5 Tips for Using Google Maps Street View
5 Tips for Using Google Maps Street View Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life > Connected Car Tech
When you're finished exploring Street View, you can always go back to Google Maps for an overhead view again. To do that, just hit the small horizontal back arrow or the red location pin on the top left corner. If you hit the regular map on the bottom of the screen, you can turn half the screen into Street View and the other half into an overhead view, making it a lot easier to navigate to nearby roads. To share the same Street View perspective you're in, use the small menu button on the top left. Below that share menu is another option that lets you see that Street View area from an older point of time. Drag the time bar left and right to see how that scenery has changed over the years. 05 of 05
5 Tips for Using Google Maps Street View
Scope out new spots or take a virtual vacation
By Daniel Nations Daniel Nations Writer University of Texas at Arlington Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 27, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Connected Car Tech Navigation Android Auto Apple CarPlay Try these tips on using Google Street View to explore different parts of the world and get the most out of this feature. 01 of 05Search a Location and Zoom In
Start by searching for a location name or specific address. Then, use your mouse's scroll wheel or the plus and minus buttons in the lower right corner of the map to zoom in as close as you can to the road, ideally until you see the name of the street or building. Drag the map around with your mouse if you're not zooming to the specific place you want to be. 02 of 05Click the Pegman to See What' s Available on Street View
To see which streets are available for Street View in the given area that you're zoomed up to, click on the little yellow Pegman icon in the lower right corner of the screen. Doing this should highlight the mapped streets on your map in blue. If your road doesn't have a blue highlight, you'll need to look elsewhere. You can find other places nearby by using your mouse to drag the map around, or you can search for another location. Click on any part of the blue line in the exact location of your choice. Google Maps will then magically transform into Google Street View as it zooms into the area. A quick way to jump right into Street View without highlighting the roads is to drag the Pegman directly onto a street. 03 of 05Use the Arrows or Mouse to Navigate
Now that you've fully immersed yourself in Street View for the location of your choice, you can explore it by moving through the 360-degree images. To do this, use the arrow keys on your keyboard, which let you move forward and backward and turn around. To zoom up on something, hit the minus or plus keys. Another way is to use your mouse to find the on-screen arrows that let you move up and down the street. To turn around with your mouse, drag the screen left and right. To zoom, use the scroll wheel. 04 of 05Find More Options in Street View
When you're finished exploring Street View, you can always go back to Google Maps for an overhead view again. To do that, just hit the small horizontal back arrow or the red location pin on the top left corner. If you hit the regular map on the bottom of the screen, you can turn half the screen into Street View and the other half into an overhead view, making it a lot easier to navigate to nearby roads. To share the same Street View perspective you're in, use the small menu button on the top left. Below that share menu is another option that lets you see that Street View area from an older point of time. Drag the time bar left and right to see how that scenery has changed over the years. 05 of 05