i want to switch my maps back to gulf of mexico

System settings>General>Language and Region> change region to Mexico but leave language "English".

Easy Peasy

According to Apple support the change was made world wide for all Apple users so changing countries or regions will not work. The idea would be to think outside the box. Apple can’t change it but there must be a way to at least give the user a way to cover it up or delete the name on the map.

[Edited by Moderator]

CCSilo wrote:

The submit button has been deactivated. Not sure when it was deactivated but it doesn't work on 2/17/2025.

That's right. It has been. Apple is well aware of the change in the USGS data. This is not a mistake.

If you want to submit your personal opinion about the change to Apple, you can do so here:

Product Feedback - Apple

But really, the people with whom you should be registering your displeasure are your elected representatives.

From Wikipedia: "While the Interior Department confirmed that the Gulf of America name was effective for US federal agencies on January 24th, the change does not apply in an international context. Other countries and international bodies are not required to recognize the name change."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Mexico#Gulf_of_America

Lawrence Finch wrote:

The map used by Apple and Google is produced by the US Geological Survey, an agency of the US government, who followed legitimate instructions from the President of the United States to change it. The solution is political, not technical. Contact your representatives, and/or work to elect people who better represent your views. And if you think this is the most serious problem facing us you haven’t been paying attention. Learn to pick your fights.

Well said!

Lalette wrote:

Do you mean go to the iPhone settings or the settings in Apple Maps? Will this work for Google Maps, also? Or if I change my region to Canada?

Yes, if you change your region to Canada (or Mexico) that would work. Of course, you would then need to have a Canada or Mexico address and matching Canadian or Mexican credit cards to use Wallet, and if you have an Apple Card it would be canceled. As I said earlier, if the name of a body of water is the most serious problem we have currently you are not paying attention.

2020helpme wrote:

I want my weather maps changed back to The Gulf of Mexico. Apple does not have to change the map. It’s bogus.

change it back.

Apple does not add the labels in the Maps, they are simply imported from the USGS database for users who have their device region set to the US. Each region has their own source for map data. To make changes to the USGS data, it would require action by Congress, so I would recommend contacting your Congressional Representatives.

G. Bern wrote:

Apple disabled this option on my Maps. When I try to report it, the "submit" button is dim. Anyone else having this problem?

And Google disabled reporting that same issue several days ago, not sure what the point is. The data used by Maps is provided by the USGS, and to change that it will come from an action by Congress. Have you contacted your Congressional Representative? Reporting the issue to Apple will not force Congress to make that change, you are simply not reporting the issue to the proper location.

The US Government dictates what the correct name is, since much of it is US territorial waters. Every country has naming rights over territorial waters. While you could argue that the US territorial waters component is actually less than the total area (the majority of the gulf is “owned” collectively by Mexico, Cuba, and a couple of smaller countries), each of those countries have naming rights, so Mexico could name the parts bordering on their country as Golfo de México, and Cuba could call theirs Golfo de Cuba.

It was named Gulf of Mexico by Spain 400 years ago, so they might have a claim also; perhaps Golfo de España.

From another point of view, Gulf of America is entirely accurate, because all countries bordering it are collectively America: North America, Central America, South America. So in a way the renaming is the US recognizing that “America” is not a country, it is a geographic area, and the residents of the United States are not Americans, they are USAans.

There is not issue to report. That is the official name of that body of water, whether you like it or not.

The reporting feature only applies to address correction, business information and navigation errors. It does not allow changing geographical names. For example, you can’t change New York to Nieuw Amsterdam. Or Mount Rainier to Tahoma.

You can let Apple know of your dissatisfaction→https://apple.com/feedback, however Apple can’t do anything either unless or until the US government changes it. The ones who can are your representatives and senators, so start by contacting them.

But consider that focusing on this allows your government officials to get away with creating much more serious issues. It’s actually a scam to deflect attention from other activities.

Tom Moerel wrote:

As the Gulf of Mexico renaming has not been approved outside of the USA, I demand you remove Gulf of America for customers outside of the USA. Whatever you want to name it inside the USA just go ahead. But please spare the rest of the world from this megalomaniacal stupidity!!

To the best of my knowledge, Apple has in fact only changed it for people whose region is set to USA. So, Apple is doing exactly what you are so politely requesting.

Seerseer wrote:

I did this, and it went into review and then was dropped. Clearly, Apple is discarding everyone who wants to change back to the correct Gulf of Mexico

Apple is using the information provided to it by the USGS. If you have a problem with the USGS, contact your senator and congress people. Seriously, this is what you pick to worry about right now?

Ecwalkernc wrote:

I’m using old fashioned Mapquest until they change it back permanently foe everyone per UN map guidelines!

The UN map guidelines are, as far as I know, guidelines for how to make maps that are produced by the UN. Individual countries make their own maps and their own decision about what to name things.

Other bodies of water that have different names depending on who makes the map: Persian Gulf/Arabian Sea, Sea of Japan/East Sea, English Channel/La Manche.

It amazes me that, of all the things one could be upset about right now, this is the thing some people fixate on. This is a mere distraction.

MimiAimee wrote:

Me too! I tried to dump the app and just use WAZE and HERE WE GO, but Apple works with my car. How can we make Apple see that we think this is STUPIDITY!?!?!? How about the price of eggs huh?

Apple does not control the price of eggs. For both complaints, contact your Congressional Representatives, they not only have the power to change the USGS database where both Apple and Google gets their map information, but are also responsible to representing your interests. You are also responsible for choosing the Representative that best reflects your views. Are they working for you and doing what you expect them to be doing?

I just reported it as an issue on Apple Maps. The only way I could submit a report was to click on "something else".