How to Edit a Location in Google Maps

This article explains how to suggest edits for Google Maps locations from both a desktop web browser and from a mobile device.

How to Edit a Google Maps Location

Google Maps uses detailed maps and stitched-together satellite imagery to display houses, streets, and landmarks. Usually, this framework works well, but occasionally a structure may appear to be in the wrong location or missing entirely, or an address may be listed incorrectly.

Google provides a process for users to submit edits to Google Maps. All map edits used to be submitted through what was called the Map Maker tool, but now you do it directly through Google Maps.

Google staff reviews all of your suggested edits before they take effect.

1. Open Google Maps in a browser or with the mobile Google Maps app.

2. Search for the place you want to report by typing an address in the search field or by clicking or touching the location on the map.

3. In the description of the place in the navigation panel, select the link that reads Suggest an edit.

   

4. In the Suggest an edit box that opens, select one of two options for editing the location: Change name or other details or Close or remove.

   

5. When you click Change name or other details, an editing screen opens. It contains the location name, category, street address, a map showing the location, hours, phone number, and website URL.

   

   • To change the name, category, or street address, click the information that's already there and overtype it.
   • To change the location on the map, click the map section, and in the screen that opens, move the map under the stationary location until it is positioned correctly. Select Done.
   • Change the hours by clicking the arrow in the Hours section. Add a close-up photo that clearly shows the hours for Google to scan or select individual days and change the hours. Select Done to save the changes.
   • Enter or change a website URL by typing over the contents of the Website section.

   When you have made all the changes, press the Send button.

6. If the Google Maps location is permanently closed, nonexistent, or duplicated, choose Close or remove in the Suggest an edit window.

   

7. On the screen that opens, select a reason from the drop-down menu. Add a photo if you have one and select Send.

Adding a Missing Location

To report a location that is missing entirely from Google Maps, use the Add a missing place option.

1. With Google Maps open, go to the location that should have a new place added.

2. Right-click or tap-and-hold where the new place should go.

3. Choose Add a missing place from the menu.

4. Fill out the details for the new Google Maps place, like the name, address, and category. You can optionally add other relevant information like a phone number, website URL, and business hours.

5. Select Send to request that the Google Maps staff review your new place and get it added to the map.

Map Maker Discontinued 

Until spring 2017, Google used Map Maker—a crowdsourced map-editing tool—for edits to locations in favor of reporting necessary changes directly in Google Maps. When Map Maker was retired due to spam attacks and obscene edits, editing features became available directly in Google Maps as part of the Local Guides program for the following purposes:

• Add a location.
• Edit information about a location.
• Move a location marker on the map.
• Add a label.

All edits to Google Maps are reviewed manually to avoid a repeat of Map Maker's spam problems, causing a substantial backlog in suggested edits.