Questions about Street View? Read this first

[DeniGu]

UPDATE (November 9, 2022): As of November 9, 2022, the Street View app for iOS and Android is no longer available for download on Google Play and the App Store. If you already have the app on your mobile device, you will continue to be able to use it until March 2023. Read more about how to enjoy your favorite features on other platforms in the Google Maps Help Center. If you’re a Street View trusted photographer, head to the Street View trusted Help Center for more details.

UPDATE (July 19, 2021): As of July 19, 2021, new enrollments into the Street View trusted program are put on hold. At this time, we do not award the trusted badge to new contributors who’ve reached the minimum number of photos for membership, and do not list new professionals on the for-hire index.

We know that Local Guides love to contribute in different ways on Google Maps, and with the introduction of the new Street View app features in December 2020, now anyone can contribute to Street View, too.

While Street View imagery appears on Google Maps, Local Guides and Street View trusted photographers are two different programs. To join the Street View trusted program, you need to publish at least 50 360 images approved by Google Maps and follow the instructions in the Street View app. However, you no longer need to be a Local Guide to become a trusted photographer and have access to the exclusive Street View trusted support page.

This means that Connect may not always be the most suitable place to ask a question about Street View. Whether you’re a trusted photographer or a Street View enthusiast, read on to learn where to find the best answers to your questions.

If you’re not already a Street View trusted photographer

Feel free to post your question on Connect, where more experienced community members can answer, or check out the Google Maps Help Center, Google Maps Community, and these Street View articles. There is no need to tag a Google Moderator in your post; they are here to support your questions about the Local Guides program.

If you’re a Street View trusted photographer

You can find everything you need on the dedicated Street View trusted Help Center (find the link here). Lost access to the Help Center? Make sure to tag one of the Google Moderators to help you resolve this issue. For any other questions, head to the Street View trusted Help Center and Street View articles, or send your feedback directly to the Street View team in the app.

Do you like to contribute to Street View? Learn more about how to do it here.

[GoGators]

I took a large number of 360 photos (~4,000 over 20 miles) on my last kayak trip with the intention of adding them to Google Street view for others to enjoy. I’m finding it much more difficult to add these than I anticipated. Here is what I know so far.

I can use the Google street view app on my mobile device but I seem to only be able to do a small number at a time. This will be very time consuming if I’m to go about it this way.

I found that the site Gothru.co allows me to simply add photos and it is able to read the GPS and place them on the map for me. However, there are monthly or on-time costs for each panorama. I guess I’d be willing to pay a small fee if that’s the only option but it seems that there might be another option considering this is purely for enhancing a Google product and helping others in the community.

Are these truly the only options or is there a computer based solution I have yet to find? I’m not looking to do virtual tours or the like, I just want to add 360 photos that are connected together in a line.

Thank you for any insight you can provide.

[michiko_9]

私は、はじめてのフォトグラファーです。

初めてなので、認定バッジの受け取り方がわからないです。

どなたか、教えてください。

よろしくお願い申し上げます。

[ErmesT]

Hi @michiko_9

Looks like you are talking about your Street View Trusted photographer badge.

I want to inform you that Street View is no longer supported in Local Guides Connect.

To download your badge and the marketing material you will have to visit the new Street View trusted Help Center, accessible to Trusted Photographers only

Should you be not able to access the new Street View trusted Help Center, please let us know, and we will tag a Street View Moderator for granting the access to your profile.

The Help Center also contains a news and announcements section where you will find all the information about the updates of the Street View program

[SholaIB]

Hello @DeniGu

Thanks for the information, very short and sweet and straightforward. Although we miss the SV forum, yet changes are always nice. It’s nice to continue to have the access to the board so that our issues can be resolved if they are any. Kind regards.

Cheers

[ErmesT]

Thanks @DeniGu for this post. It will definitely help a lot of people to find the right direction and to understand the changes in the Street View Program.

Being a Street View enthusiast, I love to post 360 ° photos myself. Normally I do it in natural areas, or in some restaurant that I really like, and I don’t do it as a business.
Doing it for work is fine, but we need to know the rules first

[NirmalTeja]

@DeniGu thanks you for sharing about street view program

[_inside360]

Доброго времени суток. Меня зовут Алена, я из России. Я недавно получила статус Сертифицированного фотографа Google, о чем меня проинформировали в письме на мой почтовый ящик. У меня возникла проблема, я не не могу перейти по ссылке чтобы заполнить специальную форму и почему то у меня до сих пор нет доступа в специальное закрытое сообщество сертифицированных фотографов. Так же я до сих пор не вижу себя в списке доверенных сертифицированных фотографов Google.

Может быть мой вопрос адресован не в ту тему, но все же, помогите решить данную проблему.

[NareshDarji]

Thanks for sharing this helpful post @DeniGu .

It’s helping many people to find proper information about STV program.

[ThomasMcV]

Dear @DeniGu .

