If you have a question or want to save time when using Google Earth, check out these tips and lesser-known tools.
Important: These tips are only for Google Earth web and mobile. They don’t include Google Earth Pro.
Use Earth on multiple browsers
As of March 2020, you can now use Earth on various web browsers. This includes Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge with support for more browsers on the way.
System requirements for Google Earth
Android OS version 4.1 and up
Troubleshoot Earth app
- Make sure that the Earth app is up to date.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open its Settings .
- Tap Apps & Notifications See all apps Earth.
- Tap Force stop.
- Tap Storage Clear data Ok Clear Cache Ok Back .
- Tap Permissions.
- Turn on "Location" and "Storage."
- Open Google Earth .
Try newer Google Earth features
Discover Timelapse in Google Earth
Take a time-lapse video tour of our world to understand how the planet has changed over time.
You can observe changes from 1984 to the present in:
- Stories that show global changes and explain their causes
- Curated imagery from featured locations around the world
- All your favorite places on the planet
Explore Timelapse in Google Earth
Open Timelapse in Google Earth
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
- At the top, tap Voyager .
- Tap Layers Timelapse in Google Earth.
Turn on 3D imagery
3D imagery is shown by default, but you can use the Map Style feature to choose between 2D and 3D modes based on your preference. To switch between 3D and 2D buildings:
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
- In the top left, tap Map style .
- Under "Enable on 3D buildings,“ click to turn it "on" or "off" based on your preference. A blue switch indicates that 3D buildings are turned on.
Tip: If 2D mode is activated, it may surface newer imagery in some regions. To get the newest imagery possible, turn on 2D mode. The 2D mode may also improve overall app performance.
Learn about other helpful Earth features
Turn on Animated Clouds- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
- Tap Map style .
- Scroll and tap Turn on animated clouds.
Change Dark mode settings
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
- On the left, tap Menu Settings .
- Tap “Application theme,” and select Dark or Light.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
- Tap Menu Settings .
- To change your flight speed, under "Animations," tap Flight animation speed.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
- Tap Menu Settings .
- To switch between meters/kilometers and feet/miles, under “Format and Units,” tap Units of measurement.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
- Tap Menu Settings .
- To change between Degrees, Minutes, Seconds or Decimals, under “Format and Units,” tap Latitude/Longitude formatting.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
- Tap Menu Settings .
- Under “Memory cache size,” choose a size. To make images load faster, increase the cache size or turn off 3D imagery.
Related resources
- To learn about more Google Earth features, go to the Help Center.
- To learn more about the changes made to Google Earth, or to find answers to your questions, visit the FAQ.
- If you have an issue and need help from an expert, ask a question in the forums.