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Get a bird's-eye view of any address on Google Maps
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On Google Maps, you can switch to Earth, or Satellite view, to get a more realistic, detailed look at an area, showing things like like buildings, houses, trees, roads, bridges, waters, and others. We’ll show you how to enable it on both desktop and mobile. And for web developers, we’ll show you how to include an Aerial View object in your website.
Enabling Satellite View on Google Maps
Open Google Maps and navigate to your desired location. Then, select the Layers button, which is on the bottom left on desktop, and top right on the mobile app. After, select 3D to see a three-dimensional view of the area.
Steps
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Search for, or navigate to, your target location on Google Maps. Use the location button on the lower right corner to set the map to your current location, or you use the search box on the upper right corner to find another place on the map.
- Finding your current location: Click on the compass button on the lower right corner of the page. The map will adjust based on your current location. Your current location will be identified by a blue dot on the map.
- Finding another location: Use the search box and type in the location you want. A shortlist of possible results will drop down. Click on the location you want, and the map will automatically draw to the location you’ve set.
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Click Earth in the bottom left to enable satellite view. On the lower left corner of the page is a box titled “Earth.” Click on it, and the current map view will transform to an aerial view, showing you a bird's-eye view of the current map or location.
- You can zoom in or zoom out by scrolling your mouse or clicking the + or - buttons at the right. Click and drag your mouse across the map to move around.
- This box may also be labeled as Layers .
- Click the compass at the right, above the zoom in/out buttons, to rotate the view.
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3Click More to see more viewing options. On the pop-out menu that appears after clicking Layers, click More. This opens a menu where you can customize your map view with things like traffic information, terrain, air quality, and more.
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4Check the “Globe view” box, then select “3D” to see a 3D view. At the bottom of the Layers menu, check the box that says “Globe view.” Then, on the bottom right of the screen, click the small 3D button to see a three-dimensional view of the area.
- On Windows, hold Control and click and drag on the map to alter the viewing angle. Hold Command and click and drag instead if you’re using macOS.
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Search for or navigate to a location in the Maps app. Use the location button on the lower right corner to set the map to your current location, or use the search box at the top of the screen to find another place on the map.
- Finding your current location: Tap on the compass button on the lower right corner of the page. The map will adjust based on your current location. Your current location will be identified by a blue dot on the map.
- Finding another location: Use the search box and type in the location you want. A short list of possible results will drop down. Tap on the location you want, and the map will automatically draw to the location you’ve set.
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2Tap on the Layers icon on the upper right corner of the page. Find it located underneath the search bar—it looks like a diamond on top of another diamond, to indicate “Layers.”
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3Tap on Satellite or 3D . In the Layers menu, select Satellite to see a detailed, bird’s-eye view of the current map or location. Or, select 3D to see a three-dimensional view of the buildings and terrain.
- The mobile app currently does not support 3D with satellite view. Instead, you’ll see a simplified 3D view.
- Zoom in or zoom out by pinching, or by tapping the + or - signs. Move around the map dragging your fingers around the screen.
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1Visit Google’s Aerial View API page. Open your browser and navigate to Google’s custom Aerial View API information page , where you can find detailed demos and other guides for adding an Aerial View component to your website.
- The Aerial View API can be used to add rotating, 3D videos that feature a certain location to a webpage.
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2Copy and paste the API code to your website. Select Copy code to clipboard to get the API code, then paste it into the code of your webpage. In order to use the API, you first need to register an account on Google Cloud.
- Google Aerial View API uses Javascript, HTML, and CSS to function.
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3Input your Google Maps API key. In order to use the Aerial View API on your website, you need a Google Maps API key. Purchase one on the Google Maps Platform Page . Then, in your Aerial View code, paste your API key where it says 'INSERT_YOUR_API_KEY'. [1] X Research source
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4Paste your desired address into the code. Find your desired address on Google Maps, then paste the full address or exact coordinates into the parentheses after “const parameterKey = videoIdOrAddress”. [2] X Research source
- If Google has a video for your desired address, the API will return the video. Otherwise, it’ll say “PROCESSING” if the video is still being processed, or “Video not found” if Google has yet to render a 3D video for the location.
- If there is no video, use Google “lookupVideo” API to render one.
- After, you may also customize how the API appears on your webpage by altering the HTML portion of the code.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionMy Google Maps shows an angled view instead of directly overhead when in satellite mode. Is there a setting that can be changed?Community AnswerOf course. From MAP LAYERS, right-drag the slide of (Satellite).
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