Frequently asked questions
Everything people ask about Bridge, Apple Maps links on Android, and how the app routes them to Google Maps, Waze, and other maps apps.
What is Bridge?
Bridge is a free, open-source Android app that intercepts maps.apple.com links and opens them in Google Maps, Waze, HERE WeGo, OsmAnd, or any other maps app that handles geo: URIs. After a one-time per-domain setup, every Apple Maps link tapped on Android routes silently to the user's preferred maps app.
How do I open an Apple Maps link on Android?
Install Bridge from the GitHub Releases page, complete the one-time auto-bridging setup, and from then on every maps.apple.com link you tap on your Android phone will open in Google Maps, Waze, or whichever maps app you prefer. Full step-by-step guide: How to open Apple Maps links on Android.
How do I convert an Apple Maps link to Google Maps?
Open Bridge from your launcher, paste the maps.apple.com URL into the field, and tap Convert. Bridge produces a geo: link that opens in Google Maps or any installed maps app. Auto-bridging does the same thing silently when you tap a link directly, without needing to open Bridge first.
Does Bridge work with Waze, HERE WeGo, OsmAnd, Magic Earth, and other navigation apps?
Yes. Bridge emits a standard Android geo: intent that any compliant maps app can handle. Android's app chooser lets you pick which one opens the link, and you can set a default. Confirmed compatible: Google Maps, Waze, HERE WeGo, OsmAnd, Organic Maps, Magic Earth, Sygic. Any app that registers for the geo: intent works.
Does Bridge collect data, analytics, or track my location?
No. Bridge has no analytics SDK, no crash reporter, no background services, no account system, and no telemetry. It does not request location permission. The only network call it ever makes is to resolve an Apple short or redirect URL when one is shared with you.
Does Bridge require an internet connection?
Only for Apple's short / redirect URLs, which must be resolved over the network. Direct maps.apple.com links with coordinates already in the URL (the common case) work fully offline.
Is Bridge available on the Google Play Store?
Not currently. Install the signed APK directly from the GitHub Releases page. The APK is signed with a stable release key, so future updates from the same source will upgrade cleanly without reinstalling.
Is Bridge free and open source?
Yes. Bridge is free of charge and released under the MIT License. Full Kotlin source for the parser, both activities, and the onboarding flow is available on GitHub.
What Android versions does Bridge support?
Bridge targets Android 5.0 (Lollipop, API 21) and newer, and runs on every Android version up through Android 15 and beyond. The auto-bridging detection works on API 31+; older versions show a setup nudge that links to the standard app-details settings page.
Why does Android make me manually enable Apple Maps link handling?
Bridge handles links to maps.apple.com, a domain it doesn't own. Android requires users to opt in per domain for any app that handles third-party links so a malicious app cannot silently hijack links to paypal.com, youtube.com, etc. This is an Android platform security boundary, not a Bridge limitation; every link-handling app of this type works the same way.
What Apple Maps URL formats does Bridge support?
Bridge parses every common Apple Maps URL shape: legacy ll=lat,lng, modern coordinate=lat,lng, named places with name=, address search with address=, free-text query with q=, directions destination daddr=, directions origin saddr=, place-path /place/<name>, and short / redirect URLs resolved over the network.
Is Bridge affiliated with Apple or Google?
No. Bridge is an independent open-source utility and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple Inc. or Google LLC.
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
Open an issue at github.com/stanley-projects/Bridge/issues. The project is maintained by Stanley Nwobosi.