You can make changes to, share, or delete projects in Google Drive or as KML
files through the Google Earth home screen. You can also collaborate with
multiple users to edit your project through Google Drive.

### Computer

## View your projects

1. On your computer, open [Google
   Earth](https://earth.google.com/).
2. To view your projects, open the "Map projects" section.

[Learn about Earth projects and local KML
files](https://support.google.com/earth/answer/9398104).

To open projects not already in the home screen, you can manually open them from
Google Drive or your computer storage. To manually open your projects:

1. On your computer, open [Google
   Earth](https://earth.google.com/).
2. To open a project, click **File Open My Maps from Drive**.
3. Select a Google My Maps project from Google Drive.

If you are not redirected to the Google Earth home screen, click ![Google Earth app logo](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/earth/images/earth-lockup.svg).
**Tips:**

- You can only view or edit one project per tab.
- Only people with the link can view your project.

## Create or edit local KML files

1. On your computer, open [Google
   Earth](https://earth.google.com/).
2. On the home screen, click the **Local KML editor** button at the bottom of the left hand panel.
   - To create a new local KML file, select **Create new KML file**.
   - To open an existing local KML file, select **Open KML from device**.
   - After editing, **Save** or **Download** the file back to your device. Autosave is supported only on Chromium-based computer browsers.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** To access these options on your mobile device, toggle your project list to **Local** and use the **New +** button.

> [!CAUTION]
> **Important:** Move your legacy local KML files by Jan 14, 2027 to avoid losing them. These files will no longer be stored in the browser and should either be downloaded or added to map projects. Moving forward, you can still [open and edit local KMLs](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/earth/manage-projects-homescreen.md.txt#create-or-edit-local-kml-files_2) in Google Earth while saving them directly to your device.

## Organize your projects

1. On your computer, open [Google
   Earth](https://earth.google.com/).
2. In the "Map projects" section, sort projects by:
   - Name
   - Owner
   - Last modified
3. To perform additional actions on your projects, on the right, click **More**.
4. Select the action you want.
   - To export your project as a KML file, click **Export as KML file**.
   - To rename your project, click **Rename**.
   - To make a copy of your project, click **Make a copy**.
   - To share your project, click **Share**.
   - To delete your project, click **Move to trash**.

If you are not redirected to the Google Earth home screen, click ![Google Earth app logo](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/earth/images/earth-lockup.svg).
**Tips:**

- You can also select these actions in the open project's toolbar and on the left panel.
- All projects are private by default.
- To allow project editing, you can change share permissions.

## Create new projects

1. On your computer, open [Google
   Earth](https://earth.google.com/).
2. To create a new map project, click **New New map project**.
   - To create a new map project within another project, click **File New map project**.

If you are not redirected to the Google Earth home screen, click ![Google Earth app logo](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/earth/images/earth-lockup.svg).

## Share your project

1. On your computer, open [Google
   Earth](https://earth.google.com/).
2. Next to the project you want to share, click **More Share**.
   - To directly share the project, enter the name or email address of the person you want to share your project with.
   - To get a shareable link, click **Copy link**.
3. To allow other users to edit or view your project, you can change share permissions.
4. Click **Send**.
   - To manage access, click **Share**.

### Restrict download, print, and copy options

Google Earth projects stored in Google Drive support advanced sharing settings to prevent viewers and commenters from downloading, copying, or exporting your project.

1. Open the Share dialog:
   - From the home screen, next to your project, click **More
     Share**.
   - From within an open project, in the top right, click **Share**.
2. In the top right corner of the Share dialog, click **Settings**.
3. Adjust your sharing settings:
   - To prevent viewers and commenters from exporting KML files, copying features, or printing, clear **People who can download, copy, and print**.
   - To prevent editors from changing permissions or re-sharing the project, clear **Allow editors to change permissions and share**.
4. In the top left corner, click **Back** to return to the Share dialog.
5. Click **Done**.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Restricting downloads prevents viewers and commenters from exporting your project as a KML file or duplicating the project.

## Search for projects

1. On your computer, open [Google
   Earth](https://earth.google.com/).
2. In the Search bar, enter the name of your project.
   - On a map, you can also search for places.

