Google Earth Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Windows & Mac
Google Earth keyboard shortcuts let you navigate, zoom, rotate, and tilt the 3D viewer without using a mouse. The most-used shortcuts are the arrow keys to move the view, Shift + arrow keys to rotate, + / − to zoom in and out, N to reset the view to north, and U to switch to a top-down view.
Below you’ll find the complete list of Google Earth and Google Earth Pro shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and Linux including navigation, placemark, menu, and mouse controls plus a free PDF cheat sheet you can download.
Navigation & 3D Viewer Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Move view left | Left Arrow | Left Arrow |
| Move view right | Right Arrow | Right Arrow |
| Move view up | Up Arrow | Up Arrow |
| Move view down | Down Arrow | Down Arrow |
| Rotate clockwise | Shift + Left Arrow | Shift + Left Arrow |
| Rotate counter-clockwise | Shift + Right Arrow | Shift + Right Arrow |
| Tilt up | Shift + Down Arrow | Shift + Down Arrow |
| Tilt down | Shift + Up Arrow | Shift + Up Arrow |
| First-person perspective | Ctrl + click & drag | ⌘ + click & drag |
| Zoom in (small) | + | + |
| Zoom out (small) | – | – |
| Zoom in (large) | Ctrl + Shift + + | ⌘ + Shift + + |
| Zoom out (large) | Ctrl + Shift + – | ⌘ + Shift + – |
| Stop current motion | Spacebar | Spacebar |
| Reset view to north-up | N | N |
| Reset to top-down view | U | U |
| Center the Earth | R | R |
Mouse & Touchpad Controls
| Action | Mouse / Touchpad |
|---|---|
| Move the view | Left-click and drag |
| Zoom in / out | Scroll wheel, or double-click to zoom in |
| Rotate & tilt | Hold scroll wheel (or right-click) and drag |
| Zoom with auto-tilt | Right-click and drag up/down |
| Move more slowly | Hold Alt, then use any shortcut |
File & Edit Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open file dialog | Ctrl + O | ⌘ + O |
| Save current view as image | Ctrl + Alt + S | ⌘ + Option + S |
| Ctrl + P | ⌘ + P | |
| Email view | Ctrl + Alt + E | ⌘ + Option + E |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | ⌘ + C |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | ⌘ + X |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | ⌘ + V |
| Find | Ctrl + F | ⌘ + F |
| Delete selected item | Delete | Delete |
| Edit selected item | Ctrl + Alt + R | ⌘ + Option + R |
View & Display Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom into selected item | Enter | Enter |
| Toggle full-screen | F11 | ⌘ + Control + F |
| Show / hide sidebar | Ctrl + Alt + B | ⌘ + Option + B |
| Show / hide overview window | Ctrl + M | ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ + M |
Create Items on Map Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| New Placemark | Ctrl + Shift + P | ⌘ + Shift + P |
| New Folder | Ctrl + Shift + N | ⌘ + Shift + N |
| New Image Overlay | Ctrl + Shift + O | ⌘ + Shift + O |
| New Model | Ctrl + Shift + M | ⌘ + Shift + M |
| New Path | Ctrl + Shift + T | ⌘ + Shift + T |
| New Polygon | Ctrl + Shift + G | ⌘ + Shift + G |
Menu Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Linux |
|---|---|
| File menu | Alt + F |
| Edit menu | Alt + E |
| View menu | Alt + V |
| Add menu | Alt + A |
| Tools menu | Alt + T |
| Help menu | Alt + H |
How to Rotate, Tilt, and Zoom in Google Earth
Beyond the shortcut tables above, here’s exactly how to control the Google Earth view using your keyboard. These steps work in Google Earth Pro on both Windows and Mac.
How to rotate the view in Google Earth
- Click anywhere in the 3D viewer to make sure it’s active.
- Hold Shift and press the Left Arrow to rotate the view clockwise, or the Right Arrow to rotate counter-clockwise.
- To reset the view back to north-up at any time, press N.
How to tilt the view in Google Earth
- Click the 3D viewer to activate it.
- Hold Shift and press the Down Arrow to tilt up toward the horizon, or the Up Arrow to tilt down toward a top-down angle.
- To jump straight to a flat, top-down view, press U.
How to zoom in Google Earth
- Press + to zoom in or – to zoom out in small steps.
- For larger jumps, press Ctrl + Shift + + (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + Shift + + (Mac).
- To stop any automatic motion while zooming, press the Spacebar.
How to reset the Google Earth view
- Press N to reset the view to north-up.
- Press U to switch to a top-down (straight-down) view.
- Press R to re-center the Earth.
Use Shift + arrow keys to rotate and tilt, + / − to zoom, and N, U, or R to reset the view to north, top-down, or center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Google Earth keyboard shortcuts?
Google Earth keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that let you navigate, zoom, rotate, and tilt the 3D viewer without a mouse. Common examples include the arrow keys to move the view, Shift + arrow keys to rotate, and + / − to zoom.
How do I rotate the view in Google Earth?
Hold Shift and press the Left Arrow to rotate clockwise, or the Right Arrow to rotate counter-clockwise. Press N at any time to reset the view back to north.
What is the top-down view shortcut in Google Earth?
Press U to switch to a top-down (straight-down) view. To reset the view to north-up instead, press N.
How do I zoom in Google Earth using the keyboard?
Press + to zoom in and − to zoom out in small steps. For larger jumps, use Ctrl + Shift + + on Windows or ⌘ + Shift + + on Mac.
How do I tilt the view in Google Earth?
Hold Shift and press the Down Arrow to tilt up toward the horizon, or the Up Arrow to tilt down toward a top-down angle.
What does Ctrl + M do in Google Earth?
Ctrl + M shows or hides the Overview window in Google Earth Pro on Windows. On Mac, the equivalent is ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ + M.
Do keyboard shortcuts work in Google Earth Web?
Google Earth Web supports basic navigation and zoom shortcuts such as the arrow keys and + / −, but it does not support the full menu and item-creation hotkeys available in Google Earth Pro for desktop.
Is there a Google Earth shortcuts PDF I can download?
Yes you can download the complete list of Google Earth keyboard shortcuts as a free PDF cheat sheet from the link in this article.
Conclusion
Google Earth’s keyboard shortcuts turn a slow, mouse-driven experience into fast, fluid exploration. If you remember just five arrow keys to move, Shift + arrows to rotate and tilt, + / − to zoom, N for north, and U for top-down view you’ll navigate the globe far more efficiently. For the full set, Google Earth Pro for desktop gives you every shortcut listed above, while Google Earth Web covers the basics.
Bookmark this page as your reference, or download the free Google Earth shortcuts PDF cheat sheet to keep the full list handy offline.
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