How to Change the Year on Google Maps with Google Earth Pro

View Google Maps locations over time

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: August 25, 2025 Fact Checked

Do you want to see how a certain street or location changed over time? While this feature was available on Google Maps in the past, you'll now need to use Google Earth Pro to access it. Keep in mind you'll only be able to go to a specific year if Google has data for that timeframe. Here's how to change the date on Google Maps using your computer.

Going Back in Time on Google Maps

To view Google Maps by year, download the Google Earth Pro program to your computer. Enter a location and click the year icon in the bottom-left corner. To go back a year, click the skip-left button.

Steps

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1
Download Google Earth Pro on your computer. You can only go back in time using this program.^{[1]
X
Research source} This feature is no longer available on Google Maps.
- You can download Google Earth Pro on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer for free. Do the following:
  - Go to https://www.google.com/earth/about/versions/#download-pro in a web browser.
  - Click Accept & Download.
  - Install the setup.exe file.
  - Launch Google Earth Pro.
2
Enter a location. Use the search bar in the top right corner to enter a city, address, or coordinates. Click search.
- If needed, you can click and drag your cursor to move the camera. You can also zoom in/out by using the scroll wheel on your mouse (or by pinching your trackpad).
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3
Click the year next to the clock icon. This is in the bottom-left corner. The clock will have a green arrow going counter-clockwise.
- A new navigation menu will open at the top.
4
View the map over the years. You'll see a navigation menu at the top-left corner.
- To skip to the next recorded year, click the right-skip button.
- To skip to the last recorded year, click the left-skip button.
- You can also click and drag the slider to scrub through the years.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I select a day, month, and year under historical viewing on Google Maps?

Community Answer

If you are in street view mode, you can change the date in the upper-left corner. You will see a slider function where you can slide to the date you'd like.

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Question

Where do I find the street view date selector? It is showing the date but I can't click on it.

Community Answer

Some streets might not have multiple dates. Some places might have been visited by a Google Car more than others have, and possibly the Google Car has only been by that street once.

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Question

Do you have a solution to find the date slider bar on a Google map?

Community Answer

Click the Street View date in the upper-left corner. The date of your current Street View is listed below your location's address in the upper-left corner of your screen. Clicking will open a pop-up window where you can change the date.

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