- Google Maps lets you view historical images of streets and places using Street View.
- The feature is available on both mobile and desktop versions and covers images from 2007-2008 onward.
- Exploring the past can help you compare how sites have changed over the years.
Have you ever wondered what your neighborhood was like when you were a kid, what that main avenue looked like a decade ago, or what stores were on the corner before the latest renovation? Travel in There with Google Maps It's no longer science fiction; it's a reality you can experience from the comfort of your phone or computer. Thanks to Street View's historical features, you can step back in time and see with your own eyes the changes that streets, buildings, and cities around the world have undergone.
In this guide I explain to you how to use Google Maps and Google Earth to explore old images from anywhere, step by step, in a simple and detailed way. You'll discover Tricks To get the most out of this feature, analyze how sites have changed and share with friends the views from the past that most surprise you. If you're curious, nostalgic, or just want to unleash your desire to explore, this article is for you.
What is Google Maps' time travel feature?
Google Maps has established itself as an indispensable tool for finding your way around, finding addresses, or planning routes. But Its Street View function goes a step further by allowing you to not only digitally navigate any street, but also to go back years and see images taken at different times since Google began capturing panoramas from around the world.
This feature is based on the Spherical photos captured by Street View cars From 2007-2008 to the present. Depending on the location, you can find old images from more than a decade ago, which is especially useful for remembering what a place looked like before construction or renovations, or simply seeing the evolution of the city.
How does time travel work in Street View?
The process is similar in both the Google Maps mobile app as in the desktop version. The feature, initially exclusive to the computer version, is now present in Android y iOS, allowing anyone consult historical images from virtually any device.
Street View saves a image timeline for many locations, although it should be noted that not all locations have a very extensive history: urban areas and major roads tend to have more accumulated photographs, while cul-de-sacs or rural areas may have been captured only once or twice. In any case, It is possible to go back and select between several dates when history is available.
Steps to view old images on Google Maps from your mobile device (Android/iPhone)
The possibility of exploring the past from your smartphone It's very simple. Here are the detailed steps:
- Find the place you want to check: Open Google Maps on your mobile and type in the address, place name, or navigate to the point of interest.
- Click on the point on the map: Click or hold on the street or area you are interested in until the site card and Street View thumbnail appear.
- Open Street View: Tap the thumbnail or circular image to enter Street View panoramic mode.
- Displays historical dates: Once inside the panoramic view, look for the 'See more dates' option or a clock icon (usually at the bottom or top of the screen).
- Choose the year: Swipe the carousel or select the desired date in the timeline to view photos from that specific time. This way, you can compare what the location looked like in different eras.
Important: The availability of older images varies by location. If the option for more dates doesn't appear, it's because there's no historical data captured for that specific area.
How to access historical images on Google Maps from a computer
If you prefer to use the web version of Google Maps on your PC, the procedure changes slightly, but remains just as intuitive:
- Enter Google Maps: Access maps.google.com from your browser.
- Find the place or street that you want to explore using the search engine or by manually scrolling the map.
- Drag the Street View "man" icon (the famous yellow “Pegman”) from the lower right corner on the desired street or point.
- In the panoramic window that opens At the top left, you'll see the date the image was taken. If historical images are available, you can tap the date to display a timeline.
- Select the desired year by moving the slider or clicking on the different years available to see how the location has changed.
- You can zoom in, zoom out, and move around along the street at each time, just like when you normally use Street View.
Eye: Not all locations have photos from every year. For example, the historical data in Spain typically goes from 2008, when the service began, to the present, but there may be gaps.
Which places have the most historical images and why?
The Google Street View cars have traveled millions of kilometers on roads, avenues and main streets around the world since 2007. Large cities, dense urban centers, tourist places and main roads usually have image updates every one or two yearsUrban changes, renovations, and major events motivate more frequent visits.
On the contrary, alleys, rural paths and areas with little traffic They've received fewer visits from Google cars, so their image history is often scarcer or sometimes nonexistent. Additionally, privacy policies or local infrastructure may prevent Street View from capturing certain locations.
What if I want to see older images or view old satellite photographs?
To delve even deeper into the past, you can use Google Earth, Maps' older brother, focused on geographic and temporal exploration. Google Earth has a feature called «Historical images» especially useful if you're looking for information prior to 2007 or want to compare satellite-based changes, such as urbanization, deforestation, or city expansion.
To use it, follow these steps:
- Open Google Earth on your computer.
- Find the location that you want to explore.
- Click on See > Historical Images or on the clock icon located above the 3D viewer.
- A time slider will appear at the top with the dates for which images of that area exist.
- Drag the marker or select the desired year to see how the landscape has changed over time.
This system also allows you to import GPS data from a specific period to analyze historical routes on the map. You can change the time interval, zoom in and out to expand on the start and end dates, or view animations of sunlight and the sun's position throughout the day.
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