How To Add Pins To Google Maps: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Edgar Nicov

How-To

6 min. read

Published on November 8, 2025

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Google Maps is an incredibly versatile tool for navigation, exploration, and planning. One of its most useful features is the ability to add pins, allowing you to mark important locations, plan routes, and share points of interest with others. Whether you’re saving your favorite coffee shop, marking a meeting spot, or planning a road trip, adding pins to Google Maps can greatly enhance your mapping experience.

This guide will walk you through the simple process of adding pins to Google Maps on both desktop and mobile devices. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to quickly and easily mark any location on the map, customize your pins, and share them with friends and family. Let’s get started!

Want to Add Pins to Google Maps? Here’s How

Adding a Pin on Desktop

Open Google Maps: Go to the Google Maps website in your web browser.
Search for the Location: Type the address or name of the place you want to pin into the search bar and press Enter.
Right-Click the Location: Once the map centers on your desired location, right-click on the exact spot where you want to place the pin.
Select “Add a Place”: A menu will appear. Click on “Add a Place”.
Enter Place Details: In the form that appears, provide the name of the place, category, address, phone number, website, opening hours, and a description.
Submit: Click the “Send” button to submit the new place to Google Maps. Note that it may take some time for the place to appear on the map for other users.

Adding a Pin on Mobile (Android/iOS)

Open the Google Maps App: Launch the Google Maps app on your smartphone or tablet.
Search for the Location: Use the search bar at the top to find the address or name of the place you want to pin.
Tap and Hold the Location: Once the map centers on your desired location, tap and hold your finger on the exact spot where you want to place the pin. A red pin will appear.
Save the Pin: Tap on the address that appears at the bottom of the screen to open the location’s details.
Select “Save”: Scroll down and tap the “Save” button.
Choose a List: You’ll be prompted to save the location to a list (e.g., “Favorites,” “Want to go,” or “Starred places”). You can also create a new list. Select the list you want to save the pin to.

Sharing a Pinned Location

Find the Pinned Location: Locate the pin you want to share on Google Maps (either on desktop or mobile).
Open the Location Details: Click (desktop) or tap (mobile) on the pin to open the location’s details.
Select “Share”: Click the “Share” button (desktop) or tap the “Share” icon (mobile).
Choose a Sharing Method: You can copy the link, share via email, social media, or messaging apps. Choose your preferred method and send the link to your desired recipients.

Customizing Your Pins

Adding Notes: When you save a pin to a list, you can add notes to remind yourself why you saved it or provide additional information.
Creating Custom Lists: Organize your pins by creating custom lists based on categories like “Restaurants,” “Hiking Spots,” or “Client Locations.”
Changing Pin Icons: While you can’t directly change the pin icon itself, using different lists can help visually distinguish different types of locations.

Tips

Use descriptive names for your lists to easily identify and manage your saved locations.
Take advantage of offline maps to access your saved pins even without an internet connection.
Regularly review and update your saved pins to keep your map organized and relevant.

Understanding Google Maps Pin Types

Google Maps uses different types of pins to indicate various categories of locations. Here’s a quick overview:

Pin Type	Description
Red Pin	Standard pin used to mark a specific location you’ve searched for or manually placed.
Starred Places	Locations you’ve marked as important or frequently visited. These pins are often yellow or gold.
Want to Go	Places you’ve saved to a “Want to go” list, indicating you plan to visit them in the future.
Favorites	Locations you’ve marked as your favorites, such as restaurants, shops, or landmarks.
Green Pins	Typically indicate parks, green spaces, or other natural areas.
Business Markers	Display business locations with relevant icons indicating the type of business (e.g., restaurant, hotel, store).

Mark Your World: Pin by Pin

Adding pins to Google Maps is a fantastic way to personalize your map, organize your favorite places, and share them with others. By following these simple steps, you can make the most of this powerful feature and enhance your overall mapping experience.

FAQ

Can I add a pin to Google Maps without an address? Yes, you can add a pin by tapping and holding on a specific spot on the map, even if it doesn’t have a formal address.

How do I delete a pin from Google Maps? To delete a pin, open the saved location, tap “Saved,” and then remove it from the list it’s saved in.

Can I share a pin with someone who doesn’t have Google Maps? Yes, when you share a pin, you can copy the link and send it to anyone. They can view the location in their web browser, even if they don’t have the Google Maps app.

Are my saved pins private? Your saved pins are private by default. However, if you share a list with someone, they will be able to see the pins in that list.

How many pins can I save on Google Maps? Google Maps allows you to save a large number of pins, but there may be a limit. It’s best to organize your pins into lists to manage them effectively.