You can change a place's icon in Google Maps through the place's details page, but only if you added it yourself or own the business listing
Google Maps lets you swap out the default pin icon for any place you've created or claimed — a house icon becomes a star, a dot becomes a custom image. The process takes about two minutes and lives in the place's info card, not in your main settings. If you're looking at someone else's business listing, you won't see the option to change it.
The icon you choose sticks with that place for everyone who views your map, so pick something that makes sense at a glance. Google provides a set of built-in icons (star, heart, number markers, and shapes), and you can also upload your own image as long as it's a PNG or JPEG under 10 MB.
Key Takeaways
- You can only change the icon for places you created yourself or business listings you own — you cannot change icons on other people's listings or official Google business pages you don't manage.
- Built-in icons include stars, hearts, numbers, and basic shapes; custom icons must be PNG or JPEG files smaller than 10 MB.
- The icon change option appears in the place's details card, accessed by tapping or clicking the place name on your map.
- Your chosen icon appears to everyone viewing that specific map or place listing, not just to you.
How to change the icon for a place you created
Open Google Maps on your phone or computer and find the place whose icon you want to change. Tap or click the place name or the pin itself to open its details card — a panel will slide out showing the place's name, address, and other information.
Look for a pencil icon or "Edit" button near the top of the details card. Click it. You'll enter edit mode for that place. Scroll down until you see the icon option — it usually shows the current icon and says something like "Icon" or "Place icon." Tap or click on it to open the icon picker.
Choose from Google's built-in set (stars, hearts, numbers 1–9, circles, and other shapes) or select "Upload image" to use your own. If you upload a custom image, make sure it's a square or nearly square PNG or JPEG file — the system will crop it to fit. Once you've chosen, click "Save" at the bottom of the card. The change takes effect when ready.
When you can and cannot change an icon
You can change the icon only for places you created yourself in Google Maps. If you added a restaurant, landmark, or custom location to your own map, the icon is yours to edit. You can also change the icon if you own or manage a business listing — that is, if Google Maps shows you as the business owner and you have access to the business profile settings.
You cannot change the icon for official Google business listings that you don't own or manage, even if you've visited the place or left a review. You also cannot change icons on places that other people added to their maps — each person's map is separate, and only the person who created it can edit it.
If you're trying to change an icon and don't see the edit option, it usually means the place is an official business listing you don't manage, or it was created by someone else.
Uploading a custom image as an icon
Custom icons work best when they're straightforward, recognizable at small sizes, and roughly square. A photo of your dog works; a detailed landscape photograph does not. Google will shrink your image to fit the icon space, so fine details disappear.
File size matters: your image must be under 10 MB, though in practice most phone photos and straightforward graphics are well under that limit. PNG files with transparent backgrounds tend to look cleaner than JPEG files, but both work. When you upload, Google will show you a preview of how the icon will appear on the map before you save.
If your custom icon doesn't look right after you save it, you can go back and swap it for a different image or switch to one of Google's built-in icons. There's no limit to how many times you can change it.
How icon changes appear to other people
If you've shared your map with others, they'll see your custom icon when they view that map. The icon appears consistently — the same star or image shows up whether they're looking on a phone, tablet, or computer. If you change the icon later, the update appears for everyone the next time they load the map.
If the place is a business listing you own, your icon choice may appear in Google Maps search results and on the business profile, depending on how Google displays that particular listing. Not all custom icons show up in every view, but they always appear when someone opens the place's full details card.
Troubleshooting icon changes that don't save
If you click save and the icon reverts to the default, the most common cause is a connection interruption. Make sure you have a stable internet connection before you try again. Close the details card completely, reopen it, and check whether your change stuck.
If the edit button doesn't appear at all, refresh the page or close and reopen Google Maps. On phones, try force-closing the app and opening it again. If you still don't see an edit option, the place may be an official business listing you don't own, or it may be a location that Google has locked from user edits.
Custom image uploads sometimes fail silently if the file is corrupted or in an unsupported format. Try converting your image to PNG format using a free tool like Pixlr or Canva, then upload again. If the file size is the issue, you can compress it using an online image compressor before uploading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the icon for a business I don't own?
No. You can only change icons for places you created yourself or business listings where you're the verified owner or manager. If you want to suggest a change to someone else's business listing, you can leave a review or use Google's "Suggest an edit" feature, but you cannot directly change the icon.
What happens to the icon if I delete the place?
The place and its icon disappear from your map. If you've shared the map with others, they'll no longer see that place or its icon. If you delete it by accident, you can undo the action when ready by pressing Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) before closing the map.
Can I use an emoji as a custom icon?
Technically you can screenshot an emoji and upload it as an image, but Google Maps will compress and resize it, so the result may look blurry or unclear. Built-in icons like stars and hearts are a better choice if you want something straightforward and recognizable.
Does changing the icon affect the place's location or information?
No. The icon is purely visual — it doesn't change the address, phone number, or any other details about the place. You can change the icon without affecting anything else about how the place appears on the map.
Why does my custom icon look blurry on the map?
Google shrinks icons to fit the map display, so very detailed images lose clarity. Use straightforward, high-contrast designs with bold shapes and colors. Test your icon by uploading it and viewing it on the map before you finalize the change.