View a map over time  |  Google Earth  |  Google for Developers (2025)

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Current imagery automatically displays in Google Earth. To discover how imageshave changed over time or view past versions of a map on a timeline:

1. On your device, open Google Earth.
2. Search for places.

3. To view a map over time, you can either:

   • In the toolbar, click Historical imagery.
   • Click View > Historical imagery.

4. Select how you want to view the map.

   • To turn on historical imagery view, at the top left, clickHistorical imagery.
   • To turn on timelapse, at the top left, click history Timelapse.

5. A timeline appears. At the top right, click the timeline to explore the mapover time.

   • To find a specific time, you can either:
   • Click the year you want to view in the timeline.
   • Click chevron_left Previous or chevron_right Next.
   • To lock the latest imagery, click last_page Last page.
   • To minimize the historical imagery toolbar, at the top right, clickcollapse_content Collapse.
   • At the top left, the toolbar remains active as a floating chip.

6. To deactivate historical imagery, click Historical imagery.

Tips:

• To optimize your viewing experience, 3D buildings feature is turned off whenhistorical imagery is turned on.
• Satellite image availability is represented on the slider.
• Image availability may change as you explore.
• Years are marked by dots. Smaller dots indicate additional months.
• If a previously selected year becomes unavailable, its dot on the sliderturns gray.
• Global coverage varies.

• Find and use location coordinates