Renowned as one of the most helpful applications, Google Maps allows users to mark locations by “dropping a pin,” a patented inverted-drop-shaped icon that labels locations on the map. This feature is especially useful for saving addresses, marking locations without addresses, or correcting incorrect addresses. A dropped pin in Google Maps serves as a digital breadcrumb trail, guiding users through various locations and enhancing their overall mapping experience.
The functionality of dropped pins extends beyond just marking locations. They can be used for a variety of purposes, such as planning meet-ups, sharing exact coordinates with friends and family, and creating personalized maps. Whether you’re an Android, iOS, or a desktop user, knowing how to drop a pin on Google Maps opens up a world of possibilities. From sharing your favorite spots to navigating unfamiliar territories, the use of dropped pins transforms navigation into a personalized and efficient experience, making Google Maps an indispensable tool.
How to Drop a Pin on Google Maps Mobile
Marking a specific location on the Google Maps mobile app is ideal when you’re on the go and need to save or share a precise location.
- Find the Location and Drop the Pin
Once you have found the desired location, press and hold on the area of the map where you want the pin to be dropped. A pin should appear at that location. After dropping the pin, a bar at the bottom of the screen will display details about the pinned location. You can tap on this bar to get more information, such as the address, coordinates, or nearby places.
- Navigate from or to the dropped pin
Tap “Directions” to switch to Google Maps navigation mode.
- Review the suggested route
Google Maps will use the pinned location as the destination per default. You can click the double arrow next to the destination field to flip the route around and use it as the starting point.
How to Drop a Pin on Google Maps Web / Desktop
This method shows how to pinpoint a location on Google Maps when using a desktop, useful for detailed planning on a larger screen.
- Find the Location and Drop the Pin
Use the search bar to find a specific address or landmark. Alternatively, you can manually navigate around the map by clicking and dragging the map to your desired location.
Left-click on the exact spot where you want to place the pin. A small grey pin icon will appear, and a box at the bottom or side of the screen will show details about the location.
Click on the box that appears to see more details about the location, edit the details, or get directions from or to that point.
- Clicking on the on the box with the pin location will show more options
How to Use a Dropped Pin for Directions on Google Maps Mobile
Navigating to or from a dropped pin using Google Maps on your mobile device is easy with the following simple steps.
- Drop a pin and tap “Directions” to start navigating
- Tap on “Choose starting point”
- Select what to use as the starting point
You can either type in an address or landmark, use “Your location” or tap “Choose on map” to drop a pin for the starting point as well.
- Press and hold on the map if you drop a pin as starting point
- Review the suggested route
Google Maps will use the pinned location as the destination per default. You can click the double arrow next to the destination field to flip the route around and use it as the starting point.
How to Use a Dropped Pin for Directions on Google Maps Web / Desktop
Getting directions to or from a dropped pin on the desktop version of Google Maps works similar to the mobile app.
- Option 1: Drop a Pin and click on the navigation button
Click on the map to drop a pin at your desired location. A grey pin icon will appear, and details about the location with the navigation button will show up.
- Click on “Choose starting point”
You can either type in an address or landmark or click on the map to drop a pin for the starting point as well.
- Option 2: Right click the map to select a spot for navigating from or to
- Select “Directions from here” or “Directions to here”
You can do this in two steps and use the right click to both select a starting point and a destination using pins on the map.
- Choose type of transport / navigation
How to Save a Pin as a Location on Google Maps Mobile
This method allows you to save a dropped pin as a specific location on your mobile device for easy access later.
- Drop a Pin and click on “Save”
- Choose or Create a List
You can add the location to an existing list (like “Favorites” or “Want to go”) or create a new list to save this location.
- Click “New list” if you want to create a different category
- Choose a list description and visibility
Private: This setting keeps the list visible only to you. It’s a personal collection of locations that you might want to remember or visit, and no one else can view or access this list unless you choose to share it.
Shared: A shared list can be viewed by others whom you specifically invite. You can send a link to friends or family, and they can see the list as well as contribute to it. This setting is ideal for collaborative planning, like organizing trips or outings with a group.
Public: Public lists are visible to anyone. They can be found by other Google Maps users when they search for related places or topics. These lists are often used to share recommendations broadly, like favorite restaurants in a city, and can be a way to contribute to the wider Google Maps community.
