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Google Earth’s import and export options depend on whether you use the web version or Google Earth Pro for desktop. Use the web version for KML/KMZ projects, GeoJSON, and zipped Shapefiles; use Google Earth Pro for CSV, GPS files, Shapefiles, and GeoTIFF imagery.
This guide covers current workflows for Google Earth’s web version and Google Earth Pro, including how to save imported data and choose the right format.
Choose the right Google Earth edition
| Edition | Common import formats | Storage and features |
|---|---|---|
| Google Earth Pro (desktop) | KML, KMZ, CSV, TXT, GPX, LOC, SHP, TAB, GeoTIFF | Manage data in Places. Unsaved imports may remain in Temporary Places. |
| Google Earth (web) | KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, Shapefile (ZIP) | Save projects in Google Drive or open KML locally in the browser. |
| Google Earth mobile | Primarily KML and KMZ | Import options are more limited than on desktop or web. |
Google Earth Pro remains free and is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Google’s versions page lists the current desktop release series as 7.3. The web version is a better fit for Google Drive sharing and collaboration.
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KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, and Shapefile basics
- KML: An XML format for geographic features such as points, lines, polygons, and image overlays. It is suitable when you want to inspect or edit the file as text.
- KMZ: A ZIP archive that can contain a KML file and supporting images, audio, or 3D models. Google recommends placing one main KML file in the archive and referencing supporting files with relative paths; behavior is not guaranteed when an archive contains multiple KML files. Google’s KMZ documentation explains the archive format.
- GeoJSON: Supported as a data layer in Google Earth web and in Google Earth Pro 7.3.6 and later.
- Shapefile: The web version takes a ZIP containing the Shapefile files. Pro uses the .shp file alongside its related files.
Import KML or KMZ into Google Earth web
Create a new project
- Open Google Earth and sign in to your Google account.
- On the home screen, click New.
- Select Import file to project.
- Choose Import from Drive or Upload from device.
- Select the KML or KMZ file.
Google Earth creates a new project saved in Google Drive. This is useful when you want to manage and share the imported features as a project. See Google’s Earth import instructions for current options.
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Add KML or KMZ to an existing project
- Open the project in Google Earth.
- Click File.
- Select Import file to {Project name}.
- Choose Import from Drive or Upload from device.
- Select the KML or KMZ file.
- If prompted, choose Import as project features to add editable points, lines, paths, and polygons.
You can add KML or KMZ to an existing project using this menu; older instructions claiming otherwise are out of date. Google documents an approximate limit of 10,000 features for editable project features. For larger datasets that do not need individual editing, use a data layer instead.
Import large datasets as a data layer
Google Earth web supports KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, and Shapefile ZIP files as data layers. Data layers are intended for viewing larger vector datasets; they are not edited feature by feature like ordinary project features. Styling applies to the layer as a whole.
- Sign in to Google Earth.
- From the home screen, select New > Import file. From inside a project, select File > Import….
- Choose a file from your device or Google Drive.
- Select Import as a data layer.
- Wait for processing to finish and check the import widget for progress.
For projects with more than about 10,000 editable features, consider splitting the data into folders or importing it as a data layer. The approximately 10,000-feature guidance comes from Google’s Earth import documentation.
Open a local KML or KMZ file
Use local KML when you want to view a file in the browser without adding it to a Google Drive project.
- Open Google Earth and click New.
- Select Open local KML file.
- Choose the KML or KMZ file.
This option can be used without signing in. The file is not a Google Drive project; it is kept in the browser’s local storage and may be lost if browser data is cleared. Keep the original file separately. Google explains the distinction in its Earth projects and local KML guide.
Export a Google Earth web project
- Open the Earth project, or find it under All projects on the home screen.
- Click the project’s menu or More menu.
- Select Export as KML file.
You can also use File > Export as KML file while a project is open. Google’s Earth quickstart guide describes the export workflow. On supported setups, the shortcut is Ctrl + E; use the menu if the shortcut does not work.
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The export is a standalone KML file, not a copy of the Google Drive project with its collaboration settings and sharing permissions. To preserve collaboration, share the original project instead. Google Earth catalog data layers are not included in a project’s KML export, as explained in Google’s data layers documentation.
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Open and export KML or KMZ in Google Earth Pro
Open a KML or KMZ file
- Start Google Earth Pro.
