Adding a pin to Google Maps on your phone or computer

A pin on Google Maps marks a specific location you want to remember or share. You can add a pin in seconds by opening Google Maps, finding the place you want to mark, and pressing and holding on that spot until a red pin appears. The pin stays on your map until you delete it, and you can add as many as you need.

On a phone or tablet, open Google Maps, search for a location or scroll to find one, then press and hold your finger on the exact spot. A red pin will drop and a card will appear at the bottom showing the address. On a computer, do the same thing with your mouse — click and hold on the location until the pin appears.

Once the pin is placed, you can tap or click the card that appears to see options like getting directions, sharing the location, or saving it to a list. The pin will stay visible on your map as long as you keep the app open, but it will disappear when you close Google Maps unless you save it.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold on any spot in Google Maps to drop a red pin that marks that exact location.
  • Pins you create this way disappear when you close the app unless you save them to a list.
  • Saving a pin to a list (like "Favorites" or a custom list you create) keeps it permanently on your account.
  • You can share a pinned location with others by tapping the card and selecting the share option.
  • On a computer, right-clicking a location gives you the same pinning options as pressing and holding on a phone.

Saving pins so they stay on your map

A pin you drop by pressing and holding will vanish the moment you close Google Maps. To keep a pin permanently, you need to save it to a list. After you drop a pin and the card appears at the bottom, look for a button that says "Save" (on a phone) or a heart icon (on a computer). Tap or click it, and a menu will show you lists you can save to.

Google Maps comes with a default list called "Saved places" that works for any location you want to remember. You can also create your own lists — for example, "Restaurants to try" or "Weekend hikes" — and save pins to those instead. Once a pin is saved to a list, it will appear on your map every time you open Google Maps, even weeks or months later.

To create a new list while saving a pin, tap or click "Save," then look for an option to create a new list. Name it whatever you want, and the pin will be added to it. You can manage all your lists by opening the menu (the three horizontal lines on a phone, or the menu icon on a computer) and selecting "Your places."

Naming and organizing your pins

When you save a pin to a list, Google Maps automatically fills in the location name — usually the business name or street address. You can change this label to something more useful to you. On a phone, tap the card that appears after you drop the pin, then tap the name at the top to edit it. On a computer, click the pin, then click the pencil icon next to the name.

Type a new name and save it. This is helpful if you want to remember why you pinned a place — for example, changing "123 Main Street" to "Sarah's birthday dinner spot" or "Free parking here." The new name will show up on your map and in your saved lists.

You can also add notes to a pin by opening it and looking for a notes section. This lets you store details like "Open until 9 PM on weekends" or "Ask for the corner table." These notes are private and only visible to you.

Sharing pinned locations with other people

If you want to send a pinned location to someone else, tap or click the card that appears after you drop the pin. Look for a share button (usually an arrow pointing outward or a link icon). Tap or click it, and you will see options to share through text message, email, social media, or other apps on your device.

When you share a pin, the other person receives a link they can open in Google Maps or a web browser. They will see the exact location you pinned, and they can get directions to it, call the business, or save it to their own map. The person you share with does not need to have Google Maps installed to see the location.

If you share a pin with someone and later change the name or notes you added, those changes will not automatically update for them. They will see the location as it was when you shared it. If you need to send updated information, you will need to share the pin again.

Deleting pins and managing your lists

To remove a pin from your map, open it and look for a delete or trash icon. On a phone, this is usually at the bottom of the card. On a computer, it is often in a menu next to the pin's name. Tap or click it, and the pin will be deleted from that list.

If you want to delete an entire list, go to "Your places" in the menu, find the list you want to remove, and look for a delete option. Deleting a list will remove all the pins saved to it, so be careful — you cannot undo this action. If you just want to remove one pin from a list but keep the list itself, open the pin and delete it individually instead.

You can also move a pin from one list to another. Open the pin, tap or click "Save," and select a different list. The pin will be removed from the old list and added to the new one.

Pinning locations on a computer versus a phone

The basic steps are the same on both devices — press and hold (or click and hold) to drop a pin — but some details differ. On a phone, the card with the location details slides up from the bottom of the screen. On a computer, a small popup appears near the pin. Both show you the same information and options, just in different layouts.

On a computer, you can also right-click on any location to see a menu with pinning options. This is faster than clicking and holding if you are using a mouse. On a phone, pressing and holding is usually the quickest method.

Lists and saved pins sync across your devices if you are signed into the same Google account. A pin you save on your phone will appear on your computer, and vice versa. This means you can plan a trip on your computer and then access all your pins on your phone when you are out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be online to see my saved pins?

You need an internet connection to create and save pins, but once they are saved, you can view them offline on your phone if you have downloaded the map area. On a computer, you will need to be online to see your saved pins. To read a map for offline use, open the menu, select "Your places," then "Offline maps," and follow the steps to read the area you want.

Can I add a pin to a location that does not have a business name?

Yes. You can pin any spot on the map — a park bench, a street corner, a hiking trail entrance, or anywhere else. Press and hold on that exact spot, and a pin will drop. You can then name it whatever you want to remember what that location is.

What happens if I pin the same location twice?

Google Maps will let you create multiple pins at the same location if you want to. You might do this to save it to different lists — for example, saving a restaurant to both "Favorites" and "Date night spots." Each pin can have its own name and notes.

Can I see pins that other people have shared with me on my map?

Shared pins do not automatically appear on your map. When someone shares a location with you, you receive a link you can click to view it in Google Maps. If you want to keep it on your map permanently, you need to save it to one of your own lists.

How many pins can I save?

Google Maps does not have a limit on the number of pins you can save across all your lists. You can create as many lists as you need and add as many pins to each one as you want.