You can adjust various basemap settings from the basemap panel in the bottom
left. You can also access the basemap settings from **View \> Basemap Settings**
or **CTRL + B**.

## Change basemap type

You can change the basemap type between satellite mode, which shows
photorealistic Earth imagery, and map mode, which shows a two-dimensional map
without terrain elevation.

1. Open a Google Earth map project and select the basemap icon in the bottom left corner to open **Basemap settings**.
2. In the **Basemap settings** panel, under **Basemap type** , select either **Satellite** or **Map**.
3. To see an abstract 3D representation, toggle on **3D buildings**.

## Change basemap level of detail

You can add or remove details, including borders, labels, places, roads, and
more. In the basemap panel, under **Details**, select one of the following
options:

- **Clean:** No borders, labels, places, or roads.
- **Exploration:** Borders, labels, places, and roads.
- **Everything:** All borders, labels, places, roads, transit, landmarks, and water.
- **Custom:** Choose your own look and feel.

## Pin commonly used reference projects

You can pin [reference projects](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpgqpe6yDAA) to
your map, so that they are visualized on the map regardless of which project you
are working in. Only map projects saved in Google Drive can be pinned as
reference projects.

1. In the **Basemap settings** panel, toggle **Reference projects** on.
2. Click **Manage reference projects** to open a list of your reference projects.
3. Select the projects you want to pin to the map, then click **Save**.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Reference projects are only visible to you, and won't be included if you share a project with others.

## Turn on 3D buildings and trees

To show 3D buildings and trees, toggle on **3D buildings** in the **Basemap
settings** panel.

## Show more visuals

In the **More visuals** menu of the basemap settings panel, you can access additional details and features such as historical imagery, photos, 3D coverage areas (where 3D buildings are enabled), gridlines, and [animated clouds](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/earth/see-clouds.md.txt).