How to Pin Multiple Locations on Google Maps (Lists, My Maps and Stops)

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Google Maps doesn’t let you drop a row of pins and leave them all sitting on the map. The regular map usually shows one dropped pin at a time, so the way to pin multiple locations is to save each place to a list. Everything in a list appears on your map together, on your phone and on a computer, and you can share the list with other people.

If you need more control, such as custom pin colors, notes, or dozens of addresses from a spreadsheet, use Google My Maps (mymaps.google.com) to build a custom map with as many markers as you need. And if you want to visit several places in order, add them as stops in Google Maps directions instead. This guide walks through all three.

Quick Answer

  1. In Google Maps, search for a place or touch and hold the map to drop a pin.
  2. Tap the place name, then tap Save.
  3. Choose a list or tap New list, name it, and save. Repeat for every location.
  4. Open the list from the You tab (phone) or Saved (computer) to see all your pins at once.
  5. For custom colored markers or spreadsheet imports, create a map at mymaps.google.com and use Add marker or Import.

In This Guide

Before You Start

These steps are based on Google Maps Help and Google My Maps Help as of September 2026 and cover:

  • The Google Maps app on Android and iPhone.
  • Google Maps on a computer in a web browser (google.com/maps).
  • Google My Maps in a web browser (mymaps.google.com). The standalone My Maps app for Android was discontinued on October 15, 2021, so creating and editing custom maps now happens in a browser.

What you need:

  • A Google Account, signed in. Lists, labels, and custom maps are saved to your account, so they appear on every device where you sign in.
  • For My Maps, a computer is easiest. You can view finished maps in the Google Maps app, but you can’t edit them there.
  • For spreadsheet imports, a file with addresses, place names, or latitude and longitude coordinates.

A few terms:

  • Dropped pin: a red marker you place on an unnamed spot, such as a trailhead or a parking area.
  • List: a named collection of saved places, like “Weekend in Chicago.” Every place in the list shows on your map.
  • Label: a private name you give a place, like “Mom’s house,” visible only to you.
  • My Maps: Google’s free custom map builder. You add markers, lines, and layers (groups of markers) to your own map.

Which Method Should You Use?

Goal Best method Works on Good to know
Keep track of places to visit or favorite spots Saved list in Google Maps Phone and computer Fastest; share with a link; others can collaborate
Give places private names you’ll recognize Labels Phone and computer Private to you; show in search suggestions
Custom colors, icons, notes, many locations Google My Maps Create on a computer; view in Google Maps app Up to 10,000 places per map, 2,000 per layer
Import a list of addresses My Maps import Computer browser CSV, XLSX, KML, Google Sheets and more; 2,000 rows per file
Visit several places in one trip Directions with multiple stops Phone and computer Up to 9 stops including the destination; not for transit

For most people, a saved list is enough. Move to My Maps when you want to color-code pins, add descriptions, or bring in lots of addresses at once.

Method 1: Pin Multiple Places with a Saved List (Android and iPhone)

Saving places to a list is the simplest way to see multiple pinned locations together in the Google Maps app. The steps below follow Google’s help article on creating lists of places.

Step 1: Create a list

  1. Open the Google Maps app on your phone.
  2. Tap the You tab at the bottom.
  3. Tap New list.
  4. Enter a name and, if you like, a description.
  5. On Android, choose whether the list is Private (only you) or Shared (anyone with the link). Tap Save. Expected result: your new, empty list appears on the You tab.

Step 2: Pin and save each location

  1. Find the location. Search for an address or business name, or tap a place on the map. For a spot with no address, touch and hold an unlabeled area of the map. Expected result: a red pin appears and details slide up from the bottom.
  2. Open the place details. Tap the place name or address at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Tap Save.
  4. Pick your list. Select the list you just created (or tap New list to make another), then confirm. Expected result: the place is saved to the list and marked on your map (usually with the list’s icon).
  5. Repeat for every location you want to pin.

Step 3: See all your pins together

  1. Tap the You tab.
  2. Tap your list. Expected result: the map shows every place in the list, and the list of places appears below it.

Google Maps also includes built-in lists you can use right away: Favorites, Want to go, Starred places, Labeled, and Travel plans. These can’t be renamed or deleted, but you can save places to them the same way.

Tip: dropped pins with no name are hard to tell apart later. Before saving one, consider adding a label (see Method 2) so the pin shows a name you’ll recognize. If you ever need to track down a pin you saved earlier, our guide to finding pinned locations on Google Maps can help.

Method 1 on a Computer: Save Places to a List

  1. Open Google Maps in your browser.
  2. Find the place. Search for it or click it on the map. For an unnamed spot, right-click the map to see its coordinates and options, or click the spot to select it.
  3. In the place details panel, click Save.
  4. Choose an existing list, or click the plus icon to create a new one. Enter a name, pick an icon if you want, and click Create.
  5. Repeat for each location.
  6. To view them together, click Saved and open the list. Expected result: every saved place in that list is marked on the map.

