Moving is a nightmare. Honestly, between the heavy lifting and the endless paperwork, the last thing you want to deal with is your phone constantly trying to navigate you back to your old apartment. It happens all the time. You finish a long day at work, hit the "Home" button on your dashboard, and suddenly you’re being routed to a place you haven't lived in for three months. It’s annoying.
If you are asking how do I change my home address on Google Maps, you're likely staring at your screen in a bit of a huff. Maybe you’ve already poked around the settings and got lost in the labyrinth of "Your data in Maps" or "Manage your Google Account." It’s not always as intuitive as it should be, especially since Google updates their UI about as often as I change my socks.
The process is actually a two-part beast depending on whether you’re on your couch with a laptop or stuck in traffic with an iPhone.
The Quick Fix for Mobile Users
Most people realize they need to change their address while they’re actually using the app. If you’re on Android or iOS, the steps are basically identical, which is a rare win for cross-platform harmony.
First, open the Google Maps app. Look at the bottom of your screen. You’ll see a row of icons—Explore, Go, Saved, Contribute, and Updates. You want to tap on Saved. This is where Google stashes all your starred locations, your "want to go" lists, and, crucially, your labeled places.
💡 You might also like: The Air Force F-16: Why This 50-Year-Old Jet Still Dominates the Skies
Once you’re in the Saved tab, scroll down a bit or look for the section labeled "Your lists." Near the top, there’s usually a button for Labeled. Tap that. You should see "Home" and "Work" staring back at you. Next to the Home entry, there are three little dots. Tap those dots. A menu pops up. Select Edit home.
Now, here is where people usually trip up. You can either type in the new street address manually or use your current GPS location if you’re already standing in your new living room. If your new place is a new build or in a weird rural area, typing it in is better. If you use "current location," Google might accidentally pin you to your neighbor's driveway if the signal is weak.
Why Your Home Address Won't Update
Sometimes you do everything right and the old address still haunts you. This is usually a syncing issue. Google Maps is part of a massive ecosystem. Your "Home" isn't just a pin on a map; it's an entry in your Google Account’s personal info settings.
If the app isn't behaving, you might need to go deeper. Open your mobile browser and go to your Google Account settings. Under "Personal info," look for "Addresses." If the old house is still listed there, change it manually. This "Master Address" often overrides whatever you do inside the Maps app because Google treats it as the "source of truth" for your identity.
Another weird glitch happens with "Web & App Activity." If you have this turned off for privacy reasons, Google sometimes struggles to "remember" that you’ve updated your preferences. It’s a trade-off. You get more privacy, but the app gets a bit more forgetful.
How do I change my home address on Google Maps using a computer?
Desktop is actually faster if you’re a power user. Open your browser. Go to google.com/maps.
In the top left corner, there’s a search bar. Don't type your address yet. Instead, click the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the corner. Or, if you’re on the newer layout, just click the Saved icon on the left-side rail.
- Click on Labeled.
- Find your "Home" address.
- Click the "X" to remove the old one, or click the address itself to edit.
- Type the new one.
- Save.
It’s done. Usually, the change reflects on your phone within seconds, provided you’re signed into the same Gmail account. If it doesn't, try force-closing the app on your phone.
Dealing with the "New Build" Problem
What if your house is so new it doesn't technically exist on the map yet? This is a massive headache for people moving into brand-new subdivisions. You try to set your home address, but Google tells you the address can't be found.
In this scenario, you can’t just "edit" your home. You have to Add a missing place first. You do this by right-clicking the spot on the map (on desktop) or long-pressing the location (on mobile). Select "Report a problem" or "Add a missing place." You’ll have to submit it for review. A human—or a very sophisticated AI—at Google will check satellite imagery or municipal records to verify the street exists. Once the street is approved, then you can set it as your home. It’s a process. It takes time. Don’t expect it to work in five minutes.
✨ Don't miss: Why How to Make a Boot Disk Is Still a Survival Skill for Your PC
Privacy Concerns and Location History
Changing your home address is more than just a convenience for your commute. It’s also about data. Google uses your home and work locations to calculate "Time to Leave" notifications and to suggest local ads. If you’ve moved to a different city and haven't updated your home address, your "Discover" feed and your local search results are going to be a mess.
If you’re someone who is sensitive about privacy, you might wonder why you should even tell Google where you live. You don't have to. You can leave it blank. But if you use the "Hey Google, take me home" voice command in your car, it’s not going to work. Most people find the convenience outweighs the "creep factor," but it’s worth knowing that this data is stored in your Google Maps Timeline.
Common Questions and Frustrations
I’ve seen people complain that Google keeps suggesting their old address when they start typing. This is different from your "Home" label. This is your Search History. To kill those ghosts, you have to go into your Google Maps settings, find "Maps History," and delete the specific entries for your old house.
Another weird thing: if you have a "Work" profile on your phone (like through a company Workspace account), it might have its own separate Google Maps settings. Make sure you aren’t changing your home address on your work profile while expecting it to show up on your personal one. They are silos. They don't talk to each other.
💡 You might also like: Finding the Right ipad mini 5 case: Why Most People Still Get it Wrong
Step-by-Step Summary for Accuracy
To ensure you don't get lost in the menus again, here is the most direct path to solving the how do I change my home address on Google Maps question:
- Open Maps and ensure you are logged into the correct Google account.
- Navigate to the 'Saved' tab at the bottom of the interface.
- Select 'Labeled' to see your specific saved locations.
- Tap the three dots next to your Home address.
- Enter the new address and verify the pin location on the map.
- Check your Google Account 'Personal Info' if the change doesn't stick.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your 'Work' address too: Since you’re already in the Labeled menu, make sure your work address is current. If you've started a remote job, some people like to set their "Work" to a favorite coffee shop or co-working space to get those traffic updates in the morning.
- Verify your 'Timeline': If you want to keep your data clean, go into your Maps Timeline settings and ensure your move date is reflected there. This prevents Google from thinking you're just "visiting" your new house for three weeks.
- Update your "Home" in other apps: If you use Waze or Apple Maps as backups, remember they don't sync with Google. You'll need to manually update those separately to avoid getting conflicting directions during your next drive.