Open Street View directly from the map

Street View appears as a small camera icon on the bottom right of any Google Maps window. Click or tap that icon and the map zooms into street-level photographs of the location you're viewing. You can also drag the Pegman figure — the small orange person icon on the left side of the map — directly onto any street, and Street View will load for that spot.

Once Street View is open, you move through the street by clicking on the arrows that appear on the pavement ahead, or by dragging your mouse or finger to look around in any direction. On a computer, you can also use your arrow keys to move forward, backward, left, or right. Scroll your mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the scene.

Key Takeaways

  • The camera icon in the bottom right corner of Google Maps opens Street View for the location currently displayed on your map.
  • You can drag the Pegman figure directly onto any street to load Street View without clicking the camera icon first.
  • Street View is available in most cities and towns, but coverage varies by region and some rural areas may not have imagery.
  • On a computer, use arrow keys to navigate or click the arrows on the street; on a phone, swipe or drag your finger to move and look around.
  • Street View imagery is typically updated every few years, so what you see may not reflect current conditions.

Navigate using arrows and keyboard controls

When Street View is active, directional arrows appear on the street ahead showing where you can move. Click any arrow to step forward in that direction. On a desktop computer, the arrow keys on your keyboard do the same thing — press up to move forward, down to move backward, left to turn left, and right to turn right.

To look around without moving, click and drag your mouse in any direction, or use your finger to swipe on a phone or tablet. You can also use the compass that appears in the top right corner of Street View to rotate your view or jump to a specific direction. Zoom in and out by scrolling your mouse wheel on a computer, or by pinching on a mobile device.

Search for a specific address in Street View

Type an address into the search box at the top of Google Maps as you normally would. Once the map centers on that location, click the camera icon in the bottom right to open Street View for that address. If Street View coverage exists for that spot, the street-level view will load immediately.

If the address you search for has no Street View imagery available, the camera icon will appear grayed out or won't respond when clicked. This usually means the area is too rural or the imagery hasn't been updated for that location. You can try searching for a nearby main street or intersection instead.

Understand Street View coverage and image dates

Street View is available in most cities and many towns across the United States and many other countries, but coverage is not complete everywhere. Rural areas, private roads, and some neighborhoods may not have Street View imagery. You can see which areas have coverage by looking at the map — areas with Street View available typically show street names and building details more clearly than areas without it.

The images you see in Street View are not live. Google updates Street View imagery periodically, usually every few years per location, though some busy areas update more frequently and others less so. The date of the imagery appears at the bottom left of the Street View window. Keep this in mind if you're trying to see current conditions — Street View shows what a location looked like when Google's camera car or contributors captured the images, not what it looks like today.

Use Street View on mobile devices

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Google Maps app and search for an address or location. Tap the camera icon at the bottom of the screen to enter Street View. Swipe your finger across the screen to look around, and tap the arrows on the street to move forward or backward. Pinch your fingers together or apart to zoom in and out.

On tablets, the controls work the same way. If you're using a phone with a compass sensor, you can also move your phone around to look in different directions — tilt your phone up to look up, down to look down, and rotate it left and right to turn. This feature is called Compass mode and can be toggled on or off in the Street View settings.

Access historical Street View imagery

Google Maps stores older Street View images from previous years. To see how a location looked in the past, open Street View and look for a clock icon in the top left corner of the window. Click that icon to open a timeline showing available dates. Select any date from the list to view Street View imagery from that time period.

Not all locations have historical imagery available — coverage depends on how many times Google has photographed that area. Major streets in cities typically have more historical data than side streets or rural areas. The timeline shows you exactly which years have imagery available, so you can jump between them to see changes over time.

Troubleshoot Street View problems

If the camera icon is grayed out or doesn't work, Street View coverage may not exist for that location. Try zooming out on the map and clicking the camera icon again, or search for a nearby major street instead. If Street View opens but loads very slowly, check your internet connection — Street View requires a reasonably fast connection to load the high-resolution images.

On mobile devices, make sure you have the latest version of the Google Maps app installed. If Street View still doesn't work, try closing and reopening the app, or clearing your browser cache if you're using Google Maps in a web browser. Some older devices or browsers may have limited Street View support, so updating your device software can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Street View available everywhere?

Street View covers most cities and towns in the United States and many countries worldwide, but rural areas and private roads often don't have coverage. You can see which areas have Street View by looking at the map — if the camera icon is grayed out when you search for an address, imagery isn't available for that location.

How old is the Street View imagery I'm looking at?

The date appears at the bottom left of the Street View window. Most imagery is updated every few years, though busy urban areas may update more frequently and remote areas less often. If you need current conditions, Street View is not a reliable source — it shows what a location looked like when Google photographed it, which may be years old.

Can I see inside buildings with Street View?

Street View shows street-level views only. Some businesses and museums have contributed interior imagery that appears in Street View, but you cannot see inside most buildings. When interior imagery is available, a special icon appears on the map indicating that you can view inside that location.

Does Street View work without an internet connection?

No, Street View requires an active internet connection to load the images. You can download offline maps in Google Maps, but Street View imagery cannot be downloaded for offline use. Make sure you have a working data connection before trying to use Street View.

Can I contribute my own photos to Street View?

Yes, Google accepts photos from users through the Street View app and the Photo Sphere feature in Google Camera. You can upload your own images to help fill gaps in Street View coverage, particularly in areas Google hasn't photographed recently. These contributions go through a review process before appearing on the map.