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Maps and location overview

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This section explains how you can display maps, use map services, find the location, and set up a geofence in your app. This section also shows you how to launch the Windows Maps app to a specific map, route, or a set of turn-by-turn directions.

MapControl and map services require a maps authentication key called a MapServiceToken. For more info about getting and setting a maps authentication key, see Request a maps authentication key.

Tip

 To learn more about using maps and location in your app, download the following samples from the Windows-universal-samples repo on GitHub:

 

Display maps

Display maps with 2D, 3D, or Streetside views in your app by using APIs from the Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Maps namespace. You can mark points of interest (POI) on the map by using pushpins, images, shapes, or XAML UI elements. You can also overlay tiled images or replace the map images altogether.

Topic Description
Request a maps authentication key Your app must be authenticated before it can use the MapControl and map services in the Windows.Services.Maps namespace. To authenticate your app, you must specify a maps authentication key. This article describes how to request a maps authentication key from the Bing Maps Developer Center and add it to your app.
Display maps with 2D, 3D, and Streetside views Display customizable maps in your app by using the MapControl class. This topic also introduces aerial 3D and Streetside views.
Display points of interest (POI) on a map Add points of interest (POI) to a map by using pushpins, images, shapes, and XAML UI elements.
Overlay tiled images on a map Overlay third-party or custom tiled images on a map by using tile sources. Use tile sources to overlay specialized information such as weather data, population data, or seismic data; or use tile sources to replace the default map entirely.

Access map services

Add routes, directions, and geocoding capabilities to your app by using APIs from the Windows.Services.Maps namespace.

Topic Description
Request a maps authentication key Your app must be authenticated before it can use the MapControl and map services in the Windows.Services.Maps namespace. To authenticate your app, you must specify a maps authentication key. This article describes how to request a maps authentication key from the Bing Maps Developer Center and add it to your app.
Display points of interest (POI) on a map Add points of interest (POI) to a map by using pushpins, images, shapes, and XAML UI elements.
Display routes and directions Request routes and directions, and display them in your app.
Perform geocoding and reverse geocoding Convert addresses to geographic locations (geocoding) and convert geographic locations to addresses (reverse geocoding) by calling the methods of the MapLocationFinder class in the Windows.Services.Maps namespace.
Find and download map packages for offline use In the past, your app had to direct users to the Settings app to download offline Maps. Now, you can use classes in the Windows.Services.Maps.OfflineMaps namespace to find downloaded packages in a given area (based on a Geopoint, GeoboundingBox, etc.).
You can also check and listen for the downloaded status of map packages as well as start a download without requiring the user to leave your app.
You'll find examples of how to do this in both the reference content and the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) map sample.

Get the user's location

Get the user's current location and be notified when the location changes in your app by using APIs from the Windows.Devices.Geolocation namespace. These API members are also frequently used in parameters of the maps APIs. APIs from the Windows.Devices.Geolocation.Geofencing namespace notify your app when the user enters or exits a geofence (a predefined geographical area).

Topic Description
Request a maps authentication key Your app must be authenticated before it can use the MapControl and map services in the Windows.Services.Maps namespace. To authenticate your app, you must specify a maps authentication key. This article describes how to request a maps authentication key from the Bing Maps Developer Center and add it to your app.
Design guidelines for location-aware apps Performance guidelines for apps that require access to a user's location.
Get the user's location Get access to the user's location, then retreive it.
Guidelines for using Visits tracking Learn how to use the powerful Visits Tracking feature for more practical location tracking.
Design guidance for geofencing Performance guidelines for apps that utilize the geofencing feature.
Set up a geofence Set up a geofence in your app, and learn how to handle notifications in the foreground and background.

Launch the Windows Maps app

Your app can launch the Windows Maps app as shown here to display specific maps and turn-by-turn directions. Rather than provide map functionality directly in your own app, consider using the Windows Maps app to provide that functionality. For more info, see Launch the Windows Maps app.

an example of the windows maps app.