How to Drop a Pin in Google Maps (Mobile, Desktop & Offline)
Need to mark a location that has no street address? Here's exactly how to drop a pin in Google Maps on your phone, computer, and even offline — plus how to save and share it.
Most people use Google Maps every day without ever dropping a pin. Then the moment comes when you need to mark a spot that has no address — a hiking trailhead, a construction site, a field where you're meeting someone — and suddenly you're not sure how.
It's simpler than you think. Here's exactly how it works.
What Dropping a Pin Actually Does
When you drop a pin in Google Maps, you're placing a manual marker at a precise geographic location. The app captures the exact latitude and longitude of that spot, even if Google has never indexed a street address there.
Once a pin is dropped, you can get directions to it, share it with someone else, save it to a list, or measure the distance from one point to another. The pin stays until you remove it or tap somewhere else.
This matters a lot for businesses too. If your entrance, parking lot, or service gate is in a slightly different spot than what Google Maps shows by default, a dropped pin can guide customers to exactly the right place.
How to Drop a Pin on iPhone or Android
Open Google Maps and find the general area first — either by searching or by dragging the map manually. Then press and hold your finger on the exact spot you want to mark.
A red pin will appear, and a panel will slide up from the bottom of the screen showing the coordinates and any nearby address information Google can pull. From that panel you can get directions, save the location, share it, add a label, or measure distance to another point.
One tip: zoom in as far as you can before dropping the pin. The closer you are, the more accurate your placement will be. Switching to satellite view also helps — you can see actual ground features rather than just the street grid.
How to Drop a Pin on Desktop
Go to maps.google.com in your browser. Navigate to the location either by searching or by moving the map manually. Then left-click on the exact spot.
A small marker appears and a card pops up at the bottom of the screen. You'll see the coordinates, a label if Google recognizes the area, and options to get directions, save the location, or share it. Desktop gives you better visual control for planning routes across larger areas.
Using Pins Without Internet
If you travel frequently or work in areas with poor connectivity, Google Maps lets you save map areas for offline use. Open the app while connected, find the region you need, tap your profile picture, select Offline Maps, and download the area.
Once downloaded, pins still work. You can drop a new pin, access saved locations, and use basic navigation — all without a cell signal.
Sharing a Pin
After dropping the pin, open the bottom panel and tap Share. You can send it through any messaging app, email, or copy the link directly. Anyone who receives the link taps it and is taken straight to that exact location in their own Google Maps — no address needed, no confusing directions.
Saving Pins for Later
Tap Save in the bottom panel after dropping a pin. Google lets you add it to an existing list like Favorites or Starred Places, or create a new custom list. This is useful for organizing locations you visit regularly or places you're planning to visit.
Measuring Distance with a Pin
Drop a pin at your starting point, open the panel, and select Measure Distance. You can then tap additional points on the map and Google will calculate the total distance between them automatically. This works well for planning walking routes, checking property boundaries, or estimating travel paths through areas where roads don't exist.
When Businesses Should Use Dropped Pins
If you run a business with a physical location, check whether Google Maps is directing customers to your actual entrance. Many businesses find that the default pin placement puts customers at the wrong end of a building, a back parking lot, or even an adjacent property.
Dropping a pin at your correct front entrance and sharing that link — on your website, in confirmation emails, and in your Google Business Profile — can significantly reduce missed visits and customer frustration. It's a small thing that makes a noticeable difference.