iPhone Parking Reminder: How to Save Your Parking Location

Locating Your Vehicle with iOS 10's "Parked Car" Feature

The frustration of forgetting where you parked can quickly diminish the enjoyment of a trip. Fortunately, a recent addition to iOS eliminates this problem. We will explore how to utilize the "Parked Car" reminder available in iOS 10.

How the "Parked Car" Reminder Works

iOS 10 introduces a proactive feature designed to assist users in remembering their vehicle’s location. This functionality automatically detects when you park your car and offers to save the location.

The system leverages your iPhone’s location services to pinpoint where you left your vehicle. It then creates a readily accessible reminder for easy retrieval.

Utilizing the Feature

When the system detects you’ve parked, a notification will appear on your screen. This prompt asks if you’d like to save your parking location.

Simply tap "Save" to record the spot. If you dismiss the notification, you can still manually save your location through the Maps application.

Accessing Your Parked Car Location

There are several ways to find your saved parking location:

Maps App: Open the Maps app, and a "Parked Car" option will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Siri: Ask Siri, "Where did I park my car?"
Search: Search for "Parked Car" within the iOS Spotlight search.

Tapping any of these options will navigate you back to your parked car’s location using turn-by-turn directions.

This feature provides a convenient solution for anyone who frequently finds themselves struggling to remember their parking spot. It’s a simple yet effective tool for enhancing the overall driving experience with your iOS 10 device.

Finding Your Vehicle: iOS Maps Parking Reminders

Numerous iOS applications have emerged over time designed to assist users in locating their parked vehicles. These range from dedicated, single-function apps to integrated features within broader navigation software like Waze.

The introduction of iOS 10 brought a significant enhancement from Apple: parking reminders directly within the native Maps application. This integration streamlines the process of pinpointing your car’s location, eliminating the need for external apps or relying solely on memory.

System Requirements

To utilize this feature, a device running iOS 10 or a later version is essential. This includes all iPhones and cellular-enabled iPads equipped with a GPS chip.

Furthermore, your vehicle must support either Apple CarPlay or possess integrated Bluetooth connectivity. The parking reminder function leverages the disconnection of a CarPlay connection or Bluetooth signal to identify when a vehicle is parked.

If your car lacks Bluetooth, aftermarket kits are readily available to add this functionality.

Once these prerequisites are met, the following steps will guide you through activating and utilizing the parking reminder feature.

Enabling and Utilizing the Feature

The system automatically detects when you park. However, ensuring the feature is enabled is crucial for consistent performance.

When you exit your car, the Maps app will automatically save your parking location. A parking pin will then appear on the map, allowing for easy retrieval.

You can also manually add a parking location within the Maps app if automatic detection fails.

Setting Up the Parked Car Feature

Generally, the new functionality should be active on iOS 10 devices automatically, requiring no manual configuration. However, it’s prudent to verify its proper operation.

Confirming the Parked Car Reminder is Enabled

Checking the setting status is a quick process. Begin by opening the Settings application on your iOS device. Then, scroll down the menu until you locate and select the "Maps" app entry.

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Within the Maps settings, scroll further down to find the "Your Car" option.

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If the "Show Parked Location" toggle is already activated, no further action is needed. Simply close the Settings app. Otherwise, activate the toggle to enable the feature.

Establishing a Bluetooth Connection with Your Vehicle

If you haven't previously connected your phone to your car via Bluetooth for calls or audio streaming, a pairing process is necessary. While the specific steps may vary depending on your car’s make and model, the procedure on your iPhone remains consistent.

First, put your car’s audio system into Bluetooth pairing mode. Then, navigate to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone.

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Verify that Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone, as illustrated below.

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Scroll to the bottom of the available devices list to identify and select your vehicle for pairing. Once paired, the system is ready for use.

It’s important to remember that this feature relies on an active Bluetooth connection. Disabling Bluetooth will prevent the parking location reminders from functioning, as your phone will be unable to detect proximity to your vehicle.

Utilizing the Parked Car Reminder Feature

Provided the Parked Car reminder is activated and your smartphone is connected to your vehicle, the system will automatically engage each time you park and leave your car. The feature can be left to operate passively, but proactive interaction is also possible.

Let's begin by examining how the Parked Car feature functions even without any user intervention. When you are away from your vehicle, you can review your notifications – as illustrated in the iOS 10 lock screen notification panel screenshot – and locate "Map Destinations". Within this section, you will find an option labeled "Parked Car".

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Alternatively, the Parked Car reminder can be accessed by launching the Maps application, swiping upwards on the address search field to display recent destinations, and then selecting "Parked Car".

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Regardless of the access method chosen, the resulting display will present information similar to the parking reminder shown below.

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The most straightforward function, requiring no prior setup, is to simply tap the "Directions" button and follow the provided guidance back to your vehicle.

However, several useful functions are best utilized before the need to locate your car arises.

Upon parking and exiting your vehicle, iOS will recognize the parked state. At this point, the Parked Car feature can be accessed to perform several helpful actions. If the GPS location is inaccurate, the "Edit Location" button allows you to reposition the parking marker. For instance, if parked within a large parking garage, the marker can be moved to the street entrance for more accurate return directions.

Considering complex parking environments, two additional features are available: photo and note capabilities. Instead of using a separate camera application, a picture of a parking sign – such as "Floor 1: Aisle 28A" – or any other helpful landmark can be taken directly within the parking reminder menu. A text note can also be added to the designated field.

This ensures you'll no longer spend valuable time searching for your car. Furthermore, with Bluetooth enabled and your phone paired with your car, you can leverage another iOS feature – introduced in iOS 9 – which utilizes location-based reminders triggered upon exiting your vehicle.