A delivery rider calls for the third time because your lane has no name board. A guest circles the block twice. A pin ends that. This guide shows how to pin a location on Google Maps, share it and save it, using Google's own help pages. It's written for people in India who live, work or run a shop at an address that's hard to describe. You'll get the steps for phone and computer, a Plus Code option, ways to save a set of pins and the limits that can put the pin in the wrong place.
What does it mean to pin a location on Google Maps?
To pin a location on Google Maps means placing a marker, called a dropped pin, on any spot of the map so you can see its details, save it or send it to someone. Google's help pages describe it as a way to get information about a place when you can't find it by name. A pin works where an address doesn't exist, such as a farm gate, a lane behind a market or a meeting point in a park. It marks a spot, not a legal address.
Why does a pinned location matter for Indian addresses?
A pinned location matters because addresses in India lean on landmarks, and a pin replaces the landmark with a point on the map.
Google says Plus Codes let you share any location, such as a home, a store or a meeting place, even if there are no street names or even streets. Its help page adds that a Plus Code can identify different entrances to the same building and can help with deliveries or emergency services.
Example: a Pune bakery sits in a lane behind a temple. The owner pins the shop door and shares it, so delivery riders stop at the right gate.
How do you drop a pin on Google Maps step by step?
It takes six steps on an Android phone, and the iPhone steps follow the same pattern.
- 1.Open the Google Maps app.
- 2.Zoom in on the spot you want to mark.
- 3.Touch and hold the map. A pin drops.
- 4.At the bottom, tap the place's name or address.
- 5.Tap Share.
- 6.Choose the app to send it through.
Google's Android help page lists these steps for sharing: search for a place or drop a pin, tap the name or address at the bottom, tap Share and choose an app. Zoom in before you touch the map. A pin placed from a wide view can land metres away from the door.
How do you pin a location on a computer?
On a computer you click the map and read the coordinates, because the pin steps differ from the phone.
Google's help page says to open Google Maps, right-click the place or area, and read the latitude and longitude at the top of the pop-up, which appears in decimal format. Click the numbers to copy them.
To go back to a spot, paste the numbers into the search box. Google says to enter the latitude first, before the longitude. If you want a named marker on a map you can keep, use My Maps: select a layer, click where the place should go and give it a name.
Which way of marking a location suits you?
Four ways of marking a location exist, and each suits a different job.
| Method | Where it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dropped pin | Phone or computer | One-off sharing |
| Plus Code | Phone or computer | No street name |
| Coordinates | Search box | Precise spots |
| My Maps | Computer | A set of pins on one map |
Pick the dropped pin for a quick message to a guest. Pick a Plus Code when the lane has no name, because it travels as a short piece of text.
How do you save and label a set of pins?
Use My Maps when you need a set of pins, because it gives you one map with named places.
Google's My Maps help says a map can have up to 10,000 lines, shapes or places, and a layer can have 2,000. That's room for a delivery route, a list of branches or a set of site visits. Drag a feature on the map to move a place.
Name each pin so the person reading it understands it. "Gate 2, blue shutter" helps more than "Pin 7". Share the map with the people who need it, and update it when something changes.
Why does the pin land in the wrong place?
The pin lands in the wrong place when the map isn't sure where you are, or when you pinned from too far out.
Google's accuracy page explains the blue dot. When Maps isn't sure about your location, a light blue circle shows around it, and the smaller the circle, the more certain the app is. If something stands between you and cell towers, such as a parking garage or tall buildings, the dot might not be accurate.
- Zoom in before you drop the pin.
- Check the place name at the bottom card.
- Move to open air and try again.
- Give a second landmark in your message.
Common Mistake: sending the blue dot as your shop's location when you were inside a basement.
What Google Maps location features matter in 2026?
Google Location Sharing now works across several Google apps, so one setting covers more than Maps.
Google lists Maps, Messages, Find Hub, Family Link and Personal Safety as places where you can share real-time location. The setting is specific to each device and account, so check it on every phone you use. Ask family members to check theirs too.
If you run a delivery shop, save your pin as a Plus Code in your order confirmation message. Customers can paste it into the app, and riders can follow it without a call. Keep a note of which lanes still cause missed deliveries, and send those customers a photo of the gate along with the pin.
For a business, the pin you share should match the location on your Google profile. Our guide to listing your business on Google covers that.
What Should You Do Next?
To pin a location on Google Maps, zoom in, touch and hold, check the name at the bottom and tap Share. Use a Plus Code when your lane has no name, and My Maps when you need a set of pins. Test the pin by sending it to a friend and asking them to open it. If your shop is hard to find, our local SEO team can help customers find the right door. Our local SEO guide explains the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open Google Maps, zoom in, then touch and hold the map to drop a pin. Tap the place's name or address at the bottom to see details, then tap Share to send it. On a computer, right-click the spot to see its coordinates. Zoom in first so the pin sits on the right gate.
A dropped pin only marks a spot for you. To make a business findable, claim a Business Profile with your address and a matching pin. Our guide on listing your business on Google walks through the steps, including how to check the location. Match the pin to the door customers will walk to.
Use Google Location Sharing, which shares your real-time location with people you choose. It's off by default, and it needs a Google Account, a mobile device, an internet connection and the Use location setting, and you can stop sharing with any person later from your Google Account settings.
Open the app and look at the blue dot. A smaller light blue circle means the app is more certain. Move to open air, turn on Use location and check the internet connection. If you need a point to share, drop a pin and zoom in.
A Plus Code is a short code that identifies a location, useful where there are no street names. Google says it can identify entrances and help with deliveries. Drop a pin, open the Plus Code and copy it into a message. The code works where a street name doesn't exist.