Trying to pinpoint that exact spot, maybe for a meetup or just to remember where you parked? Learning how to drop a pin on Google Maps is super straightforward, whether you’re on your phone or computer. This little trick is a must for navigating unfamiliar areas, sharing precise locations, or just keeping track of those hidden gems that don’t have a formal address. It’s a versatile tool that makes exploring and coordinating so much easier, and by the end of this guide, you’ll be a pin-dropping pro, ready to mark, save, and share any location with confidence.

Table of Contents

Why Even Drop a Pin?

you might be wondering, “Why bother dropping a pin when I can just search for an address?” That’s a fair question! But trust me, there are tons of situations where a simple address just doesn’t cut it. Think about it:

Those tricky, unlisted spots: Ever tried to tell a friend where that amazing, unmarked trailhead is, or that perfect picnic spot in a massive park? An address won’t help you there, but a dropped pin will point them right to it.
Meeting up with friends: Planning to meet at a busy event, a specific corner, or a large outdoor venue? Instead of vague instructions, drop a pin and everyone knows exactly where to go.
Remembering where you parked: This one’s a lifesaver! Especially in huge parking lots or a new city, dropping a pin on your parking spot can save you from that frustrating “where did I leave the car?” moment.
Planning your adventures: If you’re mapping out a road trip or exploring a new city, you can drop pins on all the interesting places you want to check out, even if they’re just cool viewpoints or unique shops. You can then save these to a list for easy access.
Sharing your current location: Sometimes you just need to quickly tell someone exactly where you are, like if you’re waiting for a ride or you’ve found something cool. A dropped pin is perfect for that.

Basically, a dropped pin is your personal, digital marker for any spot on the map, giving you a level of precision that a street address sometimes can’t. It’s about making your life, and your navigation, a whole lot smoother.

Dropping a Pin on Your Smartphone Android & iPhone

Most of us are using Google Maps on our phones these days, and luckily, dropping a pin on a mobile device is super intuitive. The process is pretty much the same whether you’re rocking an Android phone or an iPhone.

On Android Phones Samsung, Pixel, etc.

If you’re an Android user, here’s how you can drop a pin: How to Improve Your SEO Quickly: The Ultimate Guide for Fast Results

Open the Google Maps app: Just tap that familiar colorful map icon on your phone.
Find your spot: You can either search for a specific address in the search bar at the top, or simply swipe and zoom around the map until you find the general area you want to mark.
Tap and hold to drop the pin: This is the key step! Once you’ve got the map zoomed in to your desired location, press and hold your finger on that exact spot for a second or two. You’ll see a red pin magically appear.
Check the details: Once the pin is dropped, a small information card or box will pop up at the bottom of your screen. This will show you the address or coordinates of your pinned location.
Explore your options: From this info card, you can tap on it to see more details, get directions to or from that spot, save the pin to a list, add a label, or share it with others.

It’s really that simple. A long-press, and you’ve got your pin!

On iPhones iOS devices

For all you iPhone users out there, the steps are almost identical to Android, so you won’t feel left out!

Launch the Google Maps app: Find and tap the Google Maps app icon on your iPhone.
Locate your desired spot: You can search for an address or place, or just drag and zoom the map with your fingers until you’re looking at the location you want to pin.
Press and hold: Just like on Android, tap and hold your finger firmly on the precise spot on the map where you want to place the pin. A red pin will pop up there.
View location info: A card will appear at the bottom of your screen, displaying details like the address or geographical coordinates.
Access actions: Tap on this info card to reveal more options. You can instantly get directions, save the pin for later, or use the “Share” option to send it off to a friend.

It really is the same process. Whether it’s an Android or iPhone, Google Maps makes dropping a pin on mobile quick and painless.

