To make Discord map links open in Google Maps on an iPhone, install the Google Maps app and set Google Maps as the maps default inside Chrome. In the United States there is no single iPhone setting that sends every map link to Google Maps, so Chrome’s setting and a quick copy and paste are the dependable fixes.
Quick Answer
- In Chrome, tap More > Settings > Content settings > Default apps > Maps and choose Google Maps. Install the Google Maps app first if you don’t have it.
- So Discord links open in Chrome, set Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App to Chrome.
- In the European Union or Japan, also set Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Navigation to Google Maps.
- If a link still opens in a browser, copy the address or coordinates from the Discord message and paste them into the Google Maps search box.
What You Need First
- The Google Maps app. If it isn’t installed yet, start by getting Google Maps on your iPhone.
- A current version of iOS. Apple says you need to update to the latest version of iOS to use the Default Apps settings.
- The Chrome app, only if you want to use the Chrome method below.
- An up to date Discord app. Discord changes its mobile menus often, so older versions may not match the labels mentioned here.
Why Discord Map Links Open in a Browser
A link someone pastes into a Discord channel is an ordinary web address, such as one that starts with google.com/maps. When you tap it, Discord hands it to a browser. That may be a browser window inside Discord, or your default browser app, such as Safari or Chrome. The browser then loads the web version of Google Maps.
Whether the link then jumps to the Google Maps app depends on the browser and on iOS, not on a Discord map setting. Discord’s help center does not list a setting that sends map links to a specific maps app.
Method 1: Set Google Maps as the Maps Default in Chrome
Chrome for iPhone has a Default apps list that tells it which app to use for maps, email, and calendar. It’s the documented way to send map links to the Google Maps app in the United States.
- Open Chrome on your iPhone.
- Tap More (the three dots), then tap Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Content settings.
- Tap Default apps.
- Tap Maps, then choose Google Maps.
These steps match Google’s guide to setting default browser, mail, maps and calendar apps on iPhone. The same list lets you choose Chrome as the browser and Gmail as the email app.
This setting only applies to links opened in Chrome, so pair it with Method 2.
Method 2: Choose the Browser That Opens Your Links
The iPhone lets you pick which browser opens web links. Changing it affects links from every app, not just Discord, so only do this if you are happy to use that browser everywhere.
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Apps.
- Tap Default Apps at the top of the list.
- Tap Browser App.
- Choose the browser you want, such as Chrome or Safari.
For more on this screen, read Apple’s article on changing default apps on iPhone and iPad. If a browser is missing from the list, it is either not installed or does not support being the default.
If a link opens in a browser window inside Discord, tap the button in that window that opens the page in Safari or Chrome. A link opened in your regular browser has a better chance of handing off to the Google Maps app than one opened inside Discord.
The Reddit app has a similar in-app browser, and you can change the browser the Reddit iPhone app uses for links.
Default Apps can also include a Navigation option that lets you choose another app instead of Apple Maps when opening links for a location. It is available in the European Union on iPhone and iPad, and in Japan on iPhone only.
- Open Settings and tap Apps.
- Tap Default Apps.
- Tap Navigation.
- Choose Google Maps.
If you do not see Navigation, your region does not have it. Some categories, including Maps, are not available in Default Apps and cannot be set to a different default. That is the situation in the United States.
Method 4: Copy the Location Into Google Maps
This route works no matter how your links are set up, because it skips the link entirely.
- In Discord, copy the address, place name, or coordinates from the message. Touching and holding a message usually brings up a copy option.
- Open the Google Maps app.
- Tap the search box at the top.
- Paste or type the address, then pick the matching result.
- Tap Directions to plan a route.
The search box accepts addresses, place names, and latitude and longitude coordinates. Coordinates are useful for game meetups and other spots that have no street address. For the spot where you are standing right now, pin your current location in Google Maps instead.
Once the route appears, you can add stops or pick other roads. Learn more about creating custom routes in Google Maps.
If the message only contains a short link with no visible address, open the link in your browser first. The web version of Google Maps shows the place name and address, which you can then copy. The page may also offer a button to open the place in the app.
How the Options Compare
| Option | Where it is | What it changes | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome default apps | Chrome > More > Settings > Content settings > Default apps | The maps app Chrome uses | iPhones with Chrome installed |
| Browser App | Settings > Apps > Default Apps | The app that opens web links from all apps | All regions |
| Navigation | Settings > Apps > Default Apps | The app that opens location links instead of Apple Maps | European Union and Japan |
| Copy and search | Google Maps search box | Nothing; it is a manual step | Everywhere |
How to Check That It Worked, and How to Undo It
Go back to Discord and tap a Google Maps link. If the Google Maps app opens and shows the place, you are set. If a browser page opens instead, look for an option on the page to open the Google Maps app, or use the copy and search method.
To undo any of these changes, return to the same screen and pick the previous choice. In Default Apps, set Browser App back to Safari, or Navigation back to Apple Maps. In Chrome, open Default apps again and change the Maps choice.
Troubleshooting
The link still opens in Safari or inside Discord
Update Discord, Google Maps, and your browser from the App Store, then restart the iPhone and try the link again. If the link opens in a window inside Discord, look for a button in that window that opens the page in your browser. If nothing changes, use the copy and search method. It does not depend on any link setting.
There is no Default Apps option in Settings
The Default Apps settings need the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for an update. On older iOS versions, some default choices were made from each app’s own page in Settings instead.
Google Maps is not in a list of choices
The app has to be installed before it can appear. Download it from the App Store, open it once, then check the list again. If an installed app does not offer a default option for a feature, contact the app developer.
The link is an Apple Maps link
Links that start with maps.apple.com are made for Apple Maps and open there in most regions. Copy the address or place name from Apple Maps and search for it in Google Maps. If you would rather stay in Apple’s app, here is how to get walking directions in Apple Maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Google Maps the default maps app on an iPhone?
Only in some regions. A Navigation default exists for the European Union and Japan. Elsewhere, including the United States, the Maps category cannot be set to a different default. You can still make Google Maps the maps choice inside Chrome.
Does Discord have a setting for map links?
Discord’s help center does not list one. Discord treats a map link like any other web link, so the browser and iOS decide what happens after you tap it.
Will changing my default browser affect other apps?
Yes. The Browser App setting applies to web links from every app on the iPhone, including Mail and Messages. You can switch back at any time from the same screen.
How do I share a Google Maps link in Discord?
In the Google Maps app, search for a place or touch and hold the map to drop a pin. Tap the place’s name or address at the bottom, tap Share, then choose Discord or copy the link and paste it into a channel. Google’s help page on sharing a map or location shows the same flow. For more on dropped pins, read about adding and saving pins in Google Maps.
Does this work the same way on an iPad?
Mostly. Apple’s default apps article covers both iPhone and iPad, and the Browser App steps are the same. On iPad, the Navigation default is offered in the European Union but not in Japan, where it is iPhone only.
Next Step
Once map links behave the way you want, you may also want to quiet a busy server. Discord lets you turn off notifications from a single server in the iPhone app. If you use Google Maps for driving directions, you can also connect Spotify to Google Maps on your iPhone to control music from the navigation screen.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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