Everyone’s experienced it before. You park your car in a rush, run off to get to wherever you’re going, then come back later on scratching your head and wondering where you parked your car. It’s that one thing that, no matter how sharp your mind is, will leave you clueless at times.

Although people who sell iPhones admit that there are a number of apps you can download, it’s better to start with the basics.

Activating the Feature

The great thing about the iOS 10 update is that it addresses real needs iPhone users have been complaining about for a long time. Part of the needs that they now offer a clear solution to would be helping you remember where you parked your car.

This capability should automatically be on the moment you upgrade to iOS 10. If that doesn’t happen however, here’s how you can activate that feature:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and select Maps.
3. Scroll down and look for “Your Car”.
4. Toggle “Show Parked Location” on or off.

Now that the feature is turned on, you have to ensure that your car is paired with your phone.

1. Put your dashboard system or car stereo into Bluetooth pairing mode.
2. On your iPhone, go to Settings.
3. Go to Bluetooth and toggle it on.
4. Look for your vehicle’s Bluetooth connection and pair up your device with it.

Always remember that the moment you turn your phone’s Bluetooth off, the feature won’t function.

Using the Parked Car Reminder

Vehicle and iPhone now paired up? Then you’re ready to use the Parked Car reminder!

There are two ways for you to find your parked car. The first one is through your screen notifications.

1. On your home screen, swipe from top to bottom to pull down your notifications.
2. Look for Map Destinations.
3. Look for Parked Car under it.

You can also use the Parked Car reminder through your Maps app.

1. Open up Maps.
2. Swipe up to open your previous destinations.
3. Look for Parked Car.

Whether you’re using your notifications or accessing the feature through Maps, clicking on Parked Car will pull up the map that will show you where your car is parked.

Other Tips

Especially on your first few tries, you may find that sometimes, the Maps app is not as accurate as you want. After all, its ability to give you directions will depend on your GPS signal. And when that signal cuts in and out, you may end up with a few discrepancies on your map.

To make sure it’s accurate, access the Parked Car feature the moment you park. Check if the GPS marker is set at the right place. If not, you can tap on “Edit location” and adjust the marker.

You can also access the “Parking Reminder” on the app and snap a photo of landmarks around your parking space. Tap on note if you want to add a few notes as well.