperature and the other options. Maps on a Mac follows the same setting.

How do you change units in Health and Fitness?

Health and workout units are often separate. In the Fitness app, look at the profile and workout settings for Units, and in the Health app, look in the profile and each data type for a unit option, such as kilometers or miles for walking and running distance. On an Apple Watch, you can set the workout units in the Watch app under Workout. Menu names vary, so use search in the app if you cannot find it.

Why does Find My show the wrong distance unit?

Find My follows the Measurement System, so changing it in Language & Region changes how far away a person or device appears. If you still see the old unit, close and reopen Find My, or restart the iPhone. For help with location sharing itself, see how to share location on iPhone.

What if Measurement System is missing?

Make sure iOS is up to date, then check Settings › General › Language & Region again. If your iPhone is managed by a work or school profile, the setting may be locked. Check Settings › General › VPN & Device Management, and ask the administrator if you need to change it.

Does Siri use the same unit?

Yes. When you ask Siri how far a place is, the answer follows your Measurement System. If Siri answers in the wrong unit, change the setting above and ask again. You can also say the unit in your question, such as how many miles to the airport.

• Apple Maps follows Settings › General › Language & Region › Measurement System.
• Google Maps and Waze have their own distance setting.
• Temperature unit is changed separately.
• You restarted the app after changing the setting.
• You checked health and workout apps for their own unit options.