Google Maps' fun new update makes it easier to save your favorite places

Now you’re able to mark them with an emoji icon

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● A Google account● Smartphone connected to your Google account● Google Maps downloaded and updated● Internet connection

Google Mapswill now give people the ability to mark their favorite (or most hated) spots on the mobile app using emojis. That way, it’ll be a lot easier for people to find, say, their favorite restaurant or bar.

Announced via X (formerly known as Twitter), this tool will be housed in the Saved Places section of Google Maps. Every entry in a particular list will share the same emoji icon. But you do have the option to create a totally different list with its own markers to help you differentiate them.As 9to5Google points out, prior to this update “all Saved Places shared the same icon” on Maps. Everything all blended together which caused a lot of confusion and headaches for people.

The update is currently rolling out to users. Be sure to install the patch once it arrives on your phone.Google posted an instructional videoon X (Twitter) teaching people how to add emojis. You can check that out if you like. However, if you don’t have an X (Twitter) account and don’t feel like getting one, we’ll teach you how to use this new tool down below.

Quick steps for how to add emoji markers on Google Maps

Step-by-step guide for how add to emoji markers on Google Maps

Future update

It’s unknown if this update will be rolling out to Google Maps on desktop. The list you create will appear on web browsers and you can create new ones on browsers. But there doesn’t appear to be a way to add emoji icons. At the moment, this new feature is smartphone-exclusive.

We reached out to the tech giant asking if there are plans for a desktop version of emoji markers and if the patch is releasing in other countries. It seems this is US-only although we can say 100 percent for sure. This guide will be updated with new information if we hear back.

Update 9-8-2023:Google got back to us and was able to confirm that the emoji marker update is currently rolling out globally “on both Android and iOS” devices. No word on if there are plans to expand the feature to Google Maps on browsers, however.

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Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and the gaming industry. But he’s also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity.

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