Google Earth Is Web-Only Now — Here's How to Access It
For years, Google Earth meant downloading a desktop application. That era is over. The definitive version is now Google Earth for Web, a full 3D globe that runs entirely inside your browser — no installer, no plugin, no waiting.
https://earth.google.com/web/ — bookmark it, or see below to add it as a desktop app icon.
What you need
- A modern browser: Google Chrome (recommended), Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox
- A Google account (free) to save projects and import your old files
- A decent internet connection — images stream from Google's servers
- WebGL enabled (it is by default in all major browsers)
Download the Google Earth app on Android (Google Play Store) or iOS (App Store) for a nearly identical experience on phones and tablets.
Migrate Your Old Google Earth Files to the Web Version
If you've used Google Earth Pro (the desktop app) for years, you likely have My Places full of saved pins, routes, and overlays. Here's how to bring them into Google Earth Web.
Step 1 — Export from Google Earth Pro
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Open Google Earth Pro
Launch the desktop application on your PC or Mac. Your saved places appear in the left sidebar under "My Places."
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Right-click on the folder or item to export
In the My Places panel, right-click any folder or individual placemark. Choose Save Place As…
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Save as .KMZ (recommended)
KMZ is the compressed version of KML — choose it to keep file sizes manageable. Name the file and save it to a location you'll remember.
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Repeat for each folder
If you have a complex My Places structure, export each top-level folder separately to stay under the 10,000 feature limit per import.
Your raw saved-places file lives at:
Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\GoogleEarth\myplaces.kml
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Google Earth/myplaces.kml
Copy and paste that path into File Explorer or Finder (you may need to enable hidden folders on Windows).
Step 2 — Import into Google Earth Web
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Open Google Earth Web and sign in
Go to earth.google.com/web and sign in with your Google account.
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Click Projects in the left panel
Click the folder icon in the sidebar to open the Projects panel.
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Click New → Import file to project
Choose Upload from device to select your .kml or .kmz file, or choose Import from Drive if you've already uploaded it to Google Drive.
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Your places appear on the globe
All placemarks, lines, and polygons from the file are loaded into a new project saved to your Google Drive automatically.
KML/KMZ files up to 1 GB are supported. Each import allows up to 10,000 features; a single project can hold up to 20,000 features total. Very complex 3D models, time-based KML, and animated tours have limited support in the web version.
Creating KML and KMZ Files
What is KML?
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is an XML-based file format for geographic data. It stores placemarks, lines, polygons, images, and descriptions that can be displayed on any KML-compatible map. KMZ is simply a zipped (compressed) KML file — smaller and easier to share.
KML vs KMZ: Which to Use?
Use KMZ when sharing files with others or when your file includes custom icons or overlays. Use KML when you need to hand-edit the XML directly or import into GIS software like QGIS or ArcGIS.
Create a KML file in Google Earth Web
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Create a new project
In the Projects panel, click New project → Create KML file. (Toggle your project list to "Local" first to enable the local KML editor.)
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Add placemarks
Click anywhere on the globe to drop a pin. Give it a name, description, and choose an icon color. You can also draw lines and polygons using the drawing tools in the toolbar.
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Add lines and shapes
Use the pencil icon to draw routes (polylines) or area boundaries (polygons). Click to add vertices, double-click to finish. Adjust the stroke color, fill color, and opacity.
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Export as KML or KMZ
Open the Project Details panel (three-dot menu on your project), then click Export as KML file. The file downloads to your device, ready to share or archive.
KML/KMZ Import Specifications
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Max file size (unzipped) | 1 GB |
| Features per import | 10,000 |
| Max features per project | 20,000 |
| Max vertices per import | 250,000 |
| Polygon vertex simplification threshold | > 10,000 vertices (auto-simplified) |
| External image size limit (icons) | 32 MB |
| Supported formats | KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, Shapefile (.zip) |
Google Earth Web doesn't directly import GPX (GPS tracks) or CSV files. Use Google Earth Pro desktop or a free online converter (search "GPX to KML converter") to convert first, then import the resulting KML into Google Earth Web.
Saving Your Work and Settings
Google Earth Web stores your projects in Google Drive automatically when you're signed in. There's no manual Save button — changes sync to the cloud as you work.
📌 Pinning Projects
In the Projects panel, hover over any project and click the pin icon to keep it always visible on the globe, even while exploring other projects.
🔗 Sharing Projects
Open a project, click the three-dot menu → Share. Toggle on the public link, copy the URL, and share it with anyone. They can view it in their browser — no account needed.
📂 Access on Any Device
Because projects live in Google Drive, sign into Google Earth Web on any computer or phone to access all your saved maps instantly.
🕒 View Settings Persist
Layer toggles (3D buildings, terrain, borders, etc.) are saved per-session in your browser. Sign in with a Google account for settings to carry across devices.
Layers you can toggle on/off
- 3D Buildings (photorealistic models for major cities)
- Terrain (elevation shading)
- Street View coverage (blue road overlay)
- Political borders and labels
- Photos (community-contributed location images)
- Historical imagery slider
- Data layers: tree canopy, land temperature, EV chargers (Pro plans)
How to Embed Google Earth on Your Website
You can embed a live, interactive Google Earth project — with all your placemarks and routes — directly into any webpage using an iframe.