- Select File > Open, or drag the KML or KMZ file into the application window.
- Find the imported data under Temporary Places.
- To keep it for later, drag the data or its folder into My Places.
Google’s Import and change map data help describes supported import formats and workflows.
Save Places as KML or KMZ
- In the Places panel, right-click the location or folder you want to save.
- Select Save Place As….
- Choose a filename and save location.
- Choose KML or KMZ and save the file.
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| KML | Editing or inspecting the XML, or sharing geographic features without bundled resources. |
| KMZ | Bundling images, audio, or 3D models with features; backups and transfers. |
Import CSV data in Google Earth Pro
Google Earth web does not provide a general direct CSV import workflow. Import CSV in Google Earth Pro, then save it as KML or KMZ if you need to use it on the web. Google’s import help covers text and spreadsheet data.
Import a CSV with latitude and longitude
- In Google Earth Pro, select File > Import and open the CSV.
- Set Field Type to Delimited and choose Comma.
- Check the preview to ensure the columns are separated correctly, then click Next.
- Leave This dataset does not contain latitude/longitude information unchecked.
- Assign the latitude and longitude fields, then click Next and Finish.
- If prompted, configure a style template for names, icons, colors, or other display options.
- Move the imported data to My Places if you want to keep it.
Google Earth Pro supports decimal degrees (DDD), degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS), and degrees-decimal minutes (DMM). Check that latitude and longitude have not been swapped, and preserve negative signs for southern and western coordinates.
Avoid common CSV import problems
- Include column headings and keep coordinate values separate from units or currency symbols.
- Quote text values that contain commas, such as “Tokyo Station, Marunouchi”.
- Save the CSV as UTF-8 if text displays incorrectly.
- Do not mix latitude/longitude fields and address-based location fields in one file.
- If the points appear in the wrong place, verify the latitude and longitude field assignments and coordinate values.
Import addresses from a CSV
- Select File > Import and open the CSV.
- Choose Delimited and Comma, then click Next.
- Check This dataset does not contain latitude/longitude information.
- Choose Addresses are broken into multiple fields.
- Assign the available street, city, region, country, and postal-code columns.
- Click Finish.
Google Earth Pro address imports are limited to addresses in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, according to Google Earth Help. P.O. Boxes are not supported. For addresses elsewhere, convert them to coordinates before importing.
Import GPS, GPX, and LOC data
Import a GPX or LOC file
- Drag the GPX or LOC file into Google Earth Pro.
- Choose how to display the data.
- To retain it, move the imported data from Temporary Places to My Places.
Import directly from a GPS device
- Turn off the GPS device and connect it to your computer with a USB or serial cable.
- Turn the device on.
- In Google Earth Pro, select Tools > GPS.
- In the GPS Import window, choose the data types and display options, then click Import.
Google Earth Pro organizes imported data in a GPS Device folder. Google’s GPS import help explains these options:
- Create KML tracks: Create tracks with time information.
- Create KML LineStrings: Create lines without time information.
- Adjust Altitudes to Ground Height: Set point altitudes to the ground surface. Do not use this for flights or other routes that travel above the ground, or the track will be placed on the surface.
Import Shapefiles
Import a Shapefile into Google Earth Pro
Keep the Shapefile’s related files together. A typical set includes:
| Extension | Purpose |
|---|---|
| .shp | Geometric features |
| .shx | Feature index |
| .dbf | Attribute data |
| .prj | Projection information; particularly important when the data is not in WGS84 |
- In Google Earth Pro, select File > Import.
- Choose ESRI Shape (.shp) as the file type.
- Select the .shp file and open it.
- If prompted, choose a sample, the current view, or all features.
- Set up a style template if needed.
- Move the imported data from Temporary Places to My Places to keep it.
Google’s GIS tutorial notes that Google Earth Pro may warn about performance when a dataset has more than 2,500 features and offers import choices such as a sample, the current view, or all features. See Google Earth Outreach’s GIS import tutorial. Missing related files can prevent shapes or attributes from appearing correctly or cause misplaced data.
Import a Shapefile into Google Earth web
- Put the Shapefile’s related files in one folder.
- Compress the folder as a ZIP file.
- In Google Earth, choose New > Import file, or in a project choose File > Import….
- Select the ZIP file and choose Import as a data layer.
