Import data into Google Earth

Computer

Import as map features

Importing as map features converts your file into individual placemarks, paths, and polygons that you can edit, organize into folders, and customize in your project (up to 10,000 features and 250,000 vertices per import).

To import a file (.kml, .kmz, .geojson, .json, .zip Shapefile, .csv, or Google Sheets) as map features:

1. On your computer, open Google Earth and ensure you are signed in.
2. Start an import from the home screen or from an open project:
   • Into a new project (from the home screen): Click New   chevron_right   Import file, then choose Upload from device or Import from Drive.
   • Into an existing project: Open your project, click File   chevron_right   Import file (or click + Add in the left panel), then choose Upload from device or Import from Drive.
3. Select the file that you want to import.
4. In the How do you want to add this data? dialog, select Map features and click Import.

How imported map features are organized:

• Folder organization: GeoJSON, Shapefile, CSV, and Google Sheets imports are automatically grouped into a new folder named after the file. KML and KMZ files preserve their own folder hierarchy when imported into a new project, or are grouped into a new folder when imported into an existing project. If an existing folder is selected when you start the import, the imported data is placed inside that folder.
• Feature names and attributes: Because GeoJSON, Shapefile, CSV, and Google Sheets files don't define a standard KML name tag, individual items inside the imported folder appear in the left panel as Untitled placemark, Untitled path, or Untitled polygon. Click any feature on the map to view all of its imported table columns and attributes in the floating info card, or click Edit in the right inspector panel to give the feature a custom title, icon, or color.
• Automatic fallback for large files: If your file exceeds 10,000 features or 250,000 vertices, Google Earth automatically retries importing the file as a read-only data layer instead. When this fallback occurs, a notification appears on your screen.

To go to the home screen, click Earth .

Import as a data layer

Importing as a data layer is best for visualizing, filtering, and styling large datasets (more than 10,000 features or 250,000 vertices) by column values.

To import a file (.kml, .kmz, .geojson, .json, .zip Shapefile, .csv, or Google Sheets) as a data layer:

1. On your computer, open Google Earth and ensure you are signed in.
2. Start an import from the home screen or from an open project:
   • Into a new project (from the home screen): Click New   chevron_right   Import file, then choose Upload from device or Import from Drive.
   • Into an existing project: Open your project, click File   chevron_right   Import file (or click + Add in the left panel), then choose Upload from device or Import from Drive.
3. Select the file that you want to import.
4. In the How do you want to add this data? dialog, select Data layer and click Import.
5. The file will be uploaded and processed. You can track the progress in the import widget. Large files may take some time.

Once complete, the layer will be added to your open project or a new project if none was open.

Imported data layers are subject to storage quotas based on your Google Earth plan. For more information, see Manage imported data layers and storage.

Import CSV and Google Sheets (Experimental)

Whether you import a CSV or Google Sheets file as map features or as a data layer, the following table describes supported location formatting.

name,latitude,longitude,category,elevation_m
Site A,37.4220,-122.0841,Research,12.5
Site B,37.4245,-122.0882,Park,14.0

name,geometry,status
Area 1,"POLYGON((-122.085 37.421, -122.083 37.421, -122.083 37.423, -122.085 37.423, -122.085 37.421))",Active
Marker 2,"POINT(-122.084 37.422)",Pending

name,street_address,city,state,postal_code
Headquarters,1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy,Mountain View,CA,94043
Tokyo Office,Roppongi Hills Mori Tower,Minato City,Tokyo,106-6126

Additional non-spatial columns (such as names, dates, descriptions, categories, or numeric metrics) are automatically preserved as feature attributes and displayed in data tables and floating info cards.

Error handling and reporting import issues

If an individual row contains invalid coordinates or cannot be resolved by the geocoder, Google Earth still imports all other valid rows. If no geometry can be auto-detected in the file, an error guide dialog appears with guidance on checking your column formats.

