Navigate the globe

You can use Google Earth to travel the world, navigate across terrain, and customize your view angles. This page covers basic navigation controls and viewport settings.

To adjust your basemap type (satellite or map mode), change detail levels (borders, labels, roads), or turn on additional layers (like gridlines or animated clouds), see Adjust basemap settings.

Computer

Navigate in Google Earth

1. On your computer, open Google Earth.
2. Click Explore Earth to view the globe.
3. Choose an action:
• To find a specific place, click Search.
• Move around: Drag with your mouse.
• Zoom in and out: At the bottom right, use +/- or right drag the mouse.
• Explore around your location: Hold Ctrl + drag the screen.

To learn more about keyboard shortcuts, go to the home screen, then go to Help    Keyboard shortcuts.

Change the view

• Switch between top-down view and orbiting 3D view: At the bottom right, click 3D. If you're already in 3D view, you'll find 2D instead.
• Reset your globe to face true north: At the bottom right, click the compass.
• Fly to your current location: At the bottom right, click My Location.

Troubleshoot places that load slowly

Sometimes, places take time to show in Google Earth. To experience Earth images on your device more quickly, you may need to change your image quality settings.

1. On your computer, open Google Earth.
2. In the upper-right corner, click the Settings icon.
3. Under "Rendering quality," choose a size.
Tip: If you have a slower computer, you can reduce the quality. This may make Google Earth run more smoothly.
4. Click Done.

Tip: While you wait for a place to load, check the bottom left to tell how much of the image already loaded.

Android

Navigate in Google Earth

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app.
2. Click Explore Earth to view the globe.
3. Choose an action:
• To find a specific place: Tap Search.
• Move around: Use one finger to touch and drag the screen.
• Zoom in and out: Pinch open to zoom in, pinch closed to zoom out. To zoom with one finger, double-tap and hold, then slide your finger up or down.
• Fly to your current location: On the bottom right, tap My Location.

Change the view

• Switch between top-down view and orbiting 3D view: Zoom in on the map. On the bottom-right side of the screen, tap 3D. If you're already in 3D view, this icon will say 2D instead.
• Face North: At the bottom, tap the compass.
• Tilt the map: With 2 fingers, touch and hold the map, then move your fingers up and down the screen.
• Rotate the map: With 2 fingers, touch and hold the map, then move your fingers around each other on the screen.

Troubleshoot places that load slowly

Sometimes, places take time to show in Google Earth. To experience Earth images on your device more quickly, you may need to change your image quality settings.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app.
2. Tap the avatar or your Google Account profile in the top right avatar icon, then select Settings    Rendering Quality.
3. Choose a setting:
• To increase the loading speed, choose a lower quality.
• To improve the clarity, choose a higher quality.

Tip: While you wait for a place to load, check the bottom left to tell how much of the image already loaded.

iOS

Navigate in Google Earth

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Earth app.
2. Click Explore Earth to view the globe.
3. Choose an action:
• To find a specific place: Tap Search.
• Move around: Use one finger to touch and drag the screen.
• Zoom in and out: Pinch open to zoom in, pinch closed to zoom out. To zoom with one finger, double-tap and hold, then slide your finger up or down.
• Fly to your current location: On the bottom right, tap My Location.

Change the view

• Switch between top-down view and orbiting 3D view: Zoom in on the map. On the bottom-right side of the screen, tap 3D. If you're already in 3D view, this icon will say 2D instead.
• Face North: At the bottom, tap the compass.
• Tilt the map: With 2 fingers, touch and hold the map, then move your fingers up and down the screen.
• Rotate the map: With 2 fingers, touch and hold the map, then move your fingers around each other on the screen.

Troubleshoot places that load slowly

Sometimes, places take time to show in Google Earth. To experience Earth images on your device more quickly, you may need to change your image quality settings.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Earth app.
2. Tap the avatar or your Google Account profile in the top right avatar icon, then select Settings    Rendering Quality.
3. Choose a setting:
• To increase the loading speed, choose a lower quality.
• To improve the clarity, choose a higher quality.

Tip: While you wait for a place to load, check the bottom left to tell how much of the image already loaded.