Stay organized with collections
Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
You can create customized maps and stories about places around the world with
text, photos, and videos. You can also share your maps and stories with others
to collaborate.
Anyone with a Google Account can create projects. If you don't have an account,
you can sign up for
one.
Earth projects versus local KML files
You can choose to work with your data in Google Earth in either a cloud-based
project that is stored in Google Drive, or a local KML file that is stored in
your computer's browser storage.
Capabilities
Cloud-based project
Local KML file
Collaboration and sharing
You can share the same project with multiple editors or viewers and access it across multiple devices, just like with Google Drive.
You have to export and send the KML file to your collaborators, which will create multiple versions of the file.
Supported KML features
Earth projects support KML features like:
Placemarks, lines and paths, and polygons
Image overlays
Simple network links
Learn more about which imported KML features are supported in cloud projects.
Local KML files support KML features like:
Placemarks, lines and paths, and polygons
Image overlays (ground overlays)
Simple network links
Super-overlays
Simple KML tours without audio
Bring data into Google Earth
You can import KML files from your device or Google Drive into a cloud-based project, which are saved in your Google Drive. For more information, see Import KML.
You can open a local KML file that is saved on your device in Google Earth. For more information, see Import KML.
Access and manage projects and files
You can find both cloud-based projects and local KML files in the Google Earth home screen. To learn more about how to create, copy, and manage your projects and files, see Manage your projects on the Google Earth home screen.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-09-09 UTC."],[],[],null,["You can create customized maps and stories about places around the world with\ntext, photos, and videos. You can also share your maps and stories with others\nto collaborate.\n\nAnyone with a Google Account can create projects. If you don't have an account,\nyou can [sign up for\none](http://accounts.google.com/signup/v2/webcreateaccount?continue=https%3A%2F%2Faccounts.google.com%2FManageAccount&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=SignUp).\n\nEarth projects versus local KML files\n\nYou can choose to work with your data in Google Earth in either a cloud-based\nproject that is stored in Google Drive, or a local KML file that is stored in\nyour computer's browser storage.\n\n| Capabilities | Cloud-based project | Local KML file |\n|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| Collaboration and sharing | You can share the same project with multiple editors or viewers and access it across multiple devices, just like with Google Drive. | You have to export and send the KML file to your collaborators, which will create multiple versions of the file. |\n| Supported KML features | Earth projects support KML features like: - Placemarks, lines and paths, and polygons - Image overlays - Simple network links [Learn more](https://support.google.com/earth/community-guide/307322063) about which imported KML features are supported in cloud projects. | Local KML files support KML features like: - Placemarks, lines and paths, and polygons - Image overlays (ground overlays) - Simple network links - Super-overlays - Simple KML tours without audio |\n| Bring data into Google Earth | You can import KML files from your device or Google Drive into a cloud-based project, which are saved in your Google Drive. For more information, see [Import KML](/maps/documentation/earth/import-kml). | You can open a local KML file that is saved on your device in Google Earth. For more information, see [Import KML](/maps/documentation/earth/import-kml). |\n| Access and manage projects and files | You can find both cloud-based projects and local KML files in the Google Earth home screen. To learn more about how to create, copy, and manage your projects and files, see [Manage your projects on the Google Earth home screen](/maps/documentation/earth/manage-projects-homescreen). ||"]]
