As well as changing the style of features on the map, you can also hide them
entirely. This example shows you how to hide business points of interest (POIs)
and public transit icons on your map.
Styling works only on thekGMSTypeNormalmap type.
Applying styles to your map
To apply custom map styles to a map, callGMSMapStyle(...)to create aGMSMapStyleinstance, passing in a URL for a local JSON file, or a JSON
string containing style definitions. Assign theGMSMapStyleinstance to themapStyleproperty of the map.
Using a JSON file
The following examples show callingGMSMapStyle(...)and passing a URL for a
local file:
The following code sample assumes your project contains a file namedstyle.json:
Swift
importGoogleMapsclassMapStyling:UIViewController{// Set the status bar style to complement night-mode.overridevarpreferredStatusBarStyle:UIStatusBarStyle{return.lightContent}overridefuncloadView(){letcamera=GMSCameraPosition.camera(withLatitude:-33.86,longitude:151.20,zoom:14.0)letmapView=GMSMapView.map(withFrame:CGRect.zero,camera:camera)do{// Set the map style by passing the URL of the local file.ifletstyleURL=Bundle.main.url(forResource:"style",withExtension:"json"){mapView.mapStyle=tryGMSMapStyle(contentsOfFileURL:styleURL)}else{NSLog("Unable to find style.json")}}catch{NSLog("One or more of the map styles failed to load.\(error)")}self.view=mapView}}
Objective-C
#import "MapStyling.h"@importGoogleMaps;@interfaceMapStyling()@end@implementationMapStyling// Set the status bar style to complement night-mode.-(UIStatusBarStyle)preferredStatusBarStyle{returnUIStatusBarStyleLightContent;}-(void)loadView{GMSCameraPosition*camera=[GMSCameraPositioncameraWithLatitude:-33.86longitude:151.20zoom:12];GMSMapView*mapView=[GMSMapViewmapWithFrame:CGRectZerocamera:camera];mapView.myLocationEnabled=YES;NSBundle*mainBundle=[NSBundlemainBundle];NSURL*styleUrl=[mainBundleURLForResource:@"style"withExtension:@"json"];NSError*error;// Set the map style by passing the URL for style.json.GMSMapStyle*style=[GMSMapStylestyleWithContentsOfFileURL:styleUrlerror:&error];if(!style){NSLog(@"The style definition could not be loaded: %@",error);}mapView.mapStyle=style;self.view=mapView;}@end
To define the style options, add a new file to your project namedstyle.json,
and paste the following JSON style declaration to hide business points of
interest (POIs) and public transit icons:
The following examples show callingGMSMapStyle()and passing a string
resource:
Swift
classMapStylingStringResource:UIViewController{letMapStyle="JSON_STYLE_GOES_HERE"// Set the status bar style to complement night-mode.overridevarpreferredStatusBarStyle:UIStatusBarStyle{return.lightContent}overridefuncloadView(){letcamera=GMSCameraPosition.camera(withLatitude:-33.86,longitude:151.20,zoom:14.0)letmapView=GMSMapView.map(withFrame:CGRect.zero,camera:camera)do{// Set the map style by passing a valid JSON string.mapView.mapStyle=tryGMSMapStyle(jsonString:MapStyle)}catch{NSLog("One or more of the map styles failed to load.\(error)")}self.view=mapView}}
Objective-C
@implementationMapStylingStringResource// Paste the JSON string to use.staticNSString*constkMapStyle=@"JSON_STYLE_GOES_HERE";// Set the status bar style to complement night-mode.-(UIStatusBarStyle)preferredStatusBarStyle{returnUIStatusBarStyleLightContent;}-(void)loadView{GMSCameraPosition*camera=[GMSCameraPositioncameraWithLatitude:-33.86longitude:151.20zoom:12];GMSMapView*mapView=[GMSMapViewmapWithFrame:CGRectZerocamera:camera];mapView.myLocationEnabled=YES;NSError*error;// Set the map style by passing a valid JSON string.GMSMapStyle*style=[GMSMapStylestyleWithJSONString:kMapStyleerror:&error];if(!style){NSLog(@"The style definition could not be loaded: %@",error);}mapView.mapStyle=style;self.view=mapView;}@end
The following style declaration hides business points of interest (POIs) and
public transit icons. Paste the following style string as the value of
thekMapStylevariable:
Styled maps use two concepts to apply colors and other style changes to a
map:
Selectorsspecify the geographic components that you can
style on the map. These include roads, parks, bodies of water, and
more, as well as their labels. The selectors includefeaturesandelements, specified asfeatureTypeandelementTypeproperties.
Stylersare color and visibility properties that you can
apply to map elements. They define the displayed color through a
combination of hue, color, and lightness/gamma values.
See thestyle referencefor a detailed description of the
JSON styling options.
