How to Create Shared Collaborative Google Maps

Google Maps is the ultimate web mapping service. It makes it a breeze to find a place, plan a route, or just see the world from the comfort of your home.

One underused feature is the ability to create custom maps, which can then be shared with others publicly or privately for collaboration. Everyone can contribute to the same map—great for things like planning a vacation, creating a dream travel list, or even a unique address book.

We're going to show you how to create a Google map to share and collaborate with others.

1. Create Your Collaborative Google Map

To begin, you need to be signed in to your Google account, so do that first. Then go to Google Maps. Now it's time to create a blank map. To do this, click Menu > Your places > Maps.

If you have ever created or viewed a shared map in the past, it will appear in this list. Click See all your maps if you want to filter that list by ownership or date.

For now, click Create map. This will bring up a blank, untitled map in a new window, which forms the basis of your collaborative map.

2. Edit Your Collaborative Google Map

Set Up Your Map

The first thing to do is give your map a name. Click Untitled map to edit it. Add a description if you like, although that's optional. Click Save when done.

Next, choose a design for your map. Click the dropdown arrow next to Base map to see the options. You can choose between different color schemes or whether to have satellite imagery. Simply click the option you want and the map will automatically update.

Don't worry, you can change both these options at any time if you change your mind.

Build Your Map

Now it's time to start building your custom map.

At the top is a search box where you can look for specific things—cities, landmarks, restaurants, and so on–just like you normally do on Google Maps. Whenever you search for something, a pin is placed on the map (you can also drop a pin on Google Maps when using it normally.)

For example, search for "New York" and you'll see it pinned. It appears on the left in a temporary layer. Click Add to map to pin it to your map permanently (or alternatively do nothing, if you just wanted to zoom in somewhere to begin.)

Layers are ways to organize your map. For example, you could use different layers for each day of your vacation. Click a layer name to rename it, the checkbox to hide or unhide it, or click Layer options > Delete this layer to remove it.

Use the toolbar beneath the search box to add elements to your map. The options, from left to right, are:

Undo: To reverse your last action.
Redo: To reverse the undo.
Select items: To move the map around and to select landmarks. With a landmark selected, click Add to map.
Add marker: Place a pin anywhere on the map. Once done, you can add a name and description, change the color and icon of the pin, and provide a supporting image.
Draw a line: Manually map driving, biking, and walking routes, or draw a shape. For the shape, click on the map to begin and click each time you wish to place a corner; click the most recent marker to finish (or join the shape up.) You can then name the shape and customize its style.
Add directions: This will add a new layer for you to designate the start and end of the route, which will then be mapped automatically.
Measure distances and areas: Click on the map to begin measuring a distance and to pivot; click the most recent marker to finish (or join the shape up to calculate its area.) This is temporary, visible only to you, and will disappear when you click something else.

When you're ready for others to collaborate with you on the map, click Share. You'll need to give your map a title and description, if you haven't already. Sharing your map with others is an essential My Maps feature.

Here you'll find various sharing options, like Anyone with this link can view and Let others search for and find this map on the internet. Enable those you need. Beneath this is the URL to your map, which you can share through email, instant messenger, and so on.

However, you might only want specific people to access your map. In this case, click Share on Drive. Here, use the Add people and groups field to enter names/emails/groups. Use the dropdown to set them as an Editor (can edit the map) or Viewer (read-only).

To email them an invite to the map, keep Notify people checked and click Done. Alternatively (or in addition to), click Copy link and send the link manually yourself.

The General access section lets you toggle between Restricted and Anyone with the link. The former is more secure.

Bear in mind that Editors can chop and change anything, including what you add, so keep the list to trusted people only. To see what your map will look like to those who have view-only access, go back to the map editor and click Preview.

This guide has been all about how to share maps with others and collaborate with them. If you simply want to share a location or route as a one-off, there's a simpler process for that.

First, return to the normal Google Maps. Set the map to whatever you need, whether that's a building, a walking route, or whatever.

Next, go to Menu > Share or embed map. A window entitled Share will appear, which will confirm what your map is set to show (if you've selected a landmark.).

Finally, click Copy link and then share that URL to whoever. You can also click Facebook, Twitter, or Gmail to share directly to those sites.

When the receiver opens the link, they will see exactly what you set the map to show, like a saved place on Google Maps.

Google Maps Is Capable of Even More

And that's how simple it is to create handy shared maps with Google Maps. Take advantage of Maps to share information related to travel, business planning, or simply your favorite eating spots.

This is just the surface of what Google Maps is capable of. Did you know you can also see where you've been, navigate inside malls, and get advanced traffic warnings when commuting?