If your file fails to import or completes with unsupported elements, click the underlined Failed or Completed status link in the import status tracker in the left-hand panel to open the Fixing issues with imported files dialog.

To report a file import problem to the Google Earth team:

• From the error guide dialog: Click Report import issue at the bottom of the Fixing issues with imported files dialog to open the Google issue tracker in a new tab with your platform, Google Earth version, and diagnostic error codes automatically filled in. You may be required to sign in again with your Google Account.
• From the import status tracker: Click the feedback Report import issue icon in the header of the import status tracker while an import is running or after it finishes (including when a file imports with zero errors but does not appear as expected on the map).

If you've opted in to receiving notifications, you will receive updates if the report has any actions taken by the team.

Import a My Maps file into a new project

You can open a map created in Google My Maps directly from Google Drive and view it within the Google Earth interface.

To open and convert a My Maps file:

1. On your computer, open Google Earth.
2. Click New > Open My Maps from Drive.
3. Locate your My Maps file in the Google Drive window, select it, and click Insert.
   • The My Maps file will now appear in Google Earth in view-only mode.
4. To make the data editable, click Save as map project in the top toolbar (available on web only).
5. You will be prompted to optionally rename the project title and update your sharing permissions. Once finalized, click OK.

Your map is now saved as a new, editable Google Earth map project. The original My Maps file remains untouched in your Google Drive.

Open local KML files in Google Earth

You can open a KML or KMZ file (without feature limits) from an older version of Google Earth as a local KML file.

To open local KML files in Google Earth:

1. On your computer, open Google Earth.
2. At the bottom left on the home screen, click Open local KML editor.
3. Click Open KML from device.
4. Select the KML file you want to open.

After you select the file you want to open, any changes must be explicitly saved or downloaded back to your computer's file system to avoid losing work. Autosave is supported only on Chromium-based desktop browsers.

To go to the home screen, click Earth .

Import other file formats

Google Earth for web and mobile supports direct import of KML (.kml), KMZ (.kmz), GeoJSON (.geojson, .json), Shapefile (.zip), CSV (.csv), and Google Sheets as either map features or data layers.

For other vector or raster formats (for example, GPX), convert these files to KML, GeoJSON, CSV, or Shapefile before importing them into Google Earth.

Learn how to use KML features.

Migrate data from Google Earth Pro on Desktop to Google Earth Web

If you are moving from Google Earth Pro (Desktop) to the web version, you can bring your "My Places" data with you.

Prepare your data for migration

Before importing, you must export your data from Google Earth Pro:

1. Open Google Earth Pro on your computer.
2. In the "Places" panel on the left, right-click on My Places or a specific folder.
3. Select Save Place As....
4. Save the file as a .kmz or .kml to your computer.

If you cannot open Google Earth Pro or need to find the raw source files (typically named myplaces.kml), they are stored in the following directories.

Windows

Copy and paste the following path into your File Explorer address bar: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\GoogleEarth.

macOS

Open Finder, press Command + Shift + G, and paste this path: ~/Library/Application Support/Google Earth.

What to look for:

• myplaces.kml: This is your current, live data.
• myplaces.backup.kml: A backup created the last time you launched the app.
• myplaces.kml.tmp: A temporary file created during a session.

Import capabilities and limitations

When migrating "My Places," your choice of import method depends on the complexity of your data. For a detailed breakdown of supported KML elements, refer to the Google Earth KML Import Guide.

• Feature Counts: If you intend to import your data as map features (allowing you to edit icons, lines, and shapes), there is a limit of 10,000 features and 250,000 vertices per import (and up to 20,000 map features per project). If an import exceeds 10,000 features or 250,000 vertices, Google Earth automatically retries the import as a read-only data layer instead.
• Large "My Places" Files: For Google Earth Pro on desktop users that have "My Places" files that exceed 10,000 features or contain several megabytes of data we recommend you:
  • Split your data: Divide your "My Places" into smaller, thematic folders in Earth Pro and save each as a separate .kmz file.
  • Import as Data Layers: If you have tens of thousands of points and don't need to edit them individually, use the Data layer option.
• Copy and Paste: You can also copy individual features or folders from Google Earth Pro and paste them directly into a Google Earth project. Simply select the feature in the desktop version, right-click to Copy (Ctrl + C or Cmd + C), go to your Google Earth browser tab, and Paste (Ctrl + V or Cmd + V) while a project is open.

