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Be the first to share video on Google Maps

Former Google Contributor

As a Local Guide, you know that photos have the power to help people see the world and make decisions about where to go. But there’s a lot you can learn about a place by seeing it in motion. That’s why we’re introducing video on Google Maps.

 

Today, Local Guides on Android have the chance to add the first-ever videos to millions of places. The possibilities are really exciting: Take viewers on a mini tour of a store you love, or show the bustling scene at your favorite neighborhood restaurant. You can even do a quick review where you showcase a place’s best item or offer tips for visitors. (More inspiration: How to create videos that stand out on Google Maps.)

 

If you’re a Local Guide on Android, you can get started right now.

 

How to create a video when you’re at a place:

  • Search and select a place on Google Maps
  • Scroll down and tap “Add a photo”
  • Tap “Camera” and hold the shutter button for up to 10 seconds 

How to upload a video you’ve already shot:

  • Search and select a place on Google Maps
  • Scroll down and tap “Add a photo”
  • Tap “Folder” and select a video. Only the first 30 seconds of a video can be added.

 

Visit the Help Center to learn more about sharing videos.

 

lg-connect-fries.gif

Caption: Video showcasing how to take a video on Google Maps

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can I use this feature on my desktop computer or iOS device?

Right now, you can see videos on Google Search results for places in a web browser, but you can only upload videos on Google Maps for Android.

 

Why can’t I see this feature on my Android device?

If you’re a Local Guide and you can’t see or upload video on your Android device, try again shortly. The feature is rolling out gradually, and you may not be able to use it immediately.

 

Do videos earn Local Guides points?

You get 7 points for each video you upload.

191 Comments
Level 8

Like many other things ... in my country is not working. Unfortunately
  : |

 

ehsang

@bridan ikr!!! But in all honesty and ig fairness GOOGLE is android platform 

Level 10

If I try to upload a video which is about 50 second long, so Google Maps will just keep the first 30 seconds of that video to keep it on Google Maps, do I think right? 

Please help me to understand exactly. Thank you 

😍😍😍

LG Summit Attendee in 2016 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Regional Lead before 2017
Level 3

Hi MegS,

 

Indeed a very cool feature of google maps. I do have a thing with the image quality of the 1080p videos I upload.

How I can improve the image quality? Where can I set the quality settings?

What more information can you give me on this topic?

 

Something else. I have seen a 5 min. video on google maps. How is this possible? Did google change the max. 30 sec. policy?

 

Kind regards,

 

J.B. Woldringh

I'm a local guide, lvl5 only, but I've been getting error messages any time I've been trying to upload a video review.  I've done it so many different ways.

Under 30secs, Under 10sec.  Via my Samsung Galaxy S8 google maps app. Via desktop.  I've try via uploading and via google drive because I saw that as an option.  All options fail with an error message saying try again later.

 

I am in/from Canada trying to review a local Canadian business.  Is that an issue, country?

 

File size is 15 or 5 mb (29sec or 9 second)

 

Keep getting errors.  The Stars and text portions of the review are allow, but with the video it fails.

 

We saw Mike Blackmore talk about it and got excited and started telling other businesses about it and people tried to review and told us about it wouldn't work.   I also thought it might have something to do with not being a local guide, 

 

But when I tried, still nothing.

 

Thoughts anyone?  Google?

Level 9

@KevinSchulthies Pretty sure this might be a known error. 

 

If you attempt to upload an image and a video at the same time it creates an error, regardless of your android/desktop version. Video must always be uploaded separately. 

My process is to upload the review and all images first, then edit the review and add the video after posting. 

 

The country is not an issue. 

 

Does that help?

@BenKlein  Good attempt, but I've not uploaded photos and video at same time.  Only tried the video.  Maybe Should I attempt a picture first, then try a video on another edit attempt? - Another Note - My Galaxy 8 only shows photos, and no video thumbnails are present to try to upload from the official google map app under edit reviews and click on the photo button.  

Level 8

@BenKlein   @MegS 

I always have to go to the video and sare to gloogle maps, search for the review, and post.

 

I find this cumberson and annoying since it does not always post and have to wait a day to make sure I am no double posting.

