How to Create and Share a Map in Google Maps

Creating a map in Google Maps takes five minutes and requires only a Google account

You can create a custom map in Google Maps by opening Google My Maps, adding locations by searching or clicking on the map, and organizing them into layers. The map lives in your Google Drive, and you can share it with others or keep it private. This is different from the standard Google Maps app — My Maps is the tool built specifically for making your own maps with custom markers, routes, and notes.

The process works the same whether you are mapping store locations for a business, planning a road trip, organizing field research, or sharing directions with a team. You do not need any special skills or software beyond a web browser.

Key Takeaways

• Go to mymaps.google.com, sign in with your Google account, and click "Create a new map" to start.
• Search for locations by name or address, or click directly on the map to add pins with custom titles and descriptions.
• Organize pins into layers so you can show or hide groups of locations, and change marker colors and icons.
• Share your map by clicking "Share" and choosing whether viewers can edit, comment, or view only.
• Your map saves automatically to Google Drive and can be embedded on a website or exported as a KML file.

Opening Google My Maps and starting your first map

Go to mymaps.google.com in any web browser and sign in with your Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you will need to create one first — this is the same account you use for Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Workspace.

Once you are signed in, you will see a list of any maps you have already created. Click the blue "Create a new map" button in the upper left. A new map will open with a blank canvas centered on the United States. At the top, you will see a text field that says "Untitled map" — click it and give your map a name and description.

The map interface has three main parts: the search box at the top left, the layers panel on the left side, and the map itself in the center. You will use all three as you build your map.

Adding locations to your map

There are two ways to add a location: search for it or click on the map. To search, type an address, business name, or landmark into the search box at the top left. Google will show you results below the search box. Click the result you want, and a pin will appear on the map with that location's name. A small window will pop up showing the location details.

To add a location by clicking, straightforward click anywhere on the map. A pin will drop at that spot, and a window will open asking you to name it. Type a title for the location, then click the title field again to add a description, upload a photo, or add a website link. Click outside the window or press Enter to save.

Each location you add appears as a pin on the map and also as a line item in the layers panel on the left. You can click any pin on the map or any item in the layers panel to edit it again. To delete a location, click the pin, then click the trash icon in the popup window.

Organizing locations into layers

Layers let you group related locations together and turn them on or off as a group. For example, if you are mapping a city, you might have one layer for restaurants, another for hotels, and another for museums. This way you can show only the restaurants to one person and only the hotels to another.

To create a layer, look at the left panel and find the section labeled with your map name. Click the "Add layer" button (it looks like a plus sign). Name your new layer. Now when you add locations, you can choose which layer they go into by clicking the layer name before you add the pin.

To move an existing location to a different layer, click it in the layers panel, then drag it to the layer you want. You can also hide a layer by clicking the eye icon next to its name — the pins will disappear from the map but will not be deleted. This is useful when you want to focus on one group of locations at a time.

Customizing markers and map appearance

By default, all pins are red circles with numbers. You can change the color and icon for each pin individually or for an entire layer. To change a single pin, click it on the map, then click the colored circle icon in the popup window. Choose a new color and icon from the menu that appears.

To change the appearance of all pins in a layer at once, right-click the layer name in the left panel and select "Change style". You can set a default color and icon for every new pin added to that layer. This is faster than customizing each pin one by one if you have many locations in the same category.

You can also add lines and shapes to your map. In the left panel, look for the drawing tools (they look like a line, circle, and polygon). Click one to draw on the map, then customize the color and thickness. This is useful for mapping routes, boundaries, or service areas.

Sharing your map with others

Click the blue "Share" button in the upper right. A window will open with a link to your map. You can choose three permission levels: "Viewer" (people can see the map but not edit it), "Commenter" (people can see the map and add comments), or "Editor" (people can see the map and make changes to it).

Copy the link and send it to anyone you want to share the map with. They do not need a Google account to view a shared map, but they will need one to edit or comment if you give them those permissions. You can also change permissions later by clicking "Share" again and adjusting the settings.

If you want to embed the map on a website, click "Share" and then look for the "Embed on my site" option. Google will give you a code snippet to paste into your website's HTML.

Saving and exporting your map

Your map saves automatically to Google Drive every time you make a change. You do not need to click a save button. You can access your maps anytime by going back to mymaps.google.com and clicking the map name from your list.

To read your map as a file, click the three-dot menu button in the upper right and select "read". You can save it as a KML file (which works with most mapping software) or as a PDF (which is useful for printing or sharing as a static image). A KML file can be imported into other mapping tools or shared with someone who uses different software.

If you want to delete a map, go to mymaps.google.com, right-click the map name, and select "Delete". This removes it from your Google Drive permanently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google My Maps on my phone?

Yes, there is a Google My Maps app for both iPhone and Android. You can view and edit your maps on your phone, and changes sync automatically to the web version. The mobile app has the same core features as the web version, though the interface is simplified for a smaller screen.

What is the difference between Google My Maps and the regular Google Maps app?

Google Maps is for finding directions and discovering businesses. Google My Maps is for creating your own custom maps with your own locations and notes. You cannot create custom maps in the regular Google Maps app — you must use My Maps.

Can I add photos or documents to locations on my map?

Yes. Click a location pin, then click the title field in the popup window. You will see options to add a description, photo, or website link. You can upload a photo from your computer or add a URL to a website or document.

How many locations can I add to one map?

Google does not publish a hard limit, but maps with thousands of pins may slow down in your browser. For very large datasets, consider splitting locations across multiple maps or using layers to organize them.

Can I import locations from a spreadsheet or file?

Yes, but not directly through the My Maps interface. You can convert a spreadsheet to a KML file using a tool like Google Sheets or a third-party converter, then import the KML file into My Maps by clicking the "Import" button in the layers panel.