Dropping a Pin on Your Computer Desktop & Laptop

Sometimes, you’re at your desk, planning a trip, or just prefer a bigger screen. Dropping a pin on Google Maps on your desktop or laptop is just as easy as on mobile, but with a slight difference in interaction. How Search Engine Optimization Helps Your Business Grow and Thrive

Using Google Maps on a Web Browser PC, Mac, Laptop

Whether you’re on a Windows PC, a MacBook, or any laptop running a web browser, here’s how you do it:

Go to the Google Maps website: Open your favorite web browser Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc. and head over to maps.google.com.
Find the location: Use the search bar at the top left to type in an address, or simply scroll and zoom around the map until you find the general area.
Click to drop a pin: This is where it’s a bit different from mobile. Instead of a long-press, you’ll simply left-click once on the exact spot on the map where you want to place your pin.
- Pro Tip: If you click on an already named location, Google Maps will just show you information about that place. To drop a new pin on an unnamed spot, click an empty area nearby. Alternatively, some sources mention right-clicking and selecting “What’s here?” or “Drop a pin”, though a single left-click usually works just fine in an unpopulated area.
Information appears: After clicking, a small grey pin icon will appear, and you’ll usually see an information box or pane pop up at the bottom or left side of your screen. This box contains details like the address or coordinates.
More options: Clicking on this info box will typically open a larger panel on the left, giving you options to save, share, or get directions.

It’s a straightforward “click and see” method that makes it easy to mark any point you need on your larger screen.

Sharing Your Dropped Pin with Friends & Family

Once you’ve dropped that perfect pin, you’ll probably want to share it with someone. This is one of the most useful aspects of the dropped pin feature, helping you coordinate meetups or guide people to specific spots.

How to Share a Pin on Mobile

Sharing from your phone is super quick: Is VPN Safe for FF14? The Honest Truth for Eorzea Adventurers!

Drop your pin: Follow the steps above to drop a pin on your Android or iPhone. A red pin should be visible, and the information card should be at the bottom of your screen.
Tap the info card if needed: Sometimes the “Share” button is immediately visible, but if not, tap the information card at the bottom of the screen to expand the options.
Tap the “Share” icon: Look for the “Share” icon it often looks like a sideways ‘V’ or three connected dots.
Choose your sharing method: A menu will pop up, offering various ways to share. You can usually:
- Copy the link: This gives you a URL that you can paste into any messaging app, email, or social media platform.
- Select an app: Google Maps often integrates directly with your messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or even your phone’s default Messages app or email clients, letting you send the pin directly to a contact.
- Share with nearby contacts: Some phones have options for direct sharing with nearby devices.

Your friend will receive a link, and when they click it, Google Maps will open directly to your pinned location, making it incredibly easy for them to find.

How to Share a Pin from Desktop

Sharing from your computer is just as simple:

Drop your pin: First, drop a pin on the Google Maps website using the steps outlined earlier. You should see the information box or pane pop up.
Look for the “Share” option: In the information pane that appears on the left or sometimes a smaller box at the bottom, you’ll typically find a “Share” icon or a “Share” button. Click on it.
Copy the link: The most common and easiest way to share from desktop is to “Copy link” or “Copy short URL”.
Paste and send: Once you’ve copied the link, you can paste it into an email, a chat window, a document, or anywhere else you want to share it.
- Other options: On desktop, you might also see direct options to share via Facebook, Twitter, or Gmail, or even get an HTML code to embed the map on a webpage.

Sharing a pin means you’re giving someone the exact coordinates, removing any guesswork about where you mean.

Saving Your Dropped Pin for Later

Dropping a pin is great for a quick share or a temporary mark, but what if you want to remember that spot for days, weeks, or even months? That’s where saving your pin comes in handy. You can save these locations to personalized lists within Google Maps, accessible from any device when you’re logged into your Google account. Is VPN Safe for FFmpeg? Everything You Need to Know

Saving a Pin on Mobile

Drop the pin: Start by dropping a pin as you normally would on your Android or iPhone. The red pin will appear, and the info card will show up at the bottom.
Tap “Save”: On the information card, you’ll see a “Save” button or icon. Tap this.
Choose a list: Google Maps offers some default lists like “Favorites,” “Want to go,” or “Starred places.” You can pick one of these, or you can create a brand new list by tapping “New List.”
Add notes optional: You might be able to add a short note or description to help you remember why you saved this particular spot.
Tap “Done” or “Save”: Confirm your choice, and the pin will be saved to your chosen list.

To find your saved pins later, just open Google Maps, tap the “Saved” tab at the bottom, and then select the list you saved it to.

Saving a Pin on Desktop

Saving a pin from your computer is also quite simple:

Drop the pin: Place your pin on Google Maps as described for desktop. The information pane will appear on the left.
Click “Save”: In that information pane, you’ll find a “Save” button. Click it.
Select or create a list: Similar to mobile, you can save it to an existing list like “Favorites,” “Want to go,” or “Travel plans” or click “New List” to create a custom one.
Add details optional: You can add a name, description, and even choose who can view the list private, shared, or public.
Click “Done” or “Save”: Finalize your saving by clicking the appropriate button.

