Keyboard shortcuts for Google Maps

Keyboard shortcuts in Google Maps

This article is devoted to the hotkeys that work in Google Maps for computers in web browsers. The article does not address keyboard shortcuts in Google Earth, nor does it address the Google Maps mobile application.

Why Google Maps keyboard shortcuts don't work

While preparing this article, I came across the fact that many Keyboard Shortcuts from the official Google Maps help simply do not work. Some of these keyboard shortcuts overlap with web browser hotkeys – this seems to be the main problem. That is, the web browser performs some action for this or a similar key combination. Perhaps the documentation is simply out of date.

Types of Google Maps

In addition to the already mentioned Google Earth and Google Maps mobile applications, you need to distinguish a map without user marks, available at https://www.google.com/maps, from custom maps, on which users have added routes or points. Example of a custom map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1fzgbx6a8_22tK1cMLiBFR2LW4q9RImCE&femb=1&ll=12.903142864074221%2C100.88994100000004&z=13. The keyboard shortcuts are different for regular maps and custom maps.

Google Maps Hotkeys

First of all, remember that it is most convenient to control the map with the mouse:

• scrolling the wheel - zooming out and zooming in
• click on the map with the left mouse button and move without releasing the mouse button – move around the map

Working Google Maps hotkeys

Cursor keys (↑↓→←) - move around the map in the appropriate direction. To speed up movement, use the cursor keys with the Shift button pressed.

Plus (+) - zoom in

Minus (-) - zoom out

Note that the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons can be used on the numeric keypad. If you want to use plus (+) and minus (-) in the top row of the keyboard, then you need to additionally press the Shift button. Also, do not confuse this keyboard shortcut with Ctrl+Plus and Ctrl+Minus - these keyboard shortcuts change the zoom of the entire web browser window.

If the numeric keypad buttons on your keyboard don't work the way you expect them to, press the “Num Lock” button.

Dot (.) - show/hide menu

Comma (,) - show/hide the sidebar

Question mark (?), that is, the combination Shift+/ - shows hotkeys, most of which do not work.

F11 - make the map full screen (web browser function)

The Tab key switches between interface elements.

Working Google Maps hotkeys in Street View (street view)

Cursor keys (↑↓) - move forward and backward

Cursor keys (→←) - turn your head right and left

F11 - make the map full screen (web browser function)

The Tab key switches between interface elements.

Google Maps Custom Maps Hotkeys

Cursor keys (↑↓→←) - move around the map in the appropriate direction. To speed up movement, use the cursor keys with the Shift button pressed.

Plus (+) - zoom in

Minus (-) - zoom out

Home - jump left by 75%

End - jump right by 75%

Page Up - jump up by 75%

Page Down - jump down by 75%

Note that the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons can be used on the numeric keypad. If you want to use plus (+) and minus (-) in the top row of the keyboard, then you need to additionally press the Shift button. Also, do not confuse this keyboard shortcut with Ctrl+Plus and Ctrl+Minus – these keyboard shortcuts change the zoom of the entire web browser window.

If the numeric keypad buttons do not work as you expect them to, then press the “Num Lock” button.

F11 - make the map full screen (web browser function)

Google Maps hotkeys not working

This list shows all Google Maps keyboard shortcuts from the official help:

You can check them and see that many of them do not work either in normal mode or when switching to satellite view.