You can also start a list first: click Saved, then the plus icon for New list, and enter a name, icon, and description. Lists sync to your account, so a list you build on a computer shows up in the Google Maps app on your phone.

Method 2: Add Private Labels to Pinned Places

Labels give a place or dropped pin a name only you can see, such as “Client office” or “Best parking.” According to Google’s help article on private labels, labeled places show up on your map, in search suggestions, and in Google Photos.

On Android or iPhone

  1. Search for an address or drop a pin by touching and holding the map.
  2. Tap the place name at the bottom.
  3. Tap Label and enter a name. For a business, tap More > Add label.

To see all labeled places, go to You > Labeled and tap a label to view it on the map. To remove one, tap More next to the label and choose Remove label. These steps are from Google’s Android instructions; the iPhone app is similar, though button placement can differ.

On a computer

  1. Open Google Maps and search for a place or address.
  2. Select Add a label and type a name.

Find your labels later under Saved > Labeled. Labels are a good companion to lists: the label gives the pin a readable name, and the list groups related pins together.

Method 3: Create a Custom Map with Multiple Markers in My Maps

Google My Maps is the right tool when you want many pins with your own colors, icons, descriptions, and layers, for example a map of sales territories, wedding venues, or every stop on a road trip. A single map can hold up to 10,000 places, lines, or shapes, and each layer can hold up to 2,000.

Create the map

  1. On a computer, go to mymaps.google.com and sign in.
  2. Click Create a new map. Expected result: a blank map opens with a panel on the left showing one untitled layer.
  3. Click Untitled map at the top left, enter a name and description, and save.

Add markers one at a time

There are two ways, both described in Google’s My Maps help article on adding places:

  1. Search: type an address or place name in the search box, click the result on the map, and click Add to map.
  2. Click to place: click the Add marker button under the search box, choose the layer, click the spot on the map, give the place a name, and save.

Repeat until all your locations are on the map. You can drag a marker to adjust its position and add a description to each one.

Organize markers with layers and colors

Layers work like folders for your pins. A map can have up to 10 layers, so you might use one for hotels, one for restaurants, and one for sights.

  1. Click Add layer in the left panel and name it.
  2. To style a layer, click the Style button (the paint bucket icon) next to it.
  3. Under Group places by, choose an option: Uniform style (one color and icon for the whole layer), Sequence of numbers (numbered pins, handy for an itinerary), Individual styles (a different color or icon per pin), or Style by data column.
  4. Click the color button next to a place or group to choose a color and icon.

Add Many Locations at Once from a Spreadsheet

If you have a list of addresses, importing them into My Maps is much faster than adding pins one at a time. Google’s My Maps import guide lists the supported formats and limits.

Prepare your file first:

  • Put column titles in the first row, such as Name, Address, and Notes.
  • Include a column My Maps can use to place each pin: addresses, place names, or latitude and longitude.
  • Keep it to 2,000 rows or fewer per file.
  • Supported formats: CSV, TSV, KML, KMZ, GPX, XLSX, or a Google Sheet. Files can be up to 40 MB; unzipped KML and KMZ files up to 5 MB.

Then import it:

  1. Open your map in My Maps.
  2. Click Add layer and name the new layer.
  3. Under the new layer, click Import.
  4. Upload your file or choose it from Google Drive, then click Select.
  5. Choose the column (or columns) that tell My Maps where to put each pin, such as Address.
  6. Choose the column to use as each pin’s title, such as Name, and finish the import. Expected result: a pin appears for each row in your file.

After importing, check a few pins against their addresses. Incomplete or ambiguous addresses can land in the wrong place; adding the city, state, and ZIP code usually improves accuracy. If any rows don’t show up as pins, look for a notice about locations that couldn’t be found and fix those rows individually.

Method 4: Pin Several Places as Stops on a Route

If your goal is to travel between several locations in order, add them as stops in Google Maps directions. Google’s directions help article notes that you can add up to 9 stops, including the final destination, for every travel mode except public transit and flights.

On Android or iPhone

  1. Open Google Maps and search for your destination.
  2. Tap Directions.
  3. At the top right, tap More, then Edit stops.
  4. Add your additional stops.
  5. To change the order, touch and hold the reorder icon next to a stop and drag it up or down.
  6. Tap Done. Expected result: the map shows a route through all your stops in the order you set.

On a computer

  1. Open Google Maps and click Directions.
  2. Enter a starting point and a destination.
  3. Below the destinations, click Add destination and enter the next stop. Repeat as needed.
  4. Drag a destination to reorder it, then click a route to see directions.

Google Maps follows the order you enter, so arrange stops logically to avoid backtracking. For a full walkthrough, see our guide on planning multiple stops on Google Maps. For a longer trip with more than 9 places, split it into legs, or plan the whole trip in My Maps and navigate one leg at a time.

