Did you recently move to a new place, and Google Maps is showing results for your previous location?

That's because Google Maps shows search results based on the current default location on your map application. When this location is wrong, Google Maps won't show results for places near you.

To increase your search precision on Google Maps and get relevant results, you need to set a search location preference. Let's have a look at how you can do this on Google Maps.

Why Set Your Location on Google Maps?

Setting your location on Google Maps is pretty simple. You only need to update your home address and workplace on the map to achieve it. When you do this, it lets you use Google Maps with the default location you set for either of them.

An advantage of setting your home and workplace addresses on the map is that you can switch between them whenever you want to run a search on Google Maps. This allows you to see only the places that are close to the location you choose.

In essence, when you're at work, you can change your position to the workplace, and when you're at home, you can switch to your home address. Tweaking things like that can also help Google Maps remember and recommend places faster.

Although you can use the "location: result" method to get search results, that may not always be the most reliable. In addition to this, you might also prefer to opt for a quick search.

As we stated earlier, you can make the "search and find" process easier on Google Maps by setting or changing your default location.

Let's see how you can do that below.

How to Set Your Google Maps Address on Desktop

To set your home and work address on Google Maps in your browser, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your Google account and open up Google Maps.
  2. Look to the top-left corner of the map, and click the three horizontal menu bars.
  3. From the options, select Your places.
    Click the three menu icon and select your places
  4. Next, click Home.
    clicking on home or work address
  5. Type the name of the location you want to set as your home address in the address field. Click Save. You might want to type your city or province name for a broader search coverage.
    Type your address in the address bar and select it from the options
  6. To set your workplace address, click the Work option instead of Home.
  7. Fill the address field with your preferred workplace location. Then, click Save.

That's it! You've just specified your search location on Google Maps. While Google requires that you set your work and home address, you can bend the rule by picking two places you usually visit.

So, each time you need to search for a vendor, you can always switch between the workplace and home address. Doing that lets you get search results relevant to the option you select.

Related: How Google Uses Your Phone to Predict Traffic and Plan Trips

After setting the two locations, Google Maps will give you the option to select whether you want to see places around your home or work address.

For instance, you can click the Home or Work option to see the places and vendors around them. You can even share your location with friends if you want.

How to Edit or Change Your Google Maps Address on Desktop

If you ever decide to change the addresses you previously entered, you can do that as well. There is also no limit for editing your work and home addresses on Google Maps. You can change them as many times as you want.

Usually, after setting your home and work address, they appear as Home and Work each time you open Google Maps. To change either of them:

  1. On Google Maps, click the three menu horizontal bars, and go to Your places.
  2. Next, click on the delete symbol (X) to the right of the one you want to edit or remove. Stop at this step if you only want to remove the location. If not, proceed to the next step.
    Click the X symbol to remove your address
  3. Click the option you previously removed. Fill the address field with your new home or work address.
  4. Click Save.

How to Set Your Google Maps Address on Mobile

Setting your location on the Google Maps mobile app is quite different from how you do it via the web option.

But first, you need to install Google Maps from the Google Play Store if you're an Android user, or from the App Store if you're using an iPhone.

Download: Google Maps for Android | iOS

  1. Once you install Google Maps, open up the app, and tap the address search bar at the top of the app.
  2. Next, below the address bar, tap Home and type the name of your chosen location and select it from the results that come up.
  3. Look for the home pin on the map and move it to the place closest to your location on the map.
  4. Then, look to the lower part of the app, and tap Save.
  5. Follow the same steps above to set up your work address on the map. In this case, after tapping Save, tap Done.

How to Edit or Change Your Google Maps Address on Mobile

You can edit your work and home locations via your mobile device as well. It's pretty simple. Let's see how you can do that with the following steps:

  1. On the Google Maps mobile app, tap the address search bar. Below it, tap the three horizontal dots to the right of the Home and Work options.
  2. Tap the three vertical dots to the right of the address you wish to edit (Home or Work).
  3. From the options, select Edit.
  4. Then, repeat the process we highlighted in the previous section above for setting your home and work address via the mobile option.

Get the Most Out of Google Maps

Google Maps is a treasure trove when it comes to locating people, places, and vendors quickly. In addition to letting you set your default locations, Google Maps also collects the data of areas you visit when you turn on your location. It can also use that piece of information as a recommendation guide when you search the map.

Google Maps also has plenty of other useful features, and even helps you to remember places relevant to you. That said, Google Maps can make life a lot easier when you take advantage of all its features.