I am really hoping you might be able to help me here (or point me in the right direction for support). For a long time I have been trying to resolve this issue.

I applied to the Google Street View program some years ago under my brand and having met the requirements became a Street View Trusted professional. My business is listed under “Hire a trusted professional” on the Street View website: https://www.google.com/streetview/business/trusted/ (Country = UK>State/Region = Northern Ireland.

When I view my profile on Google Maps it shows ZERO contributions yet registers 329 photos and 8.7k views (see screenshot below). This is not correct.

When I view my profile on the Street View App to shows 300 photos and 18M views (screenshot below). This is more accurate.

Also, when I go into my stats on the Street View App I have ZERO badges. At the very least I had Expert Photographer badge.

My profile on Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/TX4JXiox64yFNTtZ7

Are there any Street View moderators in here? What is the best way to get this resolved?

Thank you
Thomas

EDIT: I have tried all options on the Street View trusted Help Center without success. I do not know where to turn to for support now.

[ErmesT]

@ThomasMcV

Everything seems to be fine with you as you are using two different profiles (one for Local Guide and one for Street View). In fact, as clearly indicated in the Local Guides Program Terms and Conditions : “Organizations, brands, and businesses are not eligible for the Program.” so contributing as a business with a separate account is the correct thing to do. The photos uploaded as a business will not add points in the Local Guides program, and this is correct.

You should try to access the new Street View trusted Help Center, with your SVTP account (Virtual Visit Tours) and not with the one you are using here.

Should you be not able to access the new Street View trusted Help Center, with your business account please let us know.

[ErmesT]

Hi @_inside360 ,

As clearly indicated in your second screenshot, actually new applications to the online list are not accepted, as the program still be under revamping. I am tagging @Bobiisha for granting you the access to the new Street View trusted Help Center, accessible to Trusted Photographers only, where you will find also a news and announcements section. In there you will be able to follow all the updates of the program

[Giu_DiB]

Hi @Durojaiyeolaunde1 ,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! I just wanted to let you know that I redacted you post and removed the photo since it contained a phone number. As you can read in the program rules, we value everyone’s privacy and we want to protect it.

To know more about the forum, you can also read Your guide to Connect.

[ThomasMcV]

@ErmesT

Thank you for you response and clarification that photos uploaded as a business will not add points in the Local Guides program. No more badges for me then

The main issue I wish to resolve is the discrepancy in views when comparing my profile on Google Maps and the Street View App. Might I ask you to view my public contributions profile on Google Maps. Does my logo appear? How many views do you see?

As mentioned in my previous comment, my profile on the Street View App shows 300 photos and 18M views which is a more accurate reflection. Why is this not reflected on my Google Maps profile is my query.

I can access the new Street View Trusted Help Center with my SVTP account (Virtual Visit Tours) but have been unable to resolve why this discrepancy is happening or how to solve it. There are no forums on the SV help Center to pose the question.

Is there a Street View moderator or support staff that you can escalate this to?

with thanks

Thomas

Thomas

[NormB]

Hi, I have noticed recently that the Blue Dot for 360 photos are now not showing on Google Maps… The last lot that I submitted in March and previous to that all show but since then they are not showing up. The 360 photos are being processed and placed on the map in the locations within a few moments of uploading.
My main areas are walking and biking trails. The Photos are not linked.
This link below is the area at present. McLeans Forest

Mcleans Forest Area

Regards

Norm

[Bobiisha]

Hi @Алена_inside360,

I will check with the responsible team for your access and will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks for the tag, @ErmesT !

[Bobiisha]

Hi @ThomasMcV ,

Please try to send a feedback directly from the Street View application so the information can reach the responsible team.

[ErmesT]

This is an interesting question @ThomasMcV .

I don’t really have an answer but, looking at your business profile, it appear exactly like the profile of a business owner (no views and not a list of contributions in Google Maps).

Definitely you will have to use your Street View app to see the number of views for each 360 photo.

Your logo do not appear in your profile but it is visible in everyone of your contributions.

Regarding not getting points, this is the correct way to proceed to keep separate your paid activity from your volunteer activity. Of course, feel free to add your volunteers contributions through your Local Guide Profile. I am adding a lot of parks in Maps in this way.

We have no longer any Street View Moderator in Connect, and in the Street View trusted Help Center the issues are addressed using specific forms. There is not a forum in there

[Bobiisha]

Hi @Алена_inside360,

It seems that you have the needed access. Please make sure that you are logged in with your trusted account when trying to access the help center, as it is restricted to trusted users only. If it doesn’t work, I kindly ask you to try in incognito mode as well.

[Bobiisha]

Hi @NormB ,

Thanks for reaching out to us!

Please have in mind that it may take up to 4 working days for the system to process the uploaded images and the blue dots to appear. If after 4-5 business day they don’t show up, try to delete and republish. Let me know the results!