Find and improve your location’s accuracy

Google Maps may have trouble finding your location. If the GPS location of your blue dot on the map is inaccurate or missing, you can take steps to help fix the problem.

Tip: These steps will also improve your search results and make them more relevant to you.

Find your current location on the map

  1. On your computer, open Google Maps.
  2. In the bottom right, click My location Location. The blue dot shows your location.

How Maps finds your current location

Maps estimates where you are from sources like location information from your web browser.

Give Maps location permission

To centre the map where you are, you must give Maps permission to find your location.

On macOS, you may need to turn on Location Services for your browser before you can grant Maps permission in your browser:

  1. On your computer, open System Preferences and then Security & Privacy Preferences and then Privacy and then Location Services.
  2. To allow for changes, in the bottom left, click the lock.
  3. Next to 'Enable Location Services', tick the box.
  4. Next to your browser, tick the box.
  5. Give Maps location permission in your browser.

Give Maps location permission in your browser

Chrome
  1. On your computer, open Chrome and go to Google Maps.
  2. In the bottom right, click My location Location.
    • If you're asked to share your location, choose Allow.
    • If the blue dot appears and shows your location, then Maps already has location permission in your browser.
    • If there’s a message that says 'Google Maps does not have permission to use your location', continue to the next steps.
  3. In the search bar, click My location Location.
  4. Tick Always allow http://www.google.com to access your location.
  5. Refresh your browser.
Firefox
  1. On your computer, open Firefox and go to Google Maps.
  2. In the bottom right, click My location Location.
    • When asked to share your location, choose Allow or Allow location access.
    • You might find 'Show your location' instead.
    • If the blue dot appears and shows your location, then Maps already has location permission in your browser. 
    • If there’s a message that says 'Google Maps does not have permission to use your location', continue to the next steps.
  3. In the search bar, click My location Location.
  4. Click Blocked temporarily Close.
  5. Refresh your browser.
Safari
Important: To use Safari, you must turn on Location Services in Safari.
  1. On your computer, open Safari and go to Google Maps.
  2. In the bottom right, click My location Location.
    • You should be asked to share your location. Choose Allow.
    • If the blue dot appears and shows your location, then Maps already has location permission in your browser.
    • If there’s a message that says 'Google Maps does not have permission to use your location', continue to the next steps.
  3. In the search bar, click My location Location.
  4. Tick Always allow http://www.google.com to access your location.
  5. Refresh your browser.
Microsoft Edge
  1. On your computer, open Microsoft Edge and go to Google Maps.
  2. In the bottom right, click My location Location.
    • If you’re asked to share your location, chose Allow.
    • If the blue dot appears and shows your location, then Maps already has location permission in your browser. 
    • If there’s a message that says 'Google Maps does not have permission to use your location', continue to the next steps.
  3. To the left of the web address, click Lock Lock.
  4. Click Permissions for this site.
  5. To the right of 'Location', choose Allow.
  6. Reload the Google Maps page and click  My location Location.

More ways to improve location accuracy

If you get an error like 'Your location cannot be determined' or your location is still wrong, here are some steps that you can take:

  • Reload your browser (such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari).
  • Make sure that you have a strong Internet connection.
  • Double-check your browser’s permission settings using the instructions above.
  • Restart your computer.

Find your location on other sites & apps

To find your location in Google Maps on other sites and apps, follow the steps above. However, some features will be different:

  • You’ll use a different site or app, not Google Maps.
  • You must first give location permission to the site or app used, not Google Maps.
  • If you open Google Chrome or Safari, you'll only find your location on secure web pages. You'll find 'https' in the address bar.

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