Apple and Google rename Lake Ontario to Lake America; one app refuses Trump’s order

Apple and Google Maps have rebranded Lake Ontario to "Lake America" following a presidential order, but one app has refused to comply and is now topping the US App Store charts. MapQuest, the veteran digital navigation platform, has emerged as the top-ranked app on the US App Store, jumping from the eighth position just a day earlier. This sudden surge in installations comes after President Donald Trump issued an executive order on August 27.

MapQuest made it clear that it would not change the name of Lake Ontario on its platform, posting three different announcements on X. The app maintained its stance by stating that it would not alter the name and that it would remain as "Lake Ontario" on its maps. The public pushback against the forced rename resonated with mobile users seeking alternatives to Big Tech platforms.

As a result, MapQuest's rank skyrocketed. It started at No. 128 on the US App Store on August 28, jumped to No. 92 on August 29, and by August 31, it had surged to No. 3 overall and to No. 1 in the Navigation category. By September 1, MapQuest held the top spot across all applications and mobile games nationwide.

MapQuest's record downloads and active user engagement are estimated to have reached approximately 632,000 US downloads in the days following the presidential directive, with the company claiming total adoption to be even higher at over 1.5 million downloads across Canada and the US combined.

MapQuest's general manager, Doug Berger, told TechCrunch that the app's surge in popularity is due to users genuinely requesting features and reporting bugs on social media and in app reviews. The small team at MapQuest has been working tirelessly to implement these requested features, aiming to provide users with a great experience.