Use theMaps Platform Styling Wizardas a quick way
to generate a JSON styling object. The Maps SDK for iOS supports the
same style declarations as the Maps JavaScript API.
Full code samples
TheApiDemos repositoryon GitHub includes
samples that demonstrate the use of styling.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-09-04 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eLearn how to hide map features like business POIs and transit icons using the Google Maps SDK for iOS.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eApply custom styles by providing a local JSON file or a JSON string containing style definitions to the \u003ccode\u003emapStyle\u003c/code\u003e property of your map.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUtilize the \u003ccode\u003efeatureType\u003c/code\u003e and \u003ccode\u003eelementType\u003c/code\u003e properties in your JSON to select the specific map components you want to style.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eControl the visibility and color of map elements through \u003ccode\u003estylers\u003c/code\u003e in your JSON style declaration.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eExplore the Maps Platform Styling Wizard for a user-friendly way to generate JSON styling objects for your map.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["To style maps, you can hide features like business POIs and transit icons. Apply styles using `GMSMapStyle`, either with a local JSON file URL or a JSON string. Create a `style.json` file, and use selectors (features and elements) and stylers (visibility) to define map styles. Use the `mapStyle` property on the map to apply styles. Alternatively, you can define a JSON string with the same style options. You can utilize the [Maps Platform Styling Wizard](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com) for an efficient JSON style object creation.\n"],null,["Select platform: [Android](/maps/documentation/android-sdk/hiding-features \"View this page for the Android platform docs.\") [iOS](/maps/documentation/ios-sdk/hiding-features \"View this page for the iOS platform docs.\") [JavaScript](/maps/documentation/javascript/json-styling-overview \"View this page for the JavaScript platform docs.\")\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nAs well as changing the style of features on the map, you can also hide them\nentirely. This example shows you how to hide business points of interest (POIs)\nand public transit icons on your map.\n\nStyling works only on the `kGMSTypeNormal` map type.\n\nApplying styles to your map\n\nTo apply custom map styles to a map, call `GMSMapStyle(...)` to create a\n`GMSMapStyle` instance, passing in a URL for a local JSON file, or a JSON\nstring containing style definitions. Assign the `GMSMapStyle` instance to the\n`mapStyle` property of the map.\n\nUsing a JSON file\n\nThe following examples show calling `GMSMapStyle(...)` and passing a URL for a\nlocal file:\n\nThe following code sample assumes your project contains a file named\n`style.json`:\n\n\nSwift \n\n```swift\nimport GoogleMaps\n\nclass MapStyling: UIViewController {\n\n // Set the status bar style to complement night-mode.\n override var preferredStatusBarStyle: UIStatusBarStyle {\n return .lightContent\n }\n\n override func loadView() {\n let camera = GMSCameraPosition.camera(withLatitude: -33.86, longitude: 151.20, zoom: 14.0)\n let mapView = GMSMapView.map(withFrame: CGRect.zero, camera: camera)\n\n do {\n // Set the map style by passing the URL of the local file.\n if let styleURL = Bundle.main.url(forResource: \"style\", withExtension: \"json\") {\n mapView.mapStyle = try GMSMapStyle(contentsOfFileURL: styleURL)\n } else {\n NSLog(\"Unable to find style.json\")\n }\n } catch {\n NSLog(\"One or more of the map styles failed to load. \\(error)\")\n }\n\n self.view = mapView\n }\n}\n \n```\n\nObjective-C \n\n```objective-c\n#import \"MapStyling.h\"\n@import GoogleMaps;\n\n@interface MapStyling ()\n\n@end\n\n@implementation MapStyling\n\n// Set the status bar style to complement night-mode.\n- (UIStatusBarStyle)preferredStatusBarStyle {\n return UIStatusBarStyleLightContent;\n}\n\n- (void)loadView {\n GMSCameraPosition *camera = [GMSCameraPosition cameraWithLatitude:-33.86\n longitude:151.20\n zoom:12];\n GMSMapView *mapView = [GMSMapView mapWithFrame:CGRectZero camera:camera];\n mapView.myLocationEnabled = YES;\n\n NSBundle *mainBundle = [NSBundle mainBundle];\n NSURL *styleUrl = [mainBundle URLForResource:@\"style\" withExtension:@\"json\"];\n NSError *error;\n\n // Set the map style by passing the URL for style.json.