## Request access to a project

If you have limited or no access to a project, you can request access from the project owner.

### No access to the project

If you don't have permission to view a project, a **Request access** dialog appears when you open the project. To request access, you must be logged into a Google Account.

1. **Check account:** If you have multiple Google Accounts, switch accounts to check if access was granted to a different email.
2. **Compose message:** (Optional) Write a note to the owner in the text field.
3. **Submit request:** Click **Request access**.

### View-only access (request edit access)

If you can open a project but can't make changes, follow these steps to request editing permissions:

1. **Locate "Request access" options:** Select one of the following:
   - The **View only** tag in the toolbar
   - The **Request access** button in the project header
   - The **overflow menu** in the **Map
     contents** panel, then select **Request access**
2. **Send request:** In the dialog that appears, add an optional message, then click **Request access**.
3. **Wait for approval:** You will remain in view-only mode until the project owner updates your permissions.

### Android

![Example home screen on mobile](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/earth/images/homescreen.png) Example home screen on mobile

1. On your mobile device, open the Google Earth app.
2. In the home screen:
   - **To open existing projects**: Tap on the project you want to open.
   - **To create a new project** : At the bottom right, tap **New**.
   - **To explore the globe without creating a project** : At the bottom, tap **Explore Earth**.

## Create or edit local KML files

1. On the home screen, toggle your project list to **Local**.
2. Click the **New +** button and select **Local KML editor**.
3. Select one of the following:
   - To create a new local KML file, select **Create new KML file**.
   - To open an existing local KML file, select **Open KML/Z from device**.

## Request access to a project

If you have limited or no access to a project, you can request access from the project owner.

### No access to the project

If you don't have permission to view a project, a **Request access** dialog appears when you open the project. To request access, you must be logged into a Google Account.

1. **Check account:** If you have multiple Google Accounts, switch accounts to check if access was granted to a different email.
2. **Compose message:** (Optional) Write a note to the owner in the text field.
3. **Submit request:** Click **Request access**.

### View-only access (request edit access)

If you can open a project but can't make changes, follow these steps to request editing permissions:

1. **Locate "Request access" options:** Select one of the following:
   - The **View only** tag in the toolbar
   - The **Request access** button in the project header
   - The **overflow menu** in the **Map
     contents** panel, then select **Request access**
2. **Send request:** In the dialog that appears, add an optional message, then click **Request access**.
3. **Wait for approval:** You will remain in view-only mode until the project owner updates your permissions.

### iOS

![Example home screen on mobile](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/earth/images/homescreen.png) Example home screen on mobile

1. On your mobile device, open the Google Earth app.
2. In the home screen:
   - **To open existing projects**: Tap on the project you want to open.
   - **To create a new project** : At the bottom right, tap **New**.
   - **To explore the globe without creating a project** : At the bottom, tap **Explore Earth**.

## Create or edit local KML files

1. On the home screen, toggle your project list to **Local**.
2. Click the **New +** button and select **Local KML editor**.
3. Select one of the following:
   - To create a new local KML file, select **Create new KML file**.
   - To open an existing local KML file, select **Open KML/Z from device**.

## Request access to a project

If you have limited or no access to a project, you can request access from the project owner.

### No access to the project

If you don't have permission to view a project, a **Request access** dialog appears when you open the project. To request access, you must be logged into a Google Account.

1. **Check account:** If you have multiple Google Accounts, switch accounts to check if access was granted to a different email.
2. **Compose message:** (Optional) Write a note to the owner in the text field.
3. **Submit request:** Click **Request access**.

### View-only access (request edit access)

If you can open a project but can't make changes, follow these steps to request editing permissions:

1. **Locate "Request access" options:** Select one of the following:
   - The **View only** tag in the toolbar
   - The **Request access** button in the project header
   - The **overflow menu** in the **Map
     contents** panel, then select **Request access**
2. **Send request:** In the dialog that appears, add an optional message, then click **Request access**.
3. **Wait for approval:** You will remain in view-only mode until the project owner updates your permissions.