There are two ways into Street View on a computer. Search for a place and select the photo with the Street View icon, or click Pegman at the bottom right of Google Maps and drop him on a blue line, blue dot or orange dot. Either route puts you at street level.
Once you're in, a handful of controls do all the work. This is where each one sits and what it's for.
| Control | Where you find it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Pegman | Bottom right of the map | Drops you into Street View on a blue line or dot |
| Back | Top left | Takes you out of Street View |
| Close | Top right of a place photo | Exits a place photo |
| + and - | Below the compass | Zoom in and out |
| See more dates | After dropping Pegman | Opens older imagery in a thumbnail gallery |
Dropping Pegman to get to street level
- Open Google Maps on your computer.
- Click Pegman at the bottom right.
- Drag him to the area you want to see.
- Drop him on a blue line, blue dot or orange dot.
- Look around by dragging your mouse, or use the arrows beside the compass.
- To move, point your cursor the way you want to go and click once on the X.
- Click Back at the top left when you're done.
Prefer to start from a search? Type a place or address, then select the photo with the Street View icon. That opens the view without any dragging, and you leave it with Close at the top right.
Moving, zooming and turning once you're in
Getting your bearings is mostly mouse work. Scroll to zoom, or use two-finger zoom on a touchpad. If you'd rather click, the + and - sit just below the compass.
Lost track of which way you're facing? Click the compass at the bottom right and you'll swing round to face north. To hop to another street without leaving Street View, use the 'Back to Map' window and click one of the blue highlighted routes.
Looking back in time with older imagery
Historic imagery isn't available for every place that has Street View.
Where older pictures do exist, drag Pegman onto the map, click See more dates, then scroll the thumbnail gallery at the bottom to go further back. Google's Street View help page describes the same route.
Previewing a journey before you set off
Street View also helps with directions, and you don't need to drop Pegman to use it. The preview sits inside the route details:
- Click Directions.
- Enter your start and end points.
- Under the route, click Details (Expand for more).
- Point to a step in the list.
- Click the preview photo to open it at street level.
No photo on a step means Street View isn't available at that point, so there's nothing to open.
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If the journey has more than one destination, here's how to add a stop in Google Maps, and once you've found the right place you can drop a pin on the map to mark it.
Easy slips when exploring Street View
- Releasing Pegman on an unmarked patch of map. Aim for the coloured lines and dots.
- Looking for a Back button after opening a searched-for picture. That kind of view shuts with Close instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see what a street looked like years ago?
Sometimes. Where historic imagery exists, See more dates opens a gallery you can scroll back through, but not every location has it.
How do I leave the street-level view?
Back, top left; or Close if it's a place photo.
Which map markings can Pegman land on?
Blue lines, blue dots and orange dots.
Is Pegman needed for directions previews?
No. Open Directions, expand Details under the route and point to a step.
How do I switch to a nearby road without leaving?
Use the 'Back to Map' window and click one of the blue highlighted routes.