The web version expects a ZIP rather than a standalone .shp file. Google lists Shapefile ZIP as a supported data-layer format in its import documentation.
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Import GeoJSON
In Google Earth web, choose New > Import file or, from a project, File > Import…. Select the GeoJSON file and choose Import as a data layer. Google Earth Pro supports GeoJSON import in version 7.3.6 and later. If an older Pro version cannot open the file, update it or convert the GeoJSON to KML.
Open GeoTIFF and other images in Google Earth Pro
- Select File > Open in Google Earth Pro.
- Select a GeoTIFF or another supported image format.
- If prompted, choose how to handle the image’s size.
- In the New Image Overlay dialog, enter a name and click OK.
Supported GIS image formats include TIFF/GeoTIFF, NTF, and IMG. PNG, JPG, and BMP can be used as ordinary image overlays. For large images, Google Earth Pro may offer these choices:
- Create Super Overlay: Tile the image for display at different zoom levels.
- Scale: Reduce the size of the full image.
- Crop: Display only a selected area.
An image without projection information is treated as an image overlay that must be positioned manually. Incorrect or unsupported projection information can prevent an image from importing correctly. Google Earth Help identifies GIS images using NAD83 as unsupported. See Google’s import and map data help.
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Move data from Google Earth Pro to the web version
- In Google Earth Pro’s Places panel, right-click My Places or the folder you want to move.
- Select Save Place As….
- Save as KMZ for a transfer that includes supporting files, or KML if you need to inspect or edit the XML.
- In Google Earth web, select New > Import file to project, or open an existing project and choose File > Import file to {Project name}.
- Choose Upload from device and select the saved file.
For more than about 10,000 features, split the data into topic-based folders and save each separately, or use a web data layer if individual feature editing is not needed. Google’s approximate feature guidance is in its import documentation.
Google Earth Pro’s saved data is commonly stored in these locations:
- Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\GoogleEarth
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Google Earth
Files may include myplaces.kml, myplaces.backup.kml, and myplaces.kml.tmp. Back up data through Save Place As… before changing files directly.
Which import or export method should you use?
| Goal | Recommended method |
|---|---|
| Edit dozens to a few thousand points | Google Earth web: Import as project features |
| Display tens of thousands of features | Google Earth web: Import as a data layer |
| Import CSV coordinates | Google Earth Pro: File > Import |
| Display a GPX track | Drag the file into Google Earth Pro |
| Work with a Shapefile | Pro: related files together; web: ZIP as a data layer |
| Overlay a GeoTIFF | Google Earth Pro: File > Open |
| Share images or audio with geographic features | Save as KMZ |
| Collaborate in Google Drive | Share a Google Earth web project |
| View a KML temporarily in a browser | New > Open local KML file |
FAQ
Can I add a KML file to an existing Google Earth web project?
Yes. Open the project, choose File > Import file to {Project name}, then select Import from Drive or Upload from device and choose the KML or KMZ.
Can Google Earth web import CSV or GPX files directly?
Google Earth web does not offer a general direct import workflow for CSV or GPX. Import the file in Google Earth Pro, save it as KML or KMZ, and upload that file to the web version.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhat is the difference between local KML and a Google Drive project?
Local KML opens in the browser’s local storage and is not saved as a Google Drive project. Import the file into a project if you need Drive storage, access across devices, or collaboration.
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Why did my imported CSV disappear when I reopened Google Earth Pro?
Imports may be stored in Temporary Places. Move the data to My Places before closing, or save it as KML or KMZ.
Should I use KML or KMZ?
Use KML when you want to work with the XML directly. Use KMZ when you want to bundle supporting images, audio, or 3D models, or when you want to transfer or back up the data.
Why is my Shapefile misplaced or missing attributes?
Keep the related files together: .shp, .shx, and .dbf, plus the correct .prj when needed. Incorrect or missing projection information can cause location problems.
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No. Export creates a standalone KML, not the original Google Drive project with its sharing permissions and collaboration setup. Share the original project to preserve those features.
The Bottom Line
Use Import as project features for a smaller dataset you need to edit, and Import as a data layer for larger datasets you mainly need to view. Google Earth Pro is the practical choice for CSV, GPX, GeoTIFF, and detailed Shapefile workflows; use Google Earth web for Google Drive projects and collaboration. Move Pro imports out of Temporary Places or save them as KML/KMZ so you do not lose them.
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