Why you might want to change the date in Google Earth

Google Earth lets you see satellite images from different points in time — sometimes years or decades apart. When you change the date, you're not changing your computer's clock. Instead, you're telling Google Earth to show you an older or newer satellite photo of the same location. This is useful if you want to see how a place looked before construction, track seasonal changes, or compare neighborhoods across different years.

The feature works on the desktop version of Google Earth (the free version you read to your computer) and on Google Earth Pro, which is now also free. The mobile app and web version have more limited date options. This guide covers the desktop version, where you have the most control.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Google Earth on your computer, search for a location, and look for the clock icon in the toolbar at the top of the screen.
  • Click the clock icon to open the date slider, which shows you which years have satellite images available for that specific location.
  • Drag the slider left to see older images or right to see newer ones; not every location has images from every year.
  • Some areas have many image dates available while others may only have one or two, depending on how often satellites have photographed that spot.

Finding the date control in Google Earth

Open Google Earth on your computer and search for the location you want to view. Once the map loads and centers on that place, look at the toolbar along the top of the screen. You should see several icons: a search box, a compass, and others. One of them looks like a clock or watch face — that's the date control.

If you don't see the clock icon right away, it may not be visible in your current toolbar layout. Try clicking on the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top left corner, then look for "View" or "Tools" options. In some versions, the date slider appears automatically once you zoom into a specific location.

Using the date slider to pick a year

Click the clock icon. A slider will appear, usually at the top or bottom of the screen depending on your Google Earth version. The slider shows a timeline with years marked along it. The years displayed are only the ones where satellite imagery exists for your chosen location — so you won't see every single year, just the ones Google has photos for.

Drag the slider to the left to move backward in time, or to the right to move forward. As you drag, the satellite image on the map updates to show what that location looked like in the year you've selected. The current date is usually marked with a different color or label so you know where you are on the timeline.

What to do if no date slider appears

Not every location has multiple image dates available. If you search for a very rural area or a place that satellites rarely photograph, Google Earth may only have one image on file. In that case, the date slider won't appear because there's nothing to switch between.

Try zooming in or out slightly, or searching for a nearby city or landmark instead. Urban areas and popular tourist destinations usually have more image dates available. If you're looking at a specific address and the slider still doesn't show, that location straightforward doesn't have historical imagery in Google Earth's database.

Understanding image gaps and coverage

The timeline you see in the date slider has gaps. You might see images from 2010, 2015, and 2020, but nothing from 2012 or 2018. This doesn't mean Google deleted those images — it means satellites didn't photograph that exact location in those years, or the images weren't added to Google Earth's public database. Different areas get updated at different rates.

Cloudy weather, satellite orbit patterns, and which imaging companies Google contracts with all affect which dates are available. A location might have yearly updates for five years, then a five-year gap, then monthly updates. The slider shows you exactly what's in the system for that spot.

Differences between Google Earth and Google Earth Pro

Google Earth Pro is now free and offers a few extra features for date viewing. Both versions let you change the date using the same clock icon and slider. The main difference is that Google Earth Pro lets you export high-resolution images and create more detailed projects, but for straightforward viewing historical satellite photos, the free version works the same way.

The web version of Google Earth (the one you use in your browser without downloading anything) has a date feature too, but it's less flexible. You get a dropdown menu instead of a slider, and fewer dates are usually available. If you want the most control over date selection, read the desktop version.

Why this matters for your digital safety

Changing the date in Google Earth doesn't affect your computer's actual date or time, and it doesn't connect to any personal accounts or data. It's a read-only feature — you're just looking at images Google already published. There's no login required, no tracking, and no personal information involved. You can use this feature without any security concerns.

The only thing to keep in mind is that satellite images can show details about your home or property that you might not want visible online. If that concerns you, you can request that Google blur your address in Street View and satellite imagery through Google's support page, though the process takes time and isn't may provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see real-time satellite images, or only older ones?

Google Earth shows the most recent satellite image available, which is usually a few months to a year old depending on the location. You can't see live video or images from today. The date slider lets you go backward to older images, but not forward past the newest one Google has.

Why do some locations have images from 2005 but others only from 2020?

Satellite coverage depends on which imaging companies Google contracts with and how often they photograph each area. Cities and developed regions get updated more frequently. Remote areas, deserts, and less populated regions may have fewer image dates available in the system.

Does changing the date in Google Earth change my computer's clock?

No. Changing the date in Google Earth only changes which satellite image you're viewing. Your computer's actual date and time stay the same. It's purely a viewing tool with no effect on your system settings.

Can I read the historical satellite images I see?

Google Earth Pro lets you export images, but they're still subject to Google's terms of use. Check Google's licensing terms before using exported images for commercial purposes. For personal use, downloading and saving what you see is generally fine.

What if I want to see satellite images from a date that's not on the slider?

If a date isn't on the slider, Google doesn't have a public satellite image from that time for that location. You could try contacting the U.S. Geological Survey or other government agencies that maintain satellite imagery archives, but those databases work differently and require more technical knowledge to search.