Adding a pin to Google Maps takes two taps on a phone or one click on a computer
A pin is a marker you place on a Google Map to mark a location — your home, a meeting spot, a restaurant you want to remember, or anywhere else. Once you add it, the pin stays on your map until you delete it, and you can add notes to it so you remember why you marked that spot. The steps differ slightly between phone and computer, but both are quick.
You do not need to own the map or have any special account settings. If you are already signed into Google on your device, you can add pins to your own maps right away.
Key Takeaways
- On a phone, press and hold the exact spot on the map where you want the pin, and it will appear automatically with a menu of options below.
- On a computer, right-click the spot where you want the pin and select "Add a marker" from the menu that appears.
- After you add a pin, you can type a name or note into the text box that appears, and that note will save with the pin.
- Pins you add are saved to your Google account, so they will appear on any device where you sign in with that account.
- You can delete a pin by tapping or clicking it and selecting the delete or trash icon.
Adding a pin on your phone
Open Google Maps on your phone and find the location where you want to add a pin. You can search for an address, scroll to a neighborhood, or zoom in on a street — whatever gets you to the spot you want to mark.
Press and hold your finger on the exact spot on the map where you want the pin. Do not tap quickly; hold your finger down for a moment. A red pin will drop onto that spot, and a card will appear at the bottom of your screen showing the address and a text box labeled "Label this place" or similar.
Tap the text box and type a name or note for the pin — for example, "Mom's house" or "Good coffee shop." This note is only for you; it helps you remember why you marked that spot. When you are done typing, tap outside the text box or press the back arrow, and the pin is saved.
Adding a pin on your computer
Go to Google Maps in your web browser and navigate to the location where you want to add a pin. Use the search box at the top left, or scroll and zoom the map until you can see the spot you want to mark.
Right-click the exact spot on the map where you want the pin. A small menu will pop up with several options. Look for "Add a marker" or "Add a label" — the exact wording varies depending on your browser and Google Maps version, but it will be near the top of the menu. Click that option.
A red pin will appear on that spot, and a text box will open on the left side of the screen. Type a name or note for the pin in that box. When you are finished, press Enter or click elsewhere on the map, and the pin is saved.
Finding and editing your pins later
Your pins are saved to your Google account, so they will show up on any device where you sign into Google Maps with that same account. If you add a pin on your phone, you will see it on your computer, and vice versa.
To find a pin you added before, open Google Maps and look for it on the map — it will appear as a red marker with your label underneath. Tap or click the pin to open its card. From there, you can edit the label by tapping or clicking the pencil icon, or delete the pin by tapping or clicking the trash icon.
Organizing pins with custom maps
If you add many pins, you may want to organize them into separate maps by topic — one for restaurants, one for hiking trails, one for places to visit on vacation. Google Maps lets you create custom maps and add pins to each one separately.
On a computer, go to Google Maps and look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left. Click it and select "Your places," then click the "Maps" tab. Click "Create map" and give it a name. You can then add pins to that specific map, and they will not clutter your main map. On a phone, the process is similar: tap your profile picture in the top right, go to "Your places," tap "Maps," and create a new map from there.
Troubleshooting pins that do not appear
If you add a pin but do not see it on the map, first check that you are signed into Google. Open your profile menu (usually your initial or profile picture in the top right corner) and confirm you are logged in. If you are not, sign in with the same Google account you used to add the pin.
If you are signed in but still do not see the pin, refresh the page or close and reopen Google Maps. Sometimes the map needs a moment to sync your changes across devices. If the pin still does not appear after a refresh, try adding it again in a slightly different location — occasionally a pin placed exactly on a building outline or road line will not display clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can other people see the pins I add to my map?
No, your pins are private by default. Only you can see them. If you want to share a map with pins to someone else, you would need to create a custom map and share that map's link with them, which is a separate process from adding pins to your main map.
What is the difference between a pin and a saved place?
A pin is a marker you place on a map with a note you write. A saved place is a location — like a restaurant or business — that already exists in Google Maps, and you save it to your list. Pins are for marking custom locations; saved places are for bookmarking existing businesses or landmarks.
Can I add a pin to a location that does not have an address?
Yes. You can add a pin to any spot on the map, even if it is in the middle of a park, a hiking trail, or an empty field. The pin will show the latitude and longitude of that spot, and you can add your own label to explain what it marks.
Will my pins stay if I sign out of Google?
Yes. Your pins are saved to your Google account, so they will be there when you sign back in. They will not disappear if you sign out or switch devices, as long as you sign back in with the same account.
How many pins can I add to one map?
There is no hard limit, but adding hundreds of pins to your main map can make it cluttered and slow to load. If you have many pins, consider organizing them into separate custom maps by category instead.