Apple Renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' Following Google's Lead

<p>Apple has changed the label on Lake Ontario to 'Lake America,' according to an Axios review of Apple Maps on September 1, 2026. </p><p><strong>Background:</strong> Apple is the second major digital map provider to make this change, following Google, which updated the name over the weekend for users in the United States. </p><hr /><p><strong>Details:</strong> President Donald Trump reportedly requested Apple to make this change last week, as stated by Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in an interview with Fox Business on August 31, 2026. </p><ul><li>Apple's decision comes shortly after Trump's executive order to rename the body of water along the U.S.-Canada border. </li><li>Previously, the company changed the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' and Mount Denali to Mount McKinley last year, following Trump's executive order on the first day of his second term. </li></ul><p><strong>Additional Context:</strong> It remains unclear if Apple adopted a stance similar to Google, which updated the name for addresses in the United States. Canadian users will see Lake Ontario if their location settings are set to Canada. </p><ul><li>International users outside of Canada will see Lake Ontario (Lake America) in Google Maps. </li><li>Apple did not respond to Axios' request for comment regarding the name change. </li></ul><p><strong>Google's Position:</strong> Google stated that it made the switch because the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) had updated its maps, and the company follows these guidelines to reflect name changes from official government sources. </p><ul><li>It is important to note that Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally rename a shared body of water, and Canadian officials have indicated they will not refer to Lake Ontario as 'Lake America.' </li></ul><p><strong>Other Reactions:</strong> MapQuest, another digital map provider in the U.S., announced it will not change the lake's name. </p><ul><li>In a tweet that gained significant attention, the company stated, 'Name it whatever you want at your leisure.' </li><li>Following this statement, MapQuest's app saw a boost in engagement, ranking No. 1 among navigation apps and No. 8 overall on Apple's App Store chart, and No. 2 in Canada's store on the night of August 31, 2026, according to TechCrunch.</li></ul>