How to Send a Dropped Pin on Google Maps Web / Desktop to Your Phone
With this method you can send a pin dropped on the desktop version of Google Maps directly to your mobile device to continue there. It will show up as a notification which you just need to tap to continue where you left off on the PC.
- Drop a Pin and click on the Pin’s Details
- Click “Send to phone”
- Choose the Phone and Sending Method
You can choose to send the location via text, email, or directly to the Google Maps app if you’re signed in with the same Google account on both devices.
- If you clicked your phone it will receive a notification from Google Maps
- Tap the notification to show the pin location
- The location will open using the exact address or coordinates
How to Share a Dropped Pin / Location on Google Maps Mobile
This method shows how to share a dropped pin for a specific location from your mobile device with others which is an easier way than telling them an address or landmark.
- Drop a Pin and Tap to Access the Pin’s Details
- Tap on “Share Place”
- Select the app or contact you want to share the pinned location with
How to Share a Dropped Pin / Location on Google Maps Web / Desktop
You can also share a dropped pin for a specific location from your PC which is better than just copying and pasting the very long URL from your browser address bar.
- Drop the Pin and open the location details
Click on the box that appears to see more details about the location, edit the details, or get directions from or to that point.
- Click “Share”
- Click “Copy Link” to save a Google Maps short URL to your clipboard
You can then paste this short URL for the Google Maps pin location in other apps and services with the hotkey “CTRL + V” or the right-click context menu.
- Alternatively you can click and share to Apps below
How to add a Label to a dropped Pin on Google Maps Mobile
This method shows how to add custom labels to your dropped pins on the mobile app for better organization.
- Drop a pin and tap on “Dropped pin” below
- Tap on “Label”
- Enter a label for the location
Google Maps shows existing labels and the suggestions “Home”, “Work”, and “School” below for easy access.
- Confirm the label to save it
- The location details for this dropped pin will then show “Labeled”
You can tap on “Labeled” and remove the label in a similar way.
How to add a Label to a dropped Pin on Google Maps Web / Desktop
This method demonstrates adding labels to dropped pins on the desktop version of Google Maps for easy identification.
- Right click on the map to drop a pin and show options
- Select “Add a missing place”
- Add a “Place name” and select or add the label below
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Dropping Pins in Google Maps
Can I add notes or additional information to a dropped pin?
While Google Maps doesn’t provide a direct feature called “notes” for dropped pins, you can use the labeling feature to add custom text to a pin, which can serve as additional information or a note. After dropping a pin, tap on it, select “Label”, and enter your text. This label will be visible to you whenever you view the pin, and it can include details like the purpose of the visit, important reminders, or any other context you find useful.
How do I view the latitude and longitude of a dropped pin?
After dropping a pin on Google Maps, the latitude and longitude are displayed in the details section at the bottom of the screen. You can tap on the pin to bring up this section. If you need to copy these coordinates, simply tap on them, and most devices will offer the option to copy the text to your clipboard, allowing you to paste the coordinates elsewhere.
Is it possible to change the icon of a dropped pin for easier identification?
Google Maps primarily uses a standard icon for dropped pins and does not allow users to change this icon for individual pins directly within the app. However, for a more personalized mapping experience, you can use Google My Maps, a separate tool by Google, to create custom maps with a variety of icons to choose from for each location you mark.
Can I share a list of dropped pins with others?
Yes, you can share a list of dropped pins by first saving those pins to a list. To share the list, go to “Your Places”, select the list you want to share, and then choose the “Share” option. You can set the list to “Shared” and send the generated link to others, allowing them to view the list. Recipients can also be given the ability to edit the list if you change the sharing settings to allow it.
How can I find a previously dropped pin that wasn’t saved?
If a dropped pin wasn’t saved, it might not be easy to locate it again later, especially if you’ve continued to use Google Maps for other searches or directions. To prevent this, make a habit of saving important pins immediately by tapping on the pin and selecting “Save”, then adding it to a list or labeling it. For recently searched locations or directions, you can check your Google Maps history, which might help you trace your steps back to the unsaved pin.
Can dropped pins be used to calculate area or perimeter?
