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Knowing street names and general directions can be extremely useful when going somewhere new, but it’s even better if you can see your destination in advance and get a feel for the surrounding area.
Google regularly collects millions of images of roads around the world using its iconic Google Street View cars, which are fitted with cameras on their roofs, providing users with 360-degree views of different locations.
Google officially retired the standalone Street View app in 2023, but the Street View feature itself can still be accessed through Google Maps.
You can use Street View for a variety of purposes: to see exactly what a place looks like before you go there, to see the layout of an entire block at once, or even to see your own home.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to use Street View:
What is the difference between Google Earth, Google Maps, and Google Street View?
Street View is just one of many navigation tools and mapping software that Google offers, all of which help you find and view places in different ways.
Google Maps is a standard navigation software created to provide detailed directions and routes between different locations. Google Street View is a component of Google Maps.
Google Earth, on the other hand, uses satellite imagery and topographical data to help you explore places from above. Google Earth works on a larger scale than Google Maps and lets you take immersive virtual tours.
With all three of these tools, you can see a place from three completely different perspectives. For example, if you’re planning a trip to see the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, you can use Google Earth to preview the iconic rugged sea cliffs and see the surrounding scenery. Then, you can use Google Maps to plan a route from your B&B to the Cliffs of Moher car park and use Street View to virtually walk the path along the cliffs.
But maybe these maps aren’t enough visually, so do a Google Image search for cliffs to see some amazing photos of the area.
Google Maps and Google Earth are not the only mapping tools from Google: Google also owns Waze, a navigation and traffic app designed specifically for drivers, providing real-time updates on traffic conditions and hazards along the route.
Like Google Maps, Waze is a GPS tool that can get you from point A to point B and provide multiple routes. However, unlike Google Maps, Waze has a community-based component that allows drivers to report things like bad weather, accidents, and other traffic conditions to let other drivers know.
How to use Google Street View on your desktop
Google Maps works on both desktop and mobile devices. Here’s how to access Street View on your computer:
- Go to map.
- Tap the search bar in the upper-left corner of the screen and enter the name or address of the place you want to view.
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Click, hold, and drag the person icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to the location you want to view. (As you move your cursor around the map, roads will be highlighted in blue; make sure you position the icon over one of them, otherwise the Street View won’t appear.)
Click and drag the yellow icon to see what the location looks like in Google Street View.
Michelle Mark/Business Insider
- Release the cursor.
- To navigate in Street View, click and drag to change the camera angle, or tap a location across the street to get closer.
- You can also change the camera’s orientation using the curved arrows around the compass icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Google Street View imagery is updated every 1-3 years, with popular locations updated more frequently. You can see the date of a Street View image by looking at the black box in the top left of your screen, or the bar in the bottom right of your screen.
To see when a Google Street View image was taken, look at the black box or bar below.
Michelle Mark/Business Insider
How to view Google Maps Street View on your smartphone
If you’re on the go and need to use your mobile device to find your destination, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or Android.
- Tap the search bar and enter the name or address of the place you want to view.
- Tap the small photo box on the left side of the screen.
To use Google Street View on mobile, simply search for an address in Google Maps and tap the Street View box in the left corner.
Michelle Mark/Business Insider
To pan the mobile version of Google Street View, drag one finger across the screen, starting from the side you want to pan to the other side.
Can I blur my house on Google Maps?
Google Street View may reveal more than you hoped for: for example, your home may have distinctive features or large windows that give you a direct view into the interior of your home.
If you have concerns about privacy or safety, there’s a solution: You can request that Google permanently blur your home, leaving only a vague outline of the building.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Google Maps and enter your home address.
- enter Street View Mode Drag the little yellow person icon in the bottom right of the screen onto the map in front of your house.
- While viewing your home, click “Report a Problem” in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
- Center the red box over your home and select “Home” in the “Request Blur” field.
If you’re a homeowner or renter, you can request that your home be blurred in Google Maps Street View.
Michelle Mark/Business Insider
Please note that if someone requests that your home be blurred, the blur is permanent – Google cannot undo this request.
How can I see Live Street View in real time?
Google Maps Live View is a unique tool that uses augmented reality to provide directions. Live View uses your phone’s camera to display your current surroundings in the viewfinder, then projects directions, arrows, and other navigation cues onto the screen to show you where to go.
Live View is still a fairly limited feature: it’s not available in all countries or on all types of mobile devices, and it only works in areas that are already well-mapped by Street View.
Here’s how to use it on your Android or Apple device:
- On your phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app.
- Enter your destination in the search bar and select it walking.
- When your destination appears on the map, Live View Icon.
Select the Live View icon at the bottom of the Google Maps screen.
Michelle Mark/Business Insider
- Once Live View is on, point your phone’s camera to see the exact location.
- Follow the arrows and once Google Maps knows where you are, you can begin your journey.
In Live View, directional indicators are overlaid on the viewfinder to show you where to go.
Michelle Mark/Business Insider
Google also offers a similar augmented reality feature in Maps called Lens, which uses Google Lens technology to suggest nearby useful places, like coffee shops, ATM machines, parks, and transport hubs.
Here’s how to use lenses in a map:
- Open the Google Maps app
- Tap the lens icon in the search bar and lift your phone
As you move your phone in different directions, Maps’ lens will suggest nearby places.
Michelle Mark/Business Insider