- Learn how to place, save, and share pins on Google Maps from any device.
- Learn how to manage multiple pins and create custom maps.
- Learn best practices for businesses and users looking to locate places of interest.
Google Maps has established itself as the go-to tool for navigating, exploring, and locating anywhere in the world . Since its launch, the ability to mark specific locations with pins has revolutionized how we interact with digital maps, allowing millions of users to record, share, and remember key addresses, points of interest, or even special places they want to return to in the future.
Knowing how to add a pin to Google Maps is essential for getting the most out of this application, both on mobile devices and computers. Whether you're planning a trip, saving a restaurant to visit, telling a friend where to meet, or managing a business's location, pins in Google Maps offer versatile and valuable functionality. In this article, we explain all the ways to add, save, manage, and share pins in Google Maps , including advanced tips, additional features, and considerations for businesses and users looking to optimize their experience.
What is a pin on Google Maps and what is it used for?
A pin , also known as a marker or pushpin , is an inverted teardrop-shaped icon (usually red on mobile and gray on desktop) that indicates and highlights a specific location on a map . This feature, inspired by traditional maps and adapted to the digital environment, allows users and businesses to mark exact points for reference, destinations, starting points, or simply to save their location.
Adding a pin is useful in many situations : remembering where you parked your car, marking a friend's house, highlighting a meeting place, creating a list of restaurants to try, sharing the exact address of a business, or, if you run a company, specifying the location of your premises on the map for customers.
Furthermore, pins in Google Maps are not only useful for marking and saving locations; they allow you to easily share your location via links, social media, or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram . They also allow you to get routes, calculate distances, manage your journeys, and organize places using labels or custom lists.
How to add a pin to Google Maps from your mobile device (Android and iOS)
Entering a pin from your smartphone is a quick and easy process compatible with both Android and iPhone devices. You can do it in two main ways: by searching for a specific address or by manually selecting the location on the map.
- Open Google Maps on your mobile device
- Find the location desired location using the search bar or manually navigate the map.
- Touch and hold the screen over the exact spot where you want to place the pin. After a few seconds, the pin will appear.
- At the bottom of the screen a tab appears with information about the location, coordinates or options such as Get directions, Start navigation, Save, Share or Add a tag.
- Optionally, Can drag the pin to a more precise position if necessary.
- To save the location, press the “Save” icon, choose a list (Favorites, Want to go, Featured places…) or create a new one.
- To share the pin, press “Share” and select the app through which you want to send the location (WhatsApp, Telegram, email, etc.).
Tip: When you search for an address or place name in the search bar, Google Maps automatically places a pin over that location, speeding up the process.
How to put a pin on Google Maps from your computer
The process on the web version of Google Maps is equally intuitive, perfect for those planning from a computer or managing locations for personal and professional use.
- Accede to Google Maps from your favorite browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.).
- Find the address or manually navigate the map until you find the desired location.
- Take the left click on the exact point where you want to put the pin (if there is a previous marker, you can zoom in or select a nearby space).
- The pin will appear on the map, and a box will open at the bottom with detailed information about the location: name, coordinates, save, routes, sharing, etc.
- To save the pin, click “Save” and select the list (for example, Favorites, Want to go or create a new one).
- To share the location link, click "Share" and copy the link or select it to send it via the platform of your choice.
In the web version, by clicking on the pin, you will find advanced options, such as sharing the exact coordinates , sending the location to a mobile phone, or even obtaining the iframe code to insert the map directly into a web page.
Send a PIN from your browser to your mobile phone
If you've located an interesting place on Google Maps from your PC and want to easily access it on your mobile, you can send the location directly to your phone as long as you're using the same Google account on both devices:
- Click on the pin or directly on the location on the map.
- Click on the Coordinates or the name of the site in the information displayed at the bottom.
- On the left side, look for the option "Send to your phone» and select your device.
- You'll receive an instant notification on your phone with the location. Tapping it will open Google Maps directly to that location.
This feature saves time and allows you to plan routes or find marked destinations without having to repeat the search process on each device.
