How To Get Street View On Google Maps App

It's easy to get street view on Google Maps to have a better sense of your destination and the surrounding area, so you won't need to rely as heavily on GPS when you get there.
You can use street view on both the desktop and mobile versions of Google Maps.
Here's how to get street view on Google Maps and use it to navigate.
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Knowing the names of streets and general directions when you're going somewhere new is extremely helpful.

But being able to see your destination, and know what the area around it looks like, is even better. That's where Google Maps' street view feature comes in handy.

Here's how to use it on either the desktop or mobile version of Google Maps.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

Google Pixel 3 (From $799.99 at Best Buy)

How to get street view on Google Maps on your computer

For those on the desktop version of Google Maps, here's how to get to the street view option:

1. Go to maps.google.com.

2. Tap the search bar in the top-left corner of the screen and enter the name or address of the place that you want to view.

3. Click and hold the person icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen and drag it to the spot you want to view (as you move the cursor over the map, the streets will highlight in blue — make sure that you place the icon onto one of those, otherwise you won't be able to see the street view).

Drag the person icon on to the area you want to view.

4. Release the cursor.

To navigate in street view, click and drag to change the camera angle, or tap a location down the street to move closer to it.

You can also use the curved arrows around the compass icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen to change the direction of the camera.

How to get street view on Google Maps on your phone

If you'd rather use the app to check out your destination, here's what you'll need to do:

1. Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or Android.

2. Tap the search bar and enter the name or address of the place you want to view.

3. Tap the small photo box on the left side of the screen.

Type in the address you want to get street view for and tap the thumbnail on the left.

To navigate on the mobile version of street view, drag one finger across the screen, starting on the side you want to go toward and ending on the opposite side of the screen.

Drag your finger on the screen to navigate around street view.

In addition, Google Maps just launched an augmented reality "Live View" feature to help you navigate while walking. For more information, check out our article, "Google Maps is getting a useful new feature that shows you which direction to walk in — here's how to use it."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

How to download maps on the Google Maps app for offline use
How to see your Google location history in Google Maps, and delete or turn off its location tracking
How to add your business to Google and get it displayed on Google Maps for customers to find
How to drop a pin on Google Maps from your desktop or mobile app

Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at@devondelfino.