How to Hide Labels in Google Maps

To hide public labels in Google Maps, open the desktop website, point to Layers, click More, select Satellite, then uncheck Labels. This hides place names, road labels, and associated overlays on the satellite basemap, whether you are signed in or signed out.

Private labels, saved places, and contact names have separate controls. Choose the control for the information you want to remove, especially if you want to hide markers while keeping your saved places.

Hide public labels on the desktop map

Open Google Maps in a desktop browser. Point to Layers at the bottom left, click More, then click Satellite. Uncheck Labels to remove the satellite basemap’s place names, road labels, and associated overlays.

If the checkbox is disabled, check your map type: Labels is disabled in Default view. Switch to Satellite before unchecking it. If you also need coordinates for a point, follow the steps to find coordinates in Google Maps.

Reduce extra details in the mobile app

Google does not document the desktop Labels checkbox in the Android or iPhone and iPad app’s layer controls. Use the desktop website for the public-label method above. On your phone or tablet, you can separately remove optional overlays and manage your account’s labels.

On Android, iPhone, or iPad, open Google Maps and tap Layers. Under Map details, tap an enabled detail such as Transit, Traffic, Bicycling, or Street View again to turn it off. This reduces added symbols and overlays, but ordinary place names and street labels remain.

Remove private labels and stored addresses

On a computer, sign in to the Google Maps account that contains the label. Click Saved > Labeled, then click Remove beside the unwanted label. This deletes your private label while leaving the underlying public place in Maps.

On Android, iPhone, or iPad, open Google Maps and tap You > Labeled. Beside the label, tap More > Remove label. Tap Undo immediately if you want to reverse the deletion.

If the remaining text is the public place’s ordinary name, use the desktop satellite method to hide it. Removing your private label or saved association can leave that public name visible.

For your stored home or work address, sign in at myaccount.google.com and open Personal info. Select Home address or Work address, then select Remove. This removes the stored address across Google rather than simply hiding it on your map.

Hide saved places without deleting your lists

On a computer, open Google Maps and click Saved. Beside a list that offers the visibility command, click More, then select Hide on your map. Repeat for other visible lists you want to hide, and select Show on your map from the same menu to restore them.

On Android, iPhone, or iPad, open Google Maps and tap You. Beside a list offering the command, tap More, then select Hide on your map. Repeat for other visible lists; the lists and their contents stay saved. Select Show on your map from the same menu to restore a list’s markers.

To remove just one saved place, open its list through Saved on desktop or You on Android, iPhone, or iPad. Select More > Edit list, then select Remove beside the place. Remove it from each relevant list if it belongs to several, keeping in mind that its public place label can remain.

Temporarily view Maps without account personalization

On Android, iPhone, or iPad, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then tap Turn on Incognito mode. Your account’s saved-place features are unavailable during this session, but public basemap labels remain. To return to your normal account view, tap the Incognito profile icon, then tap Turn off Incognito mode.

On the desktop website, click your profile picture or initial at the top right, then click Sign out. This gives you a view without that account’s private saved-place personalization. Public labels remain visible.

To use a separate session in desktop Chrome, select More > New Incognito window. Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + n on Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS, or Command + Shift + n on Mac. Open Google Maps in that window and remain signed out to temporarily avoid your account’s private labels and saved markers. These shortcuts open a browser window; they do not toggle map labels.

On an iPhone or iPad, you can also open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then tap the Down arrow beside your account name. Tap Use Maps without an account to remove account personalization from the current view without deleting private labels.

Hide contact names on Android

For a single contact label, open Google Maps on Android and tap You > Labeled. Beside the contact, tap More > Hide contact in Maps, then tap Hide. Google says the computer and iPhone and iPad versions cannot add or hide contacts on the map.

To hide all contact addresses on Android where the integration is available, tap your profile picture or initial, then open Settings > Location & privacy. Turn off Google Contacts; its switch becomes gray. If you are following older instructions, the current path uses Location & privacy instead of Personal content.

Close custom maps and hide their layers

When Google Maps on Android, iPhone, or iPad displays a custom map overlay, tap a place, line, or region belonging to it. At the bottom, tap the My Maps icon, tap View Map Legend, then tap Close. This removes the overlay from view without deleting its underlying map.

To hide only part of a custom map, sign in to My Maps on a computer and open your map. In the left panel, uncheck the box beside the unwanted layer’s displayed name. Its markers, labels, lines, and shapes disappear together, while Google’s basemap labels remain.

Use a clean Google Earth view instead

For a view that removes borders, labels, places, and roads, open Google Earth on the web and open a map. Click the basemap icon at the bottom left to open Basemap settings. Under Details, select Clean.

You can also open View > Basemap Settings, or press Ctrl + B, before selecting Clean. Google Earth is a separate viewing surface, so this does not change your Google Maps view.

Hide labels in a map you develop

If you manage a compatible application map, Google Maps Platform gives you separate styling controls. These require application integration and do not change the consumer Google Maps website or app. A project is required for cloud styling, and billing can apply.

In Google Cloud console, open Map Styles and select your project, then click Create style. Under Google styles, select Light or Dark, then click Customize. Select a feature, such as Points of interest > Lodging. Under Visibility, select the eye icon to enable an override, then select it again to set Off. This hides that whole feature, not only its labels.

Click Save, enter a style name, and click Save again. Associate the style with your application’s map ID. For later edits, click Save, then Publish.

For a compatible custom Maps JavaScript API map using embedded styling, configure its styles option. To hide labels, set that option to the following value:

[{"featureType":"all","elementType":"labels","stylers":[{"visibility":"off"}]}]

To keep text while hiding icons, target labels.icon; to hide only text, target labels.text. Do not combine embedded styling with cloud styling on the same map.

For a separate map image, use a configured Maps Static API request with its required location, image-size, and authentication parameters. This requires API setup and applicable billing. Add the following parameter to hide labels:

style=feature:all%7Celement:labels%7Cvisibility:off

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I permanently delete an unwanted saved list?

Yes, for a deletable custom list, open Google Maps and select Saved on desktop or You on Android, iPhone, or iPad. Beside the list, select More, then select Delete list. This deletes the list rather than temporarily hiding its markers.

What happens if I remove a contact address instead of hiding it?

Removing a contact address on Android removes that address across Google, so the change extends beyond Maps. To do it, open Google Maps and tap You > Labeled. Beside the contact, tap More > Remove contact address, then tap Remove.

Can I remove my Home or Work address through Android settings?

Yes, open your device’s Settings app and tap Google > Manage your Google Account > Personal info. Tap Home address or Work address, then tap Remove. This changes the stored address across Google.

How do I reach my Home or Work address settings on an iPhone or iPad?

Go to myaccount.google.com in your browser, then tap your profile picture or initial. Tap Manage your Google Account > Personal info, then tap Home address or Work address. Tap Remove to remove the stored address across Google.