MapQuest Becomes Top U.S. App After Refusing ‘Lake America’ Rename

MapQuest has reached the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store after gaining attention for refusing to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” creating an unexpected comeback for the longtime mapping service.

The surge began after an executive order directed U.S. geographic naming authorities to adopt the name Lake America. MapQuest announced on X that it would keep Lake Ontario’s original name, while Google Maps and Apple Maps later updated their platforms to reflect the official U.S. naming change.

MapQuest Climbs to the Top of the App Store

Following its announcement, MapQuest’s ranking on the U.S. App Store rose quickly. The app moved from No. 128 on Aug. 28 to No. 92 the following day, reached No. 3 on Aug. 31, and became the No. 1 overall app across apps and games by Tuesday.

Data from Sensor Tower estimated that MapQuest received about 632,000 downloads in the U.S. after the executive order was issued. MapQuest said the app had recorded more than 1.5 million installs across the U.S. and Canada combined during the same period.

The company said many new users were actively engaging with the app by submitting feature requests, reporting bugs, and sharing feedback through social media and app reviews. MapQuest General Manager Doug Berger said the team was working to improve the experience in response to user requests.

Different Approach From Google and Apple

MapQuest’s rise was driven in part by its different approach to that of larger technology companies. Google explained its geographic naming process, saying it updates names based on official government sources, including the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).

Google said its Maps updates follow changes made by official U.S. geographic naming authorities. Apple also adopted the updated designation, while MapQuest chose not to change Lake Ontario’s name on its platform.

The company has previously kept other geographic names unchanged, including the Gulf of Mexico. It also created a tool that lets users suggest alternative names for Lake Ontario and share the results online.

MapQuest’s Unexpected Comeback

MapQuest was once the leading online mapping service before losing ground to competitors such as Google Maps. The company is now owned by advertising technology firm System1, which acquired the service from Verizon in 2019.

The recent surge represents a major boost for the longtime mapping brand, with more than half of its year-to-date U.S. downloads occurring between Aug. 27 and Sept. 1, according to Sensor Tower estimates.

The app’s return to the top of the App Store shows how a smaller technology company gained renewed attention by taking a different position from larger competitors during a widely discussed public issue.