Find out how to bookmark your regularly visited locations on Android, iPhone, and the web by dropping a pin in Google Maps.
Google Maps is much more than just a way to navigate from point A to point B. Depending on your mode of transportation, it can provide you information on routes and schedules for public transit and tailor your trip. Additionally, you may use it to place a pin and choose to save it to your profile or share it with others.
If the location you're looking for lacks an address or is off the beaten path, dropping a pin might be helpful. Additionally, it comes in handy when Google occasionally gets a place wrong. On Android, iOS, and desktop, follow these instructions to put a pin on Google Maps.
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How to Drop a Pin on the Google Maps Android App
For an Android handset to drop a pin on Google Maps:
- Open the Google Maps app.
- Either search for an address or scroll around the map until you find the location you want.
- Long-press on the screen to drop a pin.
- The address or location will pop up at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on the location to share it, save it, add a label to it, or get directions.
These pins are a pretty useful feature of the app for keeping track of places. There are a ton of more Google Maps tips for Android that will alter your navigation.
How to Drop a Pin on the Google Maps iOS App
The process for how to drop a pin in Google Maps on iOS is broadly the same as the process for Android.
- Open the Google Maps app.
- Search for an address or scroll around the map until you find the ideal pin location.
- To drop the pin, long-press on the screen in the desired location.
- The address or coordinates will pop up at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on the location to see more details, get directions, add labels, etc.
How to Drop a Pin on Google Maps on Desktop
Many people are unaware of the fact that you may use any desktop operating system to place a pin on Google Maps.
- The procedure is easy to follow:
- Head to the Google Maps homepage.
- Find the location where you want to place the dropped pin, then left-click on the exact spot.
- A small grey pin icon will appear on the map, and you'll see an information box pop up at the bottom of the screen.
- If you click on the information box, a new panel will appear on the left-hand side of the screen, containing more information and providing you with some additional options.
How to Make the Most of a Dropped Pin
Let's now have a look at some of the options available to you once you've dropped the pin and are satisfied with its placement.
Depending on whether you're using a desktop operating system or a mobile one, the precise possibilities change significantly. We'll examine each feature one at a time.
Use a Dropped Pin for Directions
The ability to offer directions is undoubtedly Google Maps' most helpful feature, as we stated at the beginning. Dropped pins become a crucial element of the procedure if you are unsure about the address of a specific spot.
Your dropped pin can be used as either a beginning point or an ending point. Unfortunately, it is impossible to locate two fallen pins and determine the direction between them. Instead, you must drop one pin, write down the address or coordinates, and then drop another pin to serve as your starting and ending points.
The map will include travel options by bike, foot, air, and even by plane—all with pricing!
Save a Pin Location
The position of a pin can be added to a list linked to your Google account. Then, all of your devices will be able to access it.
By default, there are three pre-made lists available: Favorites, Want to go, and Starred locations. By selecting Your Places from the app's main menu, you may add new lists and remove the default ones. Each list has the option to be shared with certain people, be public, or be private. For vacations and day trips, you may also create group lists that anybody can add pins to.
The integration of Google Maps with some of Google's other products and services is not limited to these listings.
Send a Desktop Pin to Your Phone
When you place a pin on Google Maps using the desktop application, you may share it with the Google Maps mobile app, send it via email to the Gmail account linked to your account, or text it to the phone number linked to your Google account.
To begin, simply click Send to your phone.
Share a Dropped Pin Location
There are four ways to share a dropped pin with other users in the Google Maps desktop software (not including the lists feature as discussed above).
You have two options on a desktop:
- Copy and paste the automatically generated short link to share it with other people.
- Click on the Facebook icon to share a location directly with the network.
- Post your link on Twitter by selecting the Twitter icon.
- Grab the HTML code to embed the map into a webpage.
When sharing a dropped pin location from an Android or iOS smartphone, you must utilize the Share option built into your operating system. The embed choice won't be offered.
Add a Label to a Dropped Pin
Your fallen pins can be marked with a special word or phrase. It can also be included in a list. All Google Maps versions will display the labels, and they will sync across your whole Google account.
However, there is a cost associated with the functionality. As stated by Google itself:
Message: Personal places will be used across Google products, for personalized recommendations, and for more useful ads.{Alertinfo}
Only you can determine whether you are okay with the scenario from a privacy aspect.
To begin, right-click on a dropped pin.
How to Remove Dropped Pins
You now understand how to drop a pin. What about erasing a fallen pin, though? How can one get off your map?
On Android and iOS, hit the X symbol in the text box at the top of the page to delete a pin location. Click anywhere else on the map or click the X symbol in the information box at the bottom of the screen to remove a dropped pin from your desktop.
Utilize the pins
Answers to the question of what a dropped pin on Google Maps is used for may not be immediately apparent. But we do hope that the advice in this post will enable you to use Google Maps in a new way, making your travels even more convenient.