MapQuest’s unexpected resurgence has reached new heights. On Tuesday, the original mapping application, which many believed had faded into obscurity, ascended to the No. 1 overall app on the U.S. App Store, rising from No. 8 just a day prior. This surge in downloads was largely driven by MapQuest’s refusal to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, following an executive order from President Trump that directed the U.S. geographic naming service to adopt the new name amid his ongoing trade initiatives.
Background
After the executive order issued on August 27, MapQuest took to X to announce its decision to maintain the lake's original name, while competitors Google Maps and Apple Maps complied with the renaming directive. This decision resonated with consumers, leading to a significant increase in downloads as users rallied to support the company’s stance.
Download Surge
MapQuest's ranking experienced a remarkable climb:
- August 28: Ranked No. 128
- August 29: Ranked No. 92
- August 31: Ranked No. 3 and No. 1 in the Navigation category
- September 1: Achieved the No. 1 spot across both apps and games on the U.S. App Store
Since the executive order, the app has been downloaded approximately 632,000 times in the U.S., according to data from market intelligence provider Sensor Tower. MapQuest reported over 1.5 million installs across the U.S. and Canada combined.