Your saved pins will be easily accessible under the “Saved” section in the menu on Google Maps. This is super helpful for organizing places for future visits or projects.

Dropping Multiple Pins & Creating Custom Maps

Sometimes, one pin isn’t enough! Maybe you’re planning a multi-stop tour, marking several points of interest, or highlighting different areas within a region. While Google Maps in its standard form primarily focuses on one dropped pin at a time for immediate actions, you can absolutely work with multiple points. Is VPN Safe for Everyone? Here’s What You Need to Know

For more advanced multi-pin management, Google offers Google My Maps, a separate tool where you can create highly customized maps with multiple layers, pins, and even directions between them. This is perfect for complex trip planning, educational projects, or sharing detailed maps with a group.

However, if you just want to drop a few temporary pins without into My Maps:

On Mobile: You can technically drop multiple pins by simply long-pressing different locations. Each new long-press will drop a new temporary pin, and the information card at the bottom will reflect the latest pin. You can then interact with that specific pin share, save, get directions before dropping another. If you want to keep them all, you’d need to save each one individually to a list.
On Desktop: Similarly, on desktop, clicking different spots will place new temporary grey pins. The information pane will show details for the most recently clicked location. To work with multiple saved locations, again, you’d save each one to a list.

For creating truly custom maps with multiple, persistent, and labeled pins that work together, definitely check out Google My Maps. You can open Google My Maps in your browser, create a new map, and then type addresses or click to add multiple pins, customizing their appearance and adding notes.

Deleting or Removing Dropped Pins

You won’t always need those pins on your map forever. Whether it was a temporary marker or a mistake, removing a dropped pin is just as easy as placing one. Is VPN Safe for ‘El’? Your Complete Guide to Online Security

Removing a Pin on Mobile

If you’ve just dropped a temporary pin:

Look for the “X”: When you drop a pin on your phone, a little information card appears at the bottom. Often, you’ll see a small “X” or a close icon next to “Dropped Pin” in the search bar or info box. Tapping this “X” will remove the temporary pin.
Pinch out: Another quick way to clear a temporary pin is to simply pinch out on the map, effectively “resetting” the view and clearing the pin.

If you’ve saved a pin to one of your lists, the process is different:

Go to “Saved”: Open Google Maps and tap the “Saved” tab at the bottom of the screen.
Find the list: Navigate to the list where you saved the pin.
Select the pin: Tap on the specific saved place you want to remove.
Remove from list: You should see an option to “Remove” or “Remove from list” within the details of that saved place. Tap this to delete it.

Removing a Pin on Desktop

For temporary pins on your computer:

Click elsewhere or use the “X”: If you’ve just clicked to drop a temporary grey pin, simply clicking another spot on the map or hitting the “X” in the search bar which usually displays the pin’s coordinates will make it disappear.
Right-click “Remove this destination”: If the pin is part of a route or a more prominent red pin, sometimes right-clicking on it will give you an option like “Remove this destination.”

For pins you’ve saved to a list on desktop:

Go to “Saved”: On the Google Maps website, click the “Menu” three horizontal lines in the top-left corner, and then select “Saved.”
Find your list: Open the list containing the pin you want to delete.
Edit the list: You might need to click an “Edit” button or icon often a pencil icon to modify the list.
Remove the pin: Look for an “X” next to the individual pin or an option to delete it from the list.

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Quick Tips for Specific Situations

Dropped pins are incredibly versatile, and knowing a few extra tricks can make them even more powerful in your daily life.

Dropping a Pin for Parking

This is a classic use case! Never lose your car in a massive parking lot again.

Park your car: Once you’ve parked, open your Google Maps app on your phone.
Tap the blue dot: This blue dot represents your current location. Tap on it.
“Set as parking location”: A menu will pop up, and you should see an option like “Set as parking location” or “Save parking.” Tap this.
Add details optional: Google Maps might let you add notes like “Level 3, Section B” or a photo to help you remember even better.

Later, when you need to find your car, just open Google Maps, and your saved parking spot should be easy to find, often as a suggestion in the search bar or under “Saved parking.”