Google Maps doesn’t directly calculate the area or perimeter around a dropped pin. However, you can use the “Measure Distance” feature to measure straight lines between points. For measuring an area, you can place multiple pins to mark the corners of the area and then use an external tool or application that calculates area based on latitude and longitude points to get an estimate.
How do I sync dropped pins across different devices?
To sync dropped pins across devices, ensure you’re signed into the same Google account on each device. Any pins you’ve saved to your lists or labeled will automatically appear in Google Maps on any device where you’re signed in with that account. This synchronization includes any custom lists you’ve created, labeled locations, and your saved places.
Is there a way to set reminders or alerts for a dropped pin location?
Google Maps itself does not offer a feature to set reminders or alerts based on dropped pin locations. However, you can use third-party reminder or task apps that support location-based reminders. Simply enter the location details of your dropped pin into these apps, and set them to notify you when you’re near the location or at a specific time before your planned visit.
How do I report an issue with a dropped pin’s location accuracy?
If you encounter an issue with the accuracy of a dropped pin’s location, you can report it to Google for correction. Tap on the pin to bring up its details, then look for the “Suggest an edit” option. Here, you can report inaccuracies like the wrong location name, incorrect positioning, or other issues. Google reviews these reports and may update the map to improve accuracy based on user feedback.
Can I create a route that includes multiple dropped pins?
While Google Maps allows you to get directions from one point to another, creating a multi-stop route directly within the app is somewhat limited. You can add stops to your route by selecting “Directions” from one pin, then tapping the three dots in the top right to “Add stop”. For more complex routing with multiple dropped pins, consider using Google My Maps or third-party routing tools that allow for more extensive customization.
How can I see the history of all the pins I’ve dropped?
Google Maps does not maintain a visible history of every pin you’ve dropped unless you’ve explicitly saved them. To view the pins you’ve saved, go to “Your Places” in the Google Maps menu. Here, you can see lists of saved places, labeled locations, and your custom maps. If you frequently drop pins without saving them, consider adopting a practice of saving pins that you may want to revisit.
Can I export dropped pins to another map service or GPS device?
Directly exporting dropped pins from Google Maps to another service or device isn’t a built-in feature. However, you can share individual pin locations and manually input them into other services or GPS devices by using the shared link or noting down the coordinates. For a more seamless experience, consider using Google My Maps, where you can create custom maps and then export them in KML format, which is compatible with many mapping services and GPS devices.
Is it possible to drop a pin based on latitude and longitude coordinates?
Yes, you can drop a pin at a specific location by entering its latitude and longitude coordinates into the Google Maps search bar. Format the entry as “latitude, longitude” (for example, “40.712776, -74.005974”) and press enter. Google Maps will then center the map on these coordinates, where you can drop a pin for further reference or navigation.
How do I customize the name of a list where I’ve saved dropped pins?
To customize the name of a list in Google Maps, navigate to “Your Places” and go to the “Saved” tab. Find the list you want to rename, tap on it, then select the three dots for more options and choose “Edit list”. Here, you can change the name of the list as well as its description and visibility settings. This allows for better organization of your saved pins according to categories, interests, or trips.
Can I add a dropped pin to Google My Maps for more complex map-making?
While you can’t directly transfer a dropped pin from Google Maps to Google My Maps, you can recreate the pin in My Maps. Open Google My Maps, create a new map or edit an existing one, and use the “Add marker” tool to place a pin at the same location. You can then customize this pin further within My Maps, including changing its icon, adding detailed descriptions, and including it in layers for complex map-making projects.
Extra: How to Plan a Route with More than 10 Destinations in Google Maps
Google Maps is a fantastic tool for online navigation and geographical awareness, but it can start to break down once you try to plan a route with more than 10 destinations without using a workaround. In our other guide, we show you how to add more than 10 destinations in Google Maps using Notepad and a handy URL bar trick.
Extra: How to Measure Distances on Google Maps
Google Maps can measure distance in an area or as the crow flies to help you with various decisions and sate your curiosity. One good use of the tool is measure distance walked along footpaths, for example, or to determine the size of a property. In our other guide, we show you how to measure distances in Google Maps for Android and the web, either in an area, along a route, or as the crow flies.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 10:07 pm CET
