MapQuest reaches No.1 on App Store after refusing to rename Lake Ontario
MapQuest went from 128 to number 1 in just under a week.
Lake Ontario by Shutterstock/Danler, stairs by Unsplash, Image by Cybernews.
- MapQuest refused to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America."
- The app reached its highest chart position in the company’s 30-year history.
- MapQuest says usage rose to 50 times its average after the announcement.
- A new feature which lets users rename geographical locations may poke fun at Google Maps and President Trump.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Google Maps has received a tidal wave of backlash, with many users switching to an alternative navigation app.
MapQuest, the app that aims to be “the most empowering mapping brand,” refused to follow Google Maps in renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” after President Donald Trump’s executive order.
“We’re not changing it,” MapQuest declared via X.
Since then, MapQuest has become the 1st most popular free navigation app on the US App Store.
In Canada, MapQuest was number 2 on the App Store as of August 30th, 2026.
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MapQuest is in its highest position on the app charts in the brand’s 30-year history, and has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times since its announcement on August 27th.
Since Google Maps implemented the name change and MapQuest announced it wouldn’t change a thing, app usage has increased to 50 times its average amount, according to the company.
MapQuest No.1 overall on US App Store
The "OG" navigation app, which surged in popularity following Google Maps' renaming of Lake Ontario, has since reached the top spot on Apple's App Store in both the navigation and gaming categories.
While the app was already at the top spot for navigation apps on August 31st, MapQuest is now the most downloaded app not just in its own category but in gaming, according to TechCrunch.
MapQuest has been downloaded around 632,000 times since Trump signed the executive order to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America."
These users aren't just idle protesters of Google Maps, they're actively using the app, sharing bug fixes, and proposing real features.
Apple Maps renames Lake Ontario after Trump order
It's a case of another tech giant caving to Trump. Apple Maps recently renamed the landmark Lake America following an executive order.
Like Google Maps, Apple has changed the name for US users while Canadian users will see the original name.
Trump urged Apple to follow Google's lead and officially rename the landmark to comply with the executive order, according to the BBC which cites US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
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Inspired by the renaming fiasco, MapQuest launched a lighthearted feature that lets users rename locations themselves.
The user can then share their creation with family and friends to “spread some geographical joy,” rather than one company controlling what everyone sees.
Like when Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico, MapQuest took a similar approach.
While remaining a part of the conversation, MapQuest wanted to “give people an app that keeps the names they’re familiar with,” said MapQuest’s general manager, Doug Berger.
"Hundreds of thousands of people signaled to us this weekend that we got it right, by downloading our app."