 

 


@VBenedict  Wow...so weird, but your idea did kind of work (maybe) It got me further. Going into my Photos, clicking the 29sec video, then SHARING to the Google Maps app brings me to the same screen that under reviews allows you to pic only photos, but this time the list of thumbnails includes all my videos, with the one 29sec video checked marked.  I did submit and gave me 7points (woot) But it was not part of my review and was asking about the general post.  

 

Will wait a day and see what's up.

 

But what's funny is we know another local guide , he's level 6, who did submit a video review to same business, and somehow (50secs that got truncated at 30) but his video got posted right away to the business's list of photos (and now his one video)

 

I'll email him and see what issues he had if any and how he did it and which OS / phone etc

 

Keep the ideas coming if anyone else has run into this not allowed to upload video

Level 8

@KevinSchulthies   

 

One video took 4 tries before it actually loaded.

I have noticed that if the business does not have a Video tab as a child of photos it is unlikely it will actually publish 85% of the times. That is eventhough it appeared to have completed the upload.

 

BTW, if you want to gel other LGs to get involved in testing for Video you will need to tag a few people.

 

@MegS  @BruceDM

 

@OSAMA   @MiaMaria  @Osaka78forTRUMP

@AlejandraMaria  

 

Please share your experience with uploading videos to Google Maps and Tag others por favor.


Level 8

Thanks Meg I’m looking forward to sharing my IPhone videos. Do you know when sharing videos on iOS is available? Please let me know. Thanks 🙂 

Hey everybody,

 

Can you please let me know how can I add a video for a specific location that has already been captured on my phone? as I was unaware about this is default picture plus video feature inbuilt in google maps camera.

 

Thanks in advance.

Level 8

Hi @akshaypoojary  it is a bit cumbersome actually...

 

You have to go to the video clip (preferably 30 seconds or less) => tap the Share icon => the Maps icon => choose the POI you wish to post to => tap OK and hope it attaches to the POI by saying some prayers.

 

 


@VBenedict Thank you very much for it. I shared several videos. 

 

@MegS Can you please increase the video length to be shared more than 30 secs as it gives more information?

Level 8

@akshaypoojary   at first I thought the same as you... the allowed video length should be increased.

 

Then I learned discipline and began to create effective 30 secs clips.

 

This 30 secs strategy is also called "the elevator pitch" or 30 secs commercial through which you convey a nugget full using visuals, oral, and sound bytes.

 

 


@VBenedict ok I got your point. You are suggesting me to be crisp and cover only required information in that 30 secs.

 

 

Thanks alot for the information.

 

 

Can you or anyone else please let me know how to mark or indicate in the google map with the roads which are blocked or being repaired?

Level 8

@akshaypoojary  I would love to learn how to Map Road Works and detours in general.

 

We have two public works going on as we speak here in my Village and Town.

 

Marking missing roads or temporarily closed roads or marking Hiking Trails is not seamless.  

 

The process for marking a missing road and a trail is supposed to be exactly the same.   But it is not clear what that process is?????? Exactly.

 

@LawrenceNYC. I am available during the week for live hands on training on this and in general.  Why can't there be a Trusted Mapper Program of locally trained LGs.

 


Level 9

@VBenedict No video uploads for me as I use IOS😕

I ❤️ being a local guide! My contributions
My Connect Profile
Level 8

Hi @MiaMaria  Long time no see.  Have you any plans to visit us in NY again?

 

We would love to see you.


@VBenedict thank you very much for the information.

 

 

@VBenedict and @@@Lawrencenyc can you please please a video with the teaching that option so that all local guides can start using it.

Level 9

@VBenedict currently no although I really miss NYC! 

But I‘ll be in San Francisco in October at the Connect Live Event 🙂

I ❤️ being a local guide! My contributions
My Connect Profile
Level 8

That is wonderful @MiaMaria.  Hope you have lots of fun.

 

Have you visited SF in the past?  Great food, beautiful area 💝


Level 6

hi @MegS 

This is awesome. Thanks for this post for shearing video

Level 6

Thank you very much.

