Search Photos by Location or Landmark in iOS 12

Apple’s iOS 12 operating system allows users to search for photos by both location name and specific landmarks using the redesigned Photos app. By combining GPS geotagging data with on-device machine learning and Apple Maps points of interest, iOS 12 automatically indexes your photo library so you can quickly filter thousands of images using geographical terms. This guide explains how this feature works and provides the exact steps needed to find your pictures by place or landmark.

How Location and Landmark Search Works

When you take a picture with location services enabled, your iPhone embeds geographical coordinates into the file's EXIF metadata. In iOS 12, the Photos app processes this data locally on your device, cross-referencing coordinates with Apple Maps data.

In addition to recognizing standard geographic areas like countries, states, cities, and neighborhoods, the system identifies thousands of notable landmarks—such as the Eiffel Tower, Central Park, or the Colosseum. Even without GPS data on older imported photos, the operating system's computer vision can sometimes recognize prominent landmarks directly from the visual contents of the image.

Steps to Search by Location or Landmark

  1. Open the Photos App: Launch the native Photos application on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 12.
  2. Select the Search Tab: Tap the magnifying glass icon labeled Search located in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
  3. Enter the Query: Tap the search bar at the top and type the name of the place. You can search for:
    • Broad locations: e.g., "France," "California," or "Chicago."
    • Specific landmarks: e.g., "Golden Gate Bridge," "Empire State Building," or "Mount Rushmore."
    • Local establishments: e.g., specific museum names, parks, or sports arenas.
  4. View Results: As you type, iOS 12 displays category suggestions and photo counts under the "Places" header. Tap a suggestion to open an album containing only the photos that match that specific place.

Requirements for Accurate Results

For the search feature to index your photos properly, keep the following requirements in mind:

  • Location Services Enabled: Ensure your camera saves location data by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Camera and choosing While Using the App.
  • On-Device Indexing Time: Photos must be indexed by the system before they appear in search results. Indexing occurs automatically in the background when your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi, plugged into power, and locked.