Here's how to turn your Google Maps into a living world and navigate it!

Here's how to turn your Google Maps into a living world and navigate it!

Google Maps offers a special mode that allows you to get stunning views of natural sites or famous landmarks. Here's how to activate and use the 3D view.

We're used to Google Maps offering a 2D view by default, but this app packs a ton of extra features that will take you to those urban jungles or natural landscapes you want to visit. You can watch them with stunning realism thanks to a wonderful mode that is very simple to activate.

We're talking about 3D mode, which allows users to freely rotate and tilt the view of spaces to view places from different perspectives. It includes 3D buildings and features, smooth zooming and transitions, satellite images, and other details. Find out here how to enable 3D viewing of Google Maps.

If you're using a desktop version of the app, follow these steps:

  • Open your browser and go to Google Maps webpage.
  • Click on Layers in the bottom-left corner of the map > More.
  • Tap on Satellite and make sure that Globe View is enabled.
  • Click on the 3D icon at the lower right corner below the compass sign. Now your map appears in 3D format! To return to 2D format, press the same button, which will now say 2D.

The only downside to the 3D mode is that working with the map in 3D space can require a lot of your device's graphics.

If you have a smartphone or tablet, creating a 3D effect on your mobile device requires a little more effort and you'll need the Google Earth app to do it.

  • But first, open the Google Maps application on your mobile gadget and click on the Map Type icon.
  • Click on the 3D icon. The image on the map will become a little closer to three-dimensional, but still far from what you could see in the desktop version.
  • Now install and launch the Google Earth application (you can download it for free from the official Apple or Google stores).
  • Click on the Search icon.
  • Enter the location you want to view into the search bar. Confirm your choice.

The app will show you the location you have selected. If the view is not already in 3D, click on the "3D" icon.