\n GMSMapStyle *style = [GMSMapStyle styleWithContentsOfFileURL:styleUrl error:&error];\n\n if (!style) {\n NSLog(@\"The style definition could not be loaded: %@\", error);\n }\n\n mapView.mapStyle = style;\n self.view = mapView;\n}\n\n@end\n \n```\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nTo define the style options, add a new file to your project named `style.json`,\nand paste the following JSON style declaration to hide business points of\ninterest (POIs) and public transit icons:\nShow/Hide the JSON. \n\n```text\n[\n {\n \"featureType\": \"poi.business\",\n \"elementType\": \"all\",\n \"stylers\": [\n {\n \"visibility\": \"off\"\n }\n ]\n },\n {\n \"featureType\": \"transit\",\n \"elementType\": \"labels.icon\",\n \"stylers\": [\n {\n \"visibility\": \"off\"\n }\n ]\n }\n]\n```\n\nUsing a string resource\n\nThe following examples show calling `GMSMapStyle()` and passing a string\nresource:\n\n\nSwift \n\n```swift\nclass MapStylingStringResource: UIViewController {\n\n let MapStyle = \"JSON_STYLE_GOES_HERE\"\n\n // Set the status bar style to complement night-mode.\n override var preferredStatusBarStyle: UIStatusBarStyle {\n return .lightContent\n }\n\n override func loadView() {\n let camera = GMSCameraPosition.camera(withLatitude: -33.86, longitude: 151.20, zoom: 14.0)\n let mapView = GMSMapView.map(withFrame: CGRect.zero, camera: camera)\n\n do {\n // Set the map style by passing a valid JSON string.\n mapView.mapStyle = try GMSMapStyle(jsonString: MapStyle)\n } catch {\n NSLog(\"One or more of the map styles failed to load. \\(error)\")\n }\n\n self.view = mapView\n }\n}\n \n```\n\nObjective-C \n\n```objective-c\n@implementation MapStylingStringResource\n\n// Paste the JSON string to use.\nstatic NSString *const kMapStyle = @\"JSON_STYLE_GOES_HERE\";\n\n// Set the status bar style to complement night-mode.\n- (UIStatusBarStyle)preferredStatusBarStyle {\n return UIStatusBarStyleLightContent;\n}\n\n- (void)loadView {\n GMSCameraPosition *camera = [GMSCameraPosition cameraWithLatitude:-33.86\n longitude:151.20\n zoom:12];\n GMSMapView *mapView = [GMSMapView mapWithFrame:CGRectZero camera:camera];\n mapView.myLocationEnabled = YES;\n\n NSError *error;\n\n // Set the map style by passing a valid JSON string.\n GMSMapStyle *style = [GMSMapStyle styleWithJSONString:kMapStyle error:&error];\n\n if (!style) {\n NSLog(@\"The style definition could not be loaded: %@\", error);\n }\n\n mapView.mapStyle = style;\n self.view = mapView;\n}\n\n@end\n \n```\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nThe following style declaration hides business points of interest (POIs) and\npublic transit icons. Paste the following style string as the value of\nthe `kMapStyle` variable:\nShow/Hide the JSON. \n\n```objective-c\n@\"[\"\n@\" {\"\n@\" \\\"featureType\\\": \\\"poi.business\\\",\"\n@\" \\\"elementType\\\": \\\"all\\\",\"\n@\" \\\"stylers\\\": [\"\n@\" {\"\n@\" \\\"visibility\\\": \\\"off\\\"\"\n@\" }\"\n@\" ]\"\n@\" },\"\n@\" {\"\n@\" \\\"featureType\\\": \\\"transit\\\",\"\n@\" \\\"elementType\\\": \\\"labels.icon\\\",\"\n@\" \\\"stylers\\\": [\"\n@\" {\"\n@\" \\\"visibility\\\": \\\"off\\\"\"\n@\" }\"\n@\" ]\"\n@\" }\"\n@\"]\"\n```\n\nJSON style declarations\n\nStyled maps use two concepts to apply colors and other style changes to a\nmap:\n\n- **Selectors** specify the geographic components that you can style on the map. These include roads, parks, bodies of water, and more, as well as their labels. The selectors include *features* and *elements* , specified as `featureType` and `elementType` properties.\n- **Stylers** are color and visibility properties that you can apply to map elements. They define the displayed color through a combination of hue, color, and lightness/gamma values.\n\nSee the [style reference](/maps/documentation/ios-sdk/style-reference) for a detailed description of the\nJSON styling options.\n\nMaps Platform Styling Wizard \n[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com) \n[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com) \n[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com)[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com/) \n[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com/) \n[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com/) \n[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com/) \n[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com/) \n[](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com/) \n[Create\ncustom styles for the Google Maps Platform APIs](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com)\n\nUse the [Maps Platform Styling Wizard](https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com) as a quick way\nto generate a JSON styling object. The Maps SDK for iOS supports the\nsame style declarations as the Maps JavaScript API.\n\nFull code samples\n\nThe [ApiDemos repository](https://github.com/googlemaps-samples/maps-sdk-for-ios-samples) on GitHub includes\nsamples that demonstrate the use of styling."]]