Finding Exact Coordinates

Sometimes you need the precise latitude and longitude of a spot. A dropped pin gives you just that.

Drop a pin: Follow the mobile or desktop steps to drop a pin on your desired location.
View the info: The information card mobile or pane desktop that pops up will usually display the exact coordinates latitude and longitude of that pinned location.
Copy the coordinates: You can often tap or click on these coordinates to copy them to your clipboard, ready to paste wherever you need them.

This is super handy for scientific work, geocaching, or when you need to provide ultra-specific location data. Is a VPN Safe for AWS EKS? Absolutely, with the Right Approach!

Measuring Distance with Pins

Did you know you can use pins to measure distances on Google Maps? It’s a neat little feature for hikers, planners, or just the curious.

Drop your first pin: Place a pin at your starting point.
Select “Measure distance”: On mobile, tap the info card and look for the “Measure distance” option. On desktop, right-click the pin and select “Measure distance” or find it in the information pane.
Add more points: As you move the map or click/tap other locations, Google Maps will draw a line and show you the cumulative distance between your points. You can add multiple points to measure a winding route.

This can be incredibly useful for estimating walking distances, planning a run, or understanding the true length of a path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you drop multiple pins on Google Maps?

Yes, you can! On mobile, you can long-press in different spots to drop multiple temporary pins, though only the most recent one’s details will show in the info card at the bottom. For more organized, saved multiple pins that stay on the map, you’ll want to save each individual pin to a custom list, or use Google My Maps, which is designed for creating maps with many custom markers.

How do I share a dropped pin on Google Maps?

After you’ve dropped a pin on your mobile device, tap the information card at the bottom of the screen to expand it, then tap the “Share” icon it often looks like three dots connected by lines or a sideways ‘V’. You can then choose to copy a link or share directly through various messaging apps or email. On desktop, after clicking to drop a pin, the information pane on the left will have a “Share” option where you can copy a link to send. Is vpn safe for eks cluster

Why can’t I drop a pin on Google Maps?

If you’re having trouble, here are a few things to check:

Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection.
Correct Gesture/Click: On mobile, you need to long-press tap and hold on an empty spot. A quick tap might just select an existing landmark. On desktop, a single left-click on an empty spot usually does the trick.
Zoom Level: Sometimes, if you’re too zoomed out, it can be harder to pinpoint an exact spot. Try zooming in closer to the area you want to mark.
App/Browser Issue: If all else fails, try restarting the Google Maps app or refreshing your web browser. Make sure your app is updated to the latest version.
Existing Location: If you tap on an already named business or landmark, Google Maps will show you information about that place, not drop a new pin. Try tapping an empty area nearby.

How do I delete a dropped pin?

For a temporary pin you just dropped, you can often simply tap the “X” next to “Dropped Pin” in the information box at the top or bottom of your mobile screen, or click outside the pin on desktop. If you saved a pin, you’ll need to go to your “Saved” lists in Google Maps, find the specific pin, and then choose the option to remove it from the list.

Can I drop a pin on Google Maps without an internet connection?

Yes, but with a catch! You can drop a pin on Google Maps even without an active internet connection if you have downloaded offline maps for the area you’re in. While you won’t be able to search for new places or get real-time traffic, you can still drop a pin and see its location on the downloaded map. However, sharing or getting directions might be limited until you reconnect.

What’s the difference between a dropped pin and a saved place?

A dropped pin is a temporary marker you place on the map to highlight a specific, often unmarked, location. It’s usually for immediate use, like getting directions or a quick share. A saved place is a location which could have started as a dropped pin that you’ve permanently stored in one of your Google Maps lists like “Favorites” or “Want to go”. Saved places are linked to your Google account and accessible across all your devices, allowing you to easily revisit them later.

How accurate are Google Maps dropped pins?

The accuracy of a dropped pin on Google Maps depends on several factors. Generally, if your phone’s GPS has a clear view of the sky, it can be accurate to within a few meters. However, factors like being indoors, in urban areas with tall buildings urban canyons, or being too zoomed out on the map can reduce accuracy. Google Maps also uses algorithms to “snap” your location to the nearest road, which can sometimes slightly shift the pin’s perceived location. For most everyday uses, the accuracy is more than sufficient. Is VPN Safe for EHS? Protecting Your Environmental, Health, and Safety Data

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How to Drop a Pin on Google Maps: Your Ultimate Guide