How to Install Google Maps on Windows PC

Google Maps works well on Android and iOS devices. However, the company has not yet provided a desktop application for the Windows operating system. Although Windows has a built-in Microsoft Maps application, many people still prefer Google Maps due to its ease of use and excellent geodatabase.

So, how to use Google Maps on Windows PC? The web version works fine but you need to have a browser open for it to work. Alternatively, you can install the web version using the Chrome or Edge browser to use Google Maps as a desktop application. The following article will show you how to do it

How to install Google Maps as a desktop application using Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge allows you to install web apps or websites as Windows desktop apps. Using this feature, you can install the web version of Google Maps as a desktop application. Once installed, the Maps app will open in its own window without opening the Edge browser. You can also pin apps to the taskbar and Start menu. Here's how.

To install Google Maps as a desktop application using Edge:

1. Launch the Edge browser and go to the Google Maps page.

2. Next, click on the three-dot menu at the top right of the toolbar to open the context menu.

3. Go to Apps and select Install Google Maps .

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4. Click Install to confirm the action in the pop-up dialog. Wait for Edge to install the application.

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5. Once installed, Google Maps will open in a new window. For initial setup you can enable Pin to taskbar , Pin to Start , Reate a desktop shortcut and enable auto-start after login.

You can now launch and use Google Maps just like any other desktop application on your system. It shows your timeline, recent and saved items as well as contributions and supports location sharing.

How to run Google Maps as a desktop application using Google Chrome

If you use Google Chrome as your daily search engine, you can use the browser to add Maps as a shortcut. Chrome's Create shortcut feature works similar to Edge's settings app and lets you run web apps as desktops on your Windows computer.

To install Google Maps as a desktop application using Google Chrome:

1. Launch Google Chrome and visit the Google Maps page.

2. Next, click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner.

3. Go to More Tools and select Create Shortcut .

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4. In the Create shortcut dialog box , select the Open as window option . This will open the created shortcut in a new window. You can rename the app if you want or leave it as default.

5. Click Create .

6. Once installed, the application will open a new window that offers a similar set of functions to the web version of Google Maps.

You can also pin the Maps app to the taskbar and Start menu. To do this, press the Win key to open Windows Search and search for maps. Right-click on the Google Maps shortcut and select Pin to Start or Pin to Taskbar .

While the web apps work well, some features are missing including the ability to download offline maps. If you want to run apps natively on Windows, consider using an Android emulator or installing the Google Play Store on Windows to install apps directly from the official store.

Lesley Montoya

Update 06 September 2023