This article explains how to create a list of places in Google Maps.

What to Know

  • Open a location’s information screen on Google Maps and tap Save > New List, then give the list a name and select a privacy setting.If you plan to send your list to friends, choose Shared and tap Create at the top of the screen.To add another location, open the location’s information screen and tap Save, then choose your new list and tap Done.

How to Start a New Google Maps List

The first step in creating a new Google Maps list is to find the first thing you want to add to that list.

  • Open the Google Maps app on your phone. By default, it opens to your current location.
  • Type a location or business type in the search box at the top of the Google Maps screen. You can also tap the microphone to search by voice.
  • Select the location you are looking for by tapping it in the search results.
  • At the bottom of the screen is the name, rating, opening or closing time, an indicator showing how long it takes to get there. Tap this information to bring up the location’s full screen.
  • Tap the Save button that appears in the middle of the screen.
  • Tap New List.
  • Give the list a name and select a privacy setting. If you plan to send your list to friends, choose Shared and tap Create at the top of the screen.

At this point, you have a new list with one saved location.

Open the Google Maps app on your phone. By default, it opens to your current location.

Type a location or business type in the search box at the top of the Google Maps screen. You can also tap the microphone to search by voice.

Select the location you are looking for by tapping it in the search results.

At the bottom of the screen is the name, rating, opening or closing time, an indicator showing how long it takes to get there. Tap this information to bring up the location’s full screen.

Tap the Save button that appears in the middle of the screen.

Tap New List.

Give the list a name and select a privacy setting. If you plan to send your list to friends, choose Shared and tap Create at the top of the screen.

Add Locations to Your List

The Google Maps app returns to the map that shows additional similar locations in the same vicinity that you might want to add to your list. For example, if your original search was for restaurants, you see a map of other nearby restaurants. To add one of them to your list:

  • Click on a marker in the map or on an image to open a location’s information screen.
  • Tap the Save button in the middle of the information screen.
  • Tap the name of your new list, followed by Done.

The app returns to the information screen for the location you just added to your list. Click the X in the upper left corner to return to the map showing nearby similar locations. You can repeat this process over and over to populate your new list.

Click on a marker in the map or on an image to open a location’s information screen.

Tap the Save button in the middle of the information screen.

Tap the name of your new list, followed by Done.

How to Share the List

Use a Google Maps feature to curate a list of your favorite locations and send the entire set of places to friends who use an Android device or iPhone and have the Google Maps app installed. If they don’t have the app, they receive a link they can open in Google Maps on a computer.

This capability rocks for sending people carefully selected sets of recommendations, such as your favorite downtown bars or suburban sushi joints.

After you’ve fleshed out your list, you can pull it up whenever you want.

  • Tap Saved at the bottom of the home screen to pull up the Saved lists screen.
  • Tap the three-dot icon to the right of the list you want to share.
  • Tap Share list in the pop-up menu.
  • If you want to allow your recipients to modify the list, move the slider next to Link allows editing to On/green. Otherwise, click Continue to share the list.
  • Select the people or method you want to use to share the list.

The Sharing screen doesn’t look the same on every phone, but it gives you options you can select from. Depending on your method of delivery and your recipients’ devices, the list may open automatically in their Google Maps app or at Google.com. In some cases, they receive a web link they must copy and paste to open Google Maps on the internet.

Tap Saved at the bottom of the home screen to pull up the Saved lists screen.

Tap the three-dot icon to the right of the list you want to share.

Tap Share list in the pop-up menu.

If you want to allow your recipients to modify the list, move the slider next to Link allows editing to On/green. Otherwise, click Continue to share the list.

Select the people or method you want to use to share the list.

While you’re in the Saved List screen, tap the three-dot icon next to a list and select Sharing Options to generate a link immediately that you can send to anyone via any mode you like.

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