Apple Business Connect no longer exists under that name. In Australia, Apple replaced it with a free platform called Apple Business on 15 April 2026, and every claimed location moved across automatically.
That’s good news if your clinic claimed its place card years ago. But if you never did, Apple Maps may still show a listing for your practice that you’ve never checked.
Here’s why it matters. StatCounter put iOS at 62.09% of Australian mobile page views in October 2026. So a big share of your patients may reach for Apple Maps first, while many clinics only look after their Google listing.
This guide covers how Apple Business works, how to add your business to Apple Maps, what to include, and where Google fits.
What Apple Business Connect Became, and What It Does for Dentists
Apple Business Connect is now part of Apple Business, a free platform that also bundles Apple’s device and email tools. For a dental clinic, the part that matters is brand and location management. Apple’s launch announcement lists what it covers:
- Rich place cards with your photos, hours and other details, shown in Apple Maps, Safari and Spotlight.
- Brand profiles that keep your clinic name and logo consistent across Apple apps.
- Showcases and actions that highlight updates on your place card and send patients to a website or app.
- Location insights that show searches, views and taps on actions.
Apple says your existing data, including claimed locations and photos, migrated automatically. So check what’s already there before you start from scratch.
Ads on Maps are a separate matter. Apple named only the US and Canada, and as of 9 November 2026, its feature availability page lists no ads for Australia. For now, the opportunity is a free, correct listing.
How to Add Your Business to Apple Maps
Whether you claimed a listing through Apple Business Connect or are starting fresh, most of the work is checking details. The last step also needs someone to answer the clinic’s main phone, so line that up first. Apple’s guide to adding a location sets out the steps, and they look like this:
- Sign in to Apple Business with a user whose role can manage locations.
- Go to Brands, then Locations, and select Add.
- Search for your clinic’s name, then select the match. If nothing appears, choose to add a new location with that name.
- Check the map marker and drag it if it sits over the wrong building.
- Fill in your primary category, phone number, website and opening hours.
- Verify the location. For an existing listing, Apple phones the number it holds on record and gives you a four-digit code.
If you don’t recognise the number Apple calls, contact Apple Business support before you go further. If another organisation already manages the listing, you can request a transfer and attach a business licence or utility bill. Apple says that review can take up to five working days. A first location also needs your business verified, and Apple reviews that too.
What to Put on Your Apple Maps Business Listing
An Apple Maps business listing is only as useful as the details behind it. Start with the basics patients rely on, then add the extras.
Get the Basics Right First
First, your clinic name, address, phone number and opening hours need to match. Keep them identical to your website and your Google Business Profile, so patients get the same answer wherever they look. This is everyday local SEO, which means making your clinic easy to find in searches tied to a place, like “dentist near me”.
Add Photos and a Booking Action
For example, photos of your entrance and reception help patients recognise the clinic when they arrive. Once your location is verified, you can add actions, which send patients to a website or app you choose. Point yours at the booking page, not the homepage.
Keep Your Showcases Within AHPRA Rules
A Showcase promotes your clinic, so treat it like any other advertising. AHPRA says advertising that uses discounts, gifts or time-limited offers may encourage unnecessary use of health services, and it doesn’t allow testimonials about clinical aspects. Stick to factual updates such as new opening hours, a new service or a closure notice.
Apple Maps vs Google Maps: Where Each One Fits
Patients choose the map app, not your clinic. Someone on an iPhone may open Apple Maps, and someone on Android will open Google Maps. So Apple Maps vs Google Maps is really a question of covering both.
That’s because the two listings are separate, each with its own dashboard. A change to your Google Business Profile won’t update Apple Maps, and the same is true in reverse.
Related: Our guide to local SEO for dentists covers the wider picture.
Common Apple Maps Mistakes to Check For
Most Apple listing problems are small and fixable. Start with these five:
- Assuming the migration is complete. Confirm that your Apple Business Connect details and your team’s access came across correctly.
- Ignoring the map marker. A marker over the wrong building can send patients to the wrong door.
- Losing the verification phone. Apple’s code goes to the number it has on record, so keep that line answered.
- Linking to the homepage. An action that lands on a busy homepage adds a step to booking.
- Posting offers without checking the rules. AHPRA has rules on discounts, gifts and time-limited offers, so review any Showcase before it goes live.
Check the listing every few months, because hours, phone numbers and practitioners change.
Apple Business Connect Is Now Apple Business, so Check Your Listing
Apple Business Connect’s listing tools live on inside Apple Business, so the old name matters less than the listing itself. Claim or check your place card, keep the details matching your Google Business Profile, and watch the insights. That small job keeps your clinic correct for patients who search on an iPhone.
Ready to Get Your Clinic Found on Apple Maps?
Let’s help your clinic show up accurately wherever patients search.
Dental Rank specialises in dental marketing across Australia. Our search engine optimisation service includes Google Business Profile work and technical audits, which is the groundwork for strong local visibility.
Schedule a free consultation today if you’d like help reviewing how your clinic appears on Apple Maps and Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apple Business Connect Still Available?
No. Apple replaced it with Apple Business, which launched in Australia on 15 April 2026. Existing Business Connect data, including claimed locations, place cards and photos, moved across automatically. If you claimed your clinic before then, sign in to Apple Business and check that the details are still correct.
Is Apple Business Free for Dental Clinics?
Yes. Apple says Apple Business is free for new and existing Business Connect users, and the place card tools are part of it. You don’t pay Apple to claim a listing, edit your place card or view insights. Features can change, so check Apple’s terms when you set up.
How Do I Add My Dental Clinic to Apple Maps?
Sign in to Apple Business, choose Brands, then Locations, and select Add. Search for your clinic. Claim the existing listing if it appears, or add a new location if it doesn’t. Then verify it, which for an existing listing means answering Apple’s phone call and entering a four-digit code.
Apple Maps vs Google Maps: Do Dentists Need Both?
Covering both is the safer approach. Patients choose the app they prefer, and each app draws on its own listing. Your Google Business Profile won’t update your Apple listing, or the other way around. Apple’s insights show searches and views, so you can judge how much your Apple listing matters.
Can Dentists Run Ads on Apple Maps in Australia?
Not yet, going by Apple’s announcement. Apple said ads on Maps would start in the US and Canada. Its Australian feature list for Apple Business doesn’t include them as of 9 November 2026, so check that page before you plan a budget.