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Create or open your project in Google Earth Web
Sign in, open the project you want to embed, and make sure it contains the places you want viewers to see.
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Share the project publicly
Click the three-dot menu on the project → Share. Under "Link sharing," toggle it to Anyone with the link can view. Copy the share URL.
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Build your embed iframe
Use the share URL as the
srcof an iframe. Add?embedded=trueto the URL to remove the Google Earth header chrome and make it cleaner for embedding.
Responsive embed code
Navigate to the exact view you want to embed in Google Earth Web. The URL in your browser's address bar encodes the camera position (latitude, longitude, altitude, tilt). Copy that URL and use it as your iframe src, appending &embedded=true.
Embed a specific shared project
If you want to embed a project (with your custom placemarks), use the project's share link instead of a raw coordinate URL. From your shared project link, replace /web/ with /web/ and append ?embedded=true.
Always set a descriptive title attribute on the iframe for accessibility. Keep the container's padding-bottom at 56.25% for a 16:9 aspect ratio, or 75% for 4:3.
Install Google Earth as a Desktop App Alias
Since Google Earth Web is a Progressive Web App (PWA), you can install it as a standalone application that lives in your dock, taskbar, or app menu — no browser UI, just the Earth.
🖥️ Chrome on Windows / Mac
Open earth.google.com/web in Chrome. Look for the install icon (small screen with down-arrow ⊕) in the right side of the address bar. Click it → Install. A standalone app window launches from your Start Menu or Dock.
🔷 Microsoft Edge (Windows)
Open the site in Edge. Click the three-dot menu → Apps → Install this site as an app. Name it "Google Earth" and click Install. It appears in your Windows Start menu like any installed app.
🍎 Safari on macOS
Go to File → Add to Dock (macOS Sonoma and later). This adds a web app shortcut to your Dock that opens in its own window without browser toolbars.
📱 Android
Use the Google Earth native app from the Play Store for the best mobile experience. Or in Chrome: tap the three-dot menu → Add to Home screen to install the web version.
🍏 iPhone & iPad
Use the Google Earth native app from the App Store. Alternatively, open the site in Safari, tap the Share button, then Add to Home Screen to create a shortcut icon.
🐧 Linux
In Chrome or Chromium on Linux, the install icon appears in the address bar. Click it and select Install. The app is added to your application launcher with a Google Earth icon.
The installed app launches in its own window at full size, with no browser address bar. It behaves like a native desktop app and appears in alt-tab / mission control. You can uninstall it the same way you'd uninstall any app — no leftover browser tabs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Earth completely free?
Yes, the core Google Earth experience at earth.google.com/web is free for personal use. Google launched paid tiers (Professional and Professional Advanced) in October 2025 for power users who need advanced datasets, higher storage quotas, AI imagery search, and professional data layers. The free tier covers everything most users need.
Can I still use Google Earth Pro (desktop)?
Yes, Google Earth Pro for Windows, Mac, and Linux still exists and is free to download. It's particularly useful for exporting KML/KMZ files, printing high-resolution images, measuring areas, and working with GIS data. However, Google's active development focus is on the web version. Download it at google.com/earth/about/versions.
My old KML file has 3D models and tours — will they import?
Partially. Standard placemarks, lines, and polygons import without issues. Advanced KML features including 3D COLLADA models, animated tours, photo overlays, and time-based KML have limited or no support in Google Earth Web. For those features, continue using Google Earth Pro on the desktop.
How do I share a project so others can view it?
Open the project in Google Earth Web, click the three-dot overflow menu, select Share, and toggle on Anyone with the link can view. Copy the link and send it. Recipients can view your map in their browser without a Google account. They cannot edit it unless you grant Editor access.
How do I find the lat/long coordinates for any spot?
In Google Earth Web, simply click anywhere on the globe. The latitude and longitude coordinates appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen. You can also right-click a location and choose Drop pin to create a permanent placemark with the exact coordinates.
Are the satellite images live / real-time?
No. The images in Google Earth are not live feeds from satellites. They are acquired by satellites and aerial cameras, processed, and added to Google's database in batches. Most populated areas are updated every 1–3 years. Large cities tend to have more recent and higher-resolution imagery. Google can fast-track new imagery for disaster zones.
Can I use Google Earth in presentations or Google Slides?
You can embed a Google Earth project into a Google Sites page using the embed option. For Google Slides, use a screenshot or screen recording of your flythrough, or link out to your shared project. Google Earth Studio (studio.earth.google.com) is purpose-built for creating cinematic flyover animations you can export as video for presentations.
What happened to the Google Earth API?
The original Google Earth browser plugin was retired in 2015. Today, developers who want to integrate Google Earth into applications use the Google Maps JavaScript API or the Google Earth Engine for scientific and analytical workloads. See developers.google.com/maps/documentation/earth for the current developer documentation.