Place, save, and manage multiple pins or bookmarks
By default, Google Maps allows you to place one pin manually at a time ; however, you can manage multiple pins using lists or by creating your own custom maps . This is ideal for planning trips, tourist routes, group events, or displaying all the points of interest for a business, for example.
Save multiple pins using lists
Every time you save a location, you can add it to "Favorites," "Want to Go," "Starred Places," or even create custom lists by topic (restaurants, hiking trails, museums, etc.). Access all your saved places from the Google Maps sidebar under "Your Places" or "Saved Places."
Create your own map with multiple pins (Google My Maps)
- Sign in Google My Maps and log in.
- Click “Create a new map.”
- Click on the «Add bookmark» (the pin icon under the search bar).
- Place the necessary pins in the desired locations on the custom map.
- You can assign different names, descriptions, colors, and symbols to each pin, as well as organize them into layers.
- To share the entire map with all the pins, use the "Share" option and choose the access permissions.
My Maps allows you to manage up to 10.000 elements on a single map, making it ideal for complex planning, events, or business use.
Advanced features and practical tips for Google Maps pins
- Share locations: You can share the marked location via a link, directly to apps, or even through an HTML "iframe" to embed the map on websites (PC version only).
- Get exact coordinates: By clicking on the pin, you can view and copy the location's GPS coordinates, making it easier to locate on GPS systems or send to other users.
- Add or edit custom labels: Organize your pins or saved places with specific tags like "Favorite Restaurants," "Offices," "Parks," or any category you need. Lists and tags sync automatically when you use the same account on all your devices.
- Pins for companies: If you run a business, it's crucial to ensure your address is correctly located. From your Google Business Profile, you can set your PIN so your customers can easily locate you. Access your profile, go to "Edit Profile," and look for the "Add a Profile" section. Location to place the pin at the exact point and save the changes.
- Map customization: In My Maps, you can draw routes and areas, add photos and descriptions to each pin, and control privacy and map viewing permissions.
How to remove or delete a pin on Google Maps
If a PIN is no longer needed, you can easily delete it:
- From the mobile app: Tap the pin, tap the bottom menu, and select "Remove" or delete the location from the list where you saved it.
- From your computer: Select the pin and, in the information tab, click the “X” or remove the location from the corresponding list.
- On Google My Maps: Select the pin and use the delete icon to remove it from your custom map.
Recommendations and best practices
- Keep your lists organized to quickly access the places you use most.
- Use custom labels to differentiate personal, work or leisure pins.
- Share only the necessary information and review the privacy permissions of your maps, especially if they contain personal or business data.
- Check the exact location before saving or sharing a pin, especially in complicated directions or places where there may be confusion.
- If you are a company, make sure that your Google Business Profile have the exact and up-to-date location to improve your local visibility.
Common errors and how to fix them
Problem: the pin does not appear where you entered it.
Solution: Make sure you zoom in on the map to mark the exact spot and avoid having other markers overlapping in the same area.
Problem: you can't save or share a pin.
Solution: Make sure you're signed in to your Google account and connected to the internet. Depending on the version of your operating system or app, some options may appear in secondary menus.
Problem: When inserting the pin into a website, the map is not displayed correctly.
Solution: Make sure you're using the iframe code provided by Google Maps and that your page allows iframes.
Usefulness of pins in specific sectors and situations
The use of pins isn't limited to personal navigation. Businesses, retailers, tourism professionals, event organizers, and real estate agents use Google Maps to show relevant locations to their clients and contacts:
- Businesses and shops: Make it easy for customers to find and get to your location, and show up correctly in searches.
- Event organizers: It allows you to share the exact meeting point or the different spaces of an event.
- Real estate: Displays locations of properties for sale or rent in a clear and interactive manner.
- Tourism and leisure: Create sightseeing routes, lists of restaurants, monuments, hiking trails, museums, and more, easily sharing useful locations.
Pinning locations in Google Maps is one of the most practical and versatile features of any map application. It allows you to save, organize, share, and customize locations with remarkable ease and precision, for both personal and professional use. Whether you're using a mobile phone, tablet, or PC, the steps and tips detailed in this article will help you take full advantage of all the benefits that pins offer in Google Maps and keep your favorite places always at hand and easily accessible.