View and Share Your Pinned Locations

Share a list

On your phone, open the list from the You tab and tap the share icon. To let others add places too, use Invite collaborators. On a computer, click Saved, click More next to the list, and choose Send a link to view or Sharing options, where you can switch between Private and Shared and allow editing. Note that you can’t share your Starred places list, and anyone who can view a list can also see the names and profile pictures of people who have joined it.

View a My Maps map on your phone

Maps you create in My Maps appear in the Google Maps app. On Android, tap You and then Maps to open one. You can view the map and its markers in the app, but to edit it you’ll need to open mymaps.google.com in a browser.

Share a My Maps map

In My Maps on a computer, use the Share option near the map title to get a link or invite people. Sharing settings can vary for work or school accounts.

Tips for Keeping Many Pins Organized

A map with dozens of pins gets confusing quickly. A little structure up front makes your pins much easier to use later, especially on a small phone screen.

  • Use one list per purpose. Separate lists such as “Paris: food,” “Paris: museums,” and “Paris: hotels” are easier to scan than one long list. You can open whichever list you need and only see those pins.
  • Name dropped pins right away. An unnamed pin shows only an address or coordinates. Add a label as soon as you save it so you’ll know later that it’s “Trailhead parking” rather than a string of numbers.
  • Add notes in My Maps. Each My Maps marker has a description field. Use it for opening hours, booking references you’d want to see at a glance, or reminders like “enter from side street.”
  • Number your itinerary. In My Maps, the Sequence of numbers style numbers each pin in a layer, which turns a set of pins into a clear day-by-day plan.
  • Color-code by category. With Individual styles or Style by data column, you can color pins by type, status, or owner, for example green for visited and red for not yet visited.
  • Keep a master spreadsheet for big projects. If you manage many locations, such as client sites or rental properties, keep the addresses in a Google Sheet and import it into My Maps. When the list changes, it’s easier to update the sheet and re-import it into a fresh layer than to edit hundreds of pins by hand.
  • Tidy up when you’re done. Remove places you no longer need so your map stays readable. Old pins from past trips can clutter the map for future ones.

A simple workflow that works well for trips: collect ideas in a saved list on your phone as you research, move the final picks into a My Maps map with numbered pins for each day, then use directions with multiple stops to navigate each day’s route.

Troubleshooting

My first pin disappears when I drop a second one

That’s expected on the regular map, which generally shows one dropped pin at a time. Save each pin to a list (or add a label) before dropping the next. If a stray pin gets in your way, see how to delete a dropped pin on Google Maps.

My saved places don’t appear on the map

Make sure you’re signed in to the same Google Account you saved them with. Then open the list directly from You (phone) or Saved (computer) to display its places.

I can’t add more stops to my route

Directions allow up to 9 stops including the destination, and multiple stops don’t work with public transit or flights. Switch to driving, walking, or cycling, or split the trip into parts.

I can’t edit my My Maps map on my phone

The Google Maps app only displays My Maps. To edit, open mymaps.google.com in a browser, ideally on a computer.

My spreadsheet import put pins in the wrong places

Check that you chose the right location column during import and that addresses are complete. Adding city and state, or using latitude and longitude columns, gives more reliable placement.

My import stopped or left rows out

Each import supports up to 2,000 rows, and each layer holds up to 2,000 places. Split larger files across more layers, keeping the whole map under 10,000 places.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drop multiple pins on Google Maps at the same time?

Not as loose dropped pins. Instead, save each location to a list, and every place in that list appears on the map together. For many custom markers, use Google My Maps.

How many locations can I pin in My Maps?

Up to 10,000 places, lines, or shapes per map, with up to 2,000 per layer and up to 10 layers.

Can I change the color of pins in Google Maps?

In regular Google Maps, saved places generally display with your list’s icon rather than a color you pick for each pin. For full control of colors and icons, create a map in My Maps and use the Style options.

Can other people add places to my list?

Yes. Share the list and use Invite collaborators on your phone, or allow editing in Sharing options on a computer.

Can I pin locations from a spreadsheet?

Yes, with My Maps. Import a CSV, XLSX, Google Sheet, KML, or similar file with an address or coordinates column, up to 2,000 rows per file.

How many stops can I add to a Google Maps route?

Up to 9 stops, including the final destination, for driving, walking, and cycling. Public transit and flights don’t support multiple stops.

Are my labels and lists private?

Labels are private to you. Lists can be Private or Shared; you choose when you create them and can change it later in the sharing options.

Summary

  1. Search for a place or touch and hold the map to drop a pin.
  2. Tap Save and add it to a list; repeat for every location.
  3. Open the list from You or Saved to see all your pins on one map.
  4. Add private labels to name pins you’ll want to recognize later.
  5. Use Google My Maps for custom colors, layers, and spreadsheet imports.
  6. Use directions with multiple stops (up to 9) when you want to visit places in order.

Next step: create one list for your current project or trip, save your first few places to it, and open it from the You tab to confirm all the pins show up together.

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