Level 7

I suppose I am the only one that does not appreciate videos on Google Maps as so many others seem to love the idea. At least here amongst the Google Guides who have responded. When I view a place on Google Maps and look at the photos, I find it really annoying that I’m scrolling through images to see details about the place, and all of a sudden a video starts playing. Usually most of the videos I’ve seen are shaky, devoid of detail, and unprofessional. It just looks amateur to me. I wish that users would be given the option to at least turn off the auto play of videos, or filter them out entirely. Ideally, there should be a completely different section for videos, rather than have videos and photos together.

Level 8

I’m happy 😊 I’m able to share videos using my iPhone. 

Google Moderator

Hello @sajid473,

 

Thank you for sharing, but this post is off-topic for Connect as it does not fit into any of the current categories. To learn more about each topic you can visit this post.

 

Your post was moved to the off-topic posts archive. Once your post is moved to the off-topic posts archive, it will still show up in search, but no new comments may be added to it.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Level 10

Hi @MegS,

 

I have difficulties to upload videos from Google photo to Google Maps. Most of my videos are being cut.

Most of the time, my videos last betwen 10 to 20 seconds but once they are uploaded in Google Maps it shows only 1 to 3 seconds.

Do you know why? 

What can be done to sort this out?

 

Thanks in advance for your help,

 

See you around

 

Jul

Former Google Contributor

Hi @Julien44,

 

Thank you for reaching out.

 

As it has been already mentioned you can check the article about upload video at Add, remove, or share photos and videos. Keep in mind that you can upload no more that 30 seconds. 

 

Are you using IOS or Android system? 

 

Have you checked your network connection? Have you tried to watch the videos from other device or from another account?

 

In case of further questions feel free to use the Help Center.

 

PS.: In case of issues, you can tag people from the Meet the Google Moderators topic.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Google Moderator Thank you!

Level 8

Thank you for excellent information and advice. 👍😉

Level 7

I tried following the steps above but still not able to add videos. Even holding the shutter button as described above when clicking "add photo" and navigating to the camera only  snaps a picture and no video recording. Pixel 3 xl, up to date maps app.

Former Google Contributor

Hi @micahmc,

 

Thanks for reaching out.

 

Please follow the instructions for the three methods to share videos on Google Maps listed in this article: Add, remove, or share photos and videos.

 

Thanks

 

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!
Level 7

I tried those official steps as listed and linked but there when I try to "Tap Camera, then tap and hold the shutter for up to 10 seconds" it doesn't do anything (rather automatically snaps a still photo). Maps is up-to-date and my OS is also up-to-date.

When trying to select a video (even a couple of seconds long) I'm still not able to select a video file...I'm stuck! 

Level 8

Very simple open google map, search any place, click on add photo, select desire folder and upload only 30 second video also you can add 90" angle photos. 

Level 7

I really wish it was that simple, but unfortunately, I'm not able to view any videos when making a selection to upload (not even a 2-3 second video clip) - only photos show up. There is absolutely no way for me to capture and upload a video using the steps shown above - and every app and OS is totally updated on my Pixel 3 XL..... 😞 

Level 7

Ok - some good news! Even though video reviews can't be uploaded from my Pixel 3 XL into the Maps app (fully updated), I can indeed upload videos "from my phone" using Google Maps on a computer. Strange! (see screenshot: https://share.getcloudapp.com/5zudXG5b

Level 8

Wow sangat luar biasa kità bertambah semangattt

Level 9

I'm doing it already and it is indeed a great feature to add value of a place. 

Tanvir Akhter
Level 8
Level 8

I'm joining my google guide connect as I'm experiencing my google map and photos different food and culture many years. I'd like to send special pictures about food except culture more to more. 

Level 6

Im sorry. That doesnt work on my Cell phone i hold the shutter button for 10 seconds and on the first second just took the photo AND doesnt start to record the video

Hi MegS,

I used to be able to upload videos to my reviews, but I can't do that anymore.
It seems that this option, is not present now.

How to upload a video you’ve already shot:

  • Search and select a place on Google Maps
  • Scroll down and tap “Add a photo”

Tap “Folder” and select a video. Only the first 30 seconds of a video can be added
Do you know what can be the cause?

Thank you

regards,

Mariana

Mariana Wijayanti