Other viewing options

For temporary, local-only access, you can also open your KML files directly in Google Earth on web through the local KML editor experience.

To see data from multiple projects on the map at once, you can use the reference projects feature.

Android

Import a file into an existing Earth project

You can import a KML (.kml), KMZ (.kmz), GeoJSON (.geojson, .json), Shapefile (.zip), CSV (.csv) (Experimental), or Google Sheets (Experimental) file into an existing Google Earth project as editable map features (up to 10,000 features and 250,000 vertices per import) or as a read-only data layer. To import the file into an existing Google Earth project:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
2. In the home screen, tap an existing project.
3. At the bottom, tap More   chevron_right   Import file to project.
   • To add a file from Google Drive, tap Import from Drive.
   • To add a file directly from your device, tap Upload from device.
4. Select the file that you want to import, choose Map features or Data layer, and tap Import.
5. To return to the map and open the file, tap arrow_back Back.

Import a file into a new project

You can import a KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, Shapefile (.zip), CSV (Experimental), or Google Sheets (Experimental) file into a new Google Earth project. To import the file into a new project:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
2. At the bottom, tap New.
   • To add a file from Google Drive, tap Import file to project from Drive.
   • To add a file directly from your device, tap Import file to project from device.
3. Select the file that you want to import, choose Map features or Data layer, and tap Import.
4. To return to the map and open the file, tap arrow_back Back.

Open local KML files in Google Earth

You can open a simple KML or KMZ file from an older version of Google Earth as a local KML file. To open local KML files in Google Earth:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
2. Select the Local tab on the home screen.
3. At the bottom right, tap New   chevron_right   Local KML editor.
4. Select Open KML/Z from device.
5. To return to the map and open the file, tap arrow_back Back.

After you select the file you want to open, it will automatically be stored in your local KML files tab on the home screen.

iOS

Import a file into an existing Earth project

You can import a KML (.kml), KMZ (.kmz), GeoJSON (.geojson, .json), Shapefile (.zip), CSV (.csv) (Experimental), or Google Sheets (Experimental) file into an existing Google Earth project as editable map features (up to 10,000 features and 250,000 vertices per import) or as a read-only data layer. To import the file into an existing Google Earth project:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Earth app .
2. In the home screen, tap an existing project.
3. At the bottom, tap More   chevron_right   Import file to project.
   • To add a file from Google Drive, tap Import from Drive.
   • To add a file directly from your device, tap Upload from device.
4. Select the file that you want to import, choose Map features or Data layer, and tap Import.
5. To return to the map and open the file, tap arrow_back Back.

Import a file into a new project

You can import a KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, Shapefile (.zip), CSV (Experimental), or Google Sheets (Experimental) file into a new Google Earth project. To import the file into a new project:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Earth app .
2. At the bottom, tap New.
   • To add a file from Google Drive, tap Import file to project from Drive.
   • To add a file directly from your device, tap Import file to project from device.
3. Select the file that you want to import, choose Map features or Data layer, and tap Import.
4. To return to the map and open the file, tap arrow_back Back.

Open local KML files in Google Earth

You can open a simple KML or KMZ file from an older version of Google Earth as a local KML file. To open local KML files in Google Earth:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Earth app .
2. Select the Local tab on the home screen.
3. At the bottom right, tap New   chevron_right   Local KML editor.
4. Select Open KML/Z from device.
5. To return to the map and open the file, tap arrow_back Back.

After you select the file you want to open, it will automatically be stored in your local KML files tab on the home screen.