Mar 26, 2024

Compass icon is gone (web version)

The compass icon/button is suddenly missing from the web version of Google Maps. The map orientation cannot be changed from north-up.

I've tried both Chrome and Firefox, on Windows, in both map and satellite modes.

Details

Imagery (Street View, satellite, photos),Desktop - Other

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Last edited Mar 27, 2024

All Replies (4)

J__9999

Original Poster

Mar 27, 2024

Any help here? It's not just the compass icon that's missing. The 3D/2D button is also gone, and I cannot tilt the map's perspective or rotate the satellite view using the mouse, either.

Last edited Mar 27, 2024

Keith.A

Diamond Product Expert

Mar 27, 2024

Hi J__9999,

Welcome to the Google Maps community.

This article details how to turn various Maps features on and off, including the globe option: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3092439

J__9999

Original Poster

Mar 27, 2024

This article details how to turn various Maps features on and off, including the globe option: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3092439

Thanks, but I don't see anything on that page about the compass or being able to rotate the map. (I don't see anything there about the "globe option," either, but I'm not looking for anything called that. I just want to get the compass back so I can rotate the map to a different orientation besides north-up.)

Here's a picture from the web of what the compass is supposed to look like. See my screenshot above for how I don't have it (or the 3D button) anymore.

Last edited Mar 27, 2024

Keith.A

Diamond Product Expert

Mar 27, 2024

The globe option is how you get those features back. Try this highlighted version:

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3092439#:~:text=Globe%20view%3A%20Zoom%20out%20and%20view%20the%20world%20in%203D

J__9999

Original Poster

Mar 27, 2024

If you mean Globe View, yes, turning that back on brings back the compass in Satellite view, but it goes missing again when I turn Globe View off again. (I turned Globe View off because having it on makes the problem with route numbers even worse, as I reported in this post. That problem exists in Globe View and in non-Globe View, but it's noticeably worse in Globe View mode.)

Keith.A

Diamond Product Expert

Mar 27, 2024

The compass was only ever available in globe view, as that is the only view that you can rotate on desktop, so it looks like you have found your own solution here.

Parkylondon

Mar 29, 2024

Well and good if you have Globe View available but mine is greyed out completely so not much help really.