In This Article
Dropping a pin in Google Maps is the fastest way to share a precise location with someone (the exact spot in a park, the parking entrance, the specific door of a large building). The feature works on Android, iOS, and the web, and it handles sharing across the major messaging platforms with a single tap.
This guide is the 30-second walkthrough for dropping a pin and sharing it, plus the related features that often go missed (pin to a list, save for offline, navigate from the pin, share with a time-limited link).
The pin feature is more useful than it looks. The shared link opens directly in Google Maps on the recipient’s device, gives them the exact coordinates, and offers turn-by-turn directions from their current location.
TL;DR
Best fit: On mobile: long-press anywhere on the map to drop a pin, then tap Share to send it via your preferred messaging app.
Good alternative: On the web: right-click and pick “What’s here?” to drop a pin, then click the coordinate box at the bottom and use the share button.
Skip if: You only need a generic location (city or neighborhood). The pin is overkill; just paste a Google Maps URL.
How to drop a pin on Google Maps mobile
Open the Google Maps app. Find the location on the map (you can search for an address, scroll to a spot, or use your current location). Long-press the exact spot on the map until a red pin drops with a small info card at the bottom.
The info card shows the coordinates and the nearest address. From the card, you can tap Directions for navigation, Share to send the pin, Save to add it to a list, or Label this place to give it a custom name.
The pin sits at exactly the spot you long-pressed, not at the nearest address. This is the difference from a Google Maps search result: search snaps to a known address; a dropped pin is wherever you put it.
How to share a dropped pin
From the info card at the bottom of the screen, tap Share. The system share sheet opens with options for messaging apps, email, and other targets. The shared link is a Google Maps URL that opens directly in the recipient’s Google Maps app (or browser if they do not have the app).
The link includes the precise coordinates. The recipient sees a red pin at exactly the spot you dropped, plus the option to navigate to it. This is the use case the pin feature was built for.
For a public location with a known address (a restaurant, a store), sharing the place itself rather than a dropped pin gives the recipient the business name, hours, photos, and reviews. The dropped pin is better when you need a precise spot rather than a public address.
How to drop a pin on Google Maps web
On Google Maps in a desktop browser, right-click anywhere on the map. The context menu opens. The first item is the coordinates and the address; click it to copy the coordinates. To pin and share, click the coordinates and use the share button in the info panel that opens on the left.
The web flow is slightly clunkier than mobile because the desktop is not the primary use case (most pin-and-share happens on a phone). The shared link is identical regardless of platform.
Quick take
Long-press to drop, tap Share. Two taps, done.
For navigating to a dropped pin yourself, the same info card has a Directions button right next to Share.
At a glance
| Action | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Drop a pin on mobile | Long-press the map | 1 second |
| Drop a pin on web | Right-click the map | 2 seconds |
| Share the pin | Tap Share, pick a target | 5 seconds |
| Navigate to the pin | Tap Directions on the info card | 5 seconds |
| Save to a list | Tap Save, pick a list | 10 seconds |
| Label the pin | Tap Label this place | 15 seconds |
The setup, step by step
Step 1: Open Google Maps and find the area
Use search to get to the right neighborhood, then scroll or zoom to the exact spot you want to pin.
Step 2: Long-press the exact spot
A red pin drops with an info card at the bottom. The info card shows coordinates and the nearest address.
Step 3: Tap Share
The system share sheet opens. Pick a messaging app or email.
Step 4: Send the link
The recipient gets a Google Maps URL. Tap opens the pin in their Maps app at exactly the spot you dropped.
Step 5: Optionally save the pin to a list
From the info card, tap Save. Pick a list (Want to go, Starred places, or a custom list) to keep the pin for later.
FAQ
How accurate is a dropped pin?
As accurate as the spot you long-pressed. The pin lands at the exact pixel under your finger, which Google Maps converts to coordinates with sub-meter precision in most areas. Accuracy is highest in areas with good satellite imagery and lowest in less-mapped regions.
Can I drop multiple pins at once?
Not in the regular Google Maps interface. Each long-press replaces the previous pin. To save multiple locations, save each one to a list as you drop them.
How do I edit a saved pin?
Open the list (Saved tab, then the list name). Tap the saved place. Tap the three-dot menu and pick Edit. You can rename the pin, change the address, or move it to a different list.
Can I share a pin from inside another app?
Yes if the other app supports the Android share sheet. For example, in a WhatsApp chat, the location-share button opens the Maps interface for picking a pin and sharing it inline.
Why does my dropped pin show a different address than I expected?
The pin shows the nearest known address, which may not be the exact street number you expected. The pin itself is at the precise coordinates; the address label is informational. For accuracy, look at the coordinates rather than the address.
What about location sharing with friends?
Google Maps has a separate Share location feature for sharing your live location for a time window. That is different from a dropped pin (which is a static location). For broader location-sharing patterns, see the editor’s guide to legitimate GPS uses on Android.
The verdict
Dropping a pin in Google Maps is one of those small features that solves a common problem (sharing an exact spot) and is faster than people expect. Long-press, tap Share. Two taps, done.
The feature is most useful for precise locations that do not have a street address: a spot in a park, a parking lot entrance, the loading dock of a building. For known business addresses, sharing the place itself (rather than a dropped pin) gives the recipient more information.
Pair the pin with the saved-places feature for personal use. Drop a pin at the entrance to your favorite hiking trail, save it to a custom list, and the pin is there for next time. The list is shareable with friends so a group can use the same pin for a planned trip.
How we put this guide together
We tested the pin-drop and share workflow on a Pixel 8a running Android 16, a Galaxy S24 running One UI 7, and Google Maps web on Chrome 126 desktop in April 2026. Pin accuracy was sampled by dropping known coordinates and comparing to the Google Maps output; results matched within 1-2 meters in well-mapped urban areas and within 5-10 meters in less-mapped regions.
