Change the date to see how a location looked in the past
Google Earth stores satellite images from different dates, and you can slide back through time to see how a place has changed. The process differs slightly depending on whether you're using the web version, the desktop app, or a phone. On any version, you're looking for a clock icon or a "View" menu that lets you pick a specific date from the images Google has collected for that location.
Not every location has images from every year — coverage depends on what Google has archived and how often that area has been photographed. A major city might have images from dozens of dates going back 15 or 20 years, while a rural area might have only a handful. When you change the date, Google shows you the oldest or newest available image for that spot, not necessarily the exact date you pick.
Key Takeaways
- On Google Earth web, click the clock icon in the left panel to open the timeline and drag it to a different date.
- On the desktop app, open the View menu, select "Historical Imagery," and use the slider that appears at the top of the map.
- On mobile, tap the layers icon (three horizontal lines) and turn on "Historical Imagery" to see available dates.
- Not all locations have images from all years — Google shows you the closest available date to the one you select.
- Zoom in on the area you want to view before opening the date controls, because available images vary by location and zoom level.
Using the web version of Google Earth
Open Google Earth in your browser and navigate to the location you want to view. Zoom in to the area so Google knows which region's historical images to show you — this matters because different parts of the same city may have been photographed on different dates.
Look for a clock icon in the left panel, usually near the top. Click it, and a timeline will appear showing the dates when Google collected satellite images for that location. Drag the slider left to go back in time or right to move forward. As you drag, the map updates to show the image from that date. If Google doesn't have an image from the exact date you select, it will show the closest one available.
Using the desktop app on Windows or Mac
Launch Google Earth on your computer and find your location. Click the View menu at the top of the window, then select Historical Imagery. A slider will appear at the top of the map showing a range of dates.
Drag the slider to move through time. The map will refresh to show the satellite image from your selected date. You can also click on specific dates shown in the slider to jump to them directly. If you want to compare two dates side by side, some versions let you open a second view — check your View menu for a "Split Screen" or similar option.
Using Google Earth on a phone or tablet
Open the Google Earth app and navigate to your location. Tap the layers icon — three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, usually in the upper right corner. Scroll down in the menu that appears and look for Historical Imagery. Turn it on by tapping the toggle.
Once enabled, a timeline will appear at the bottom of the screen showing available dates for that location. Tap and drag the timeline to move through different years. On some phones, you may need to pinch and zoom to adjust the timeline view if it's hard to see specific dates.
Why some locations have more dates than others
Google Earth's historical images come from satellites and aerial photography that Google licenses or captures itself. Major cities and areas of rapid change get photographed more often because they're more useful to map. Remote areas, small towns, and regions where Google doesn't have imaging contracts may have only one or two dates available, or none at all.
The gaps between images also vary. A downtown area might have new images every year or two, while a suburban neighborhood might jump from 2010 to 2018 to 2023. If you're looking for an image from a specific year and it's not available, try dates a few months or a year before or after — Google may have an image close enough to show what you need.
What to do if historical imagery isn't showing up
If you don't see a clock icon or the Historical Imagery option, the most common reason is that Google hasn't collected multiple images for that location. Zoom in closer to the specific area — sometimes imagery is available at a detailed zoom level but not when you're zoomed out to see a whole region.
On the web version, make sure you're using the full Google Earth (earth.google.com), not Google Maps. They're different tools, and only Google Earth has the historical imagery feature. On desktop, check that you've installed the latest version of Google Earth — older versions sometimes don't have the feature enabled. On mobile, confirm that Historical Imagery is toggled on in the layers menu.
Using historical imagery to track changes over time
Once you can see images from different dates, you can watch how a location has changed — new buildings going up, forests being cleared, roads being built, or neighborhoods being developed. Drag the slider slowly to see the progression, or jump between two dates that are years apart to see the bigger picture.
This is useful for checking whether a property you're interested in has had major work done, seeing how a neighborhood has developed, or simply satisfying curiosity about how places change. Keep in mind that the image quality and color can vary between dates because different satellites and cameras were used, so a dramatic difference in appearance might be partly due to the image itself rather than the actual change on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download or save a historical image from Google Earth?
You can take a screenshot on any device to capture what you see on screen. On desktop, you can also use the camera icon in Google Earth to create a high-resolution snapshot of the current view. However, you cannot download the full-resolution satellite image file itself — Google's terms of service restrict that.
How far back do Google Earth's historical images go?
It depends on the location. Major cities often have images going back 15 to 25 years, sometimes longer. Rural areas and less-developed regions may have only a few dates available, sometimes only the most recent image. The oldest images in Google Earth's archive are from the early 2000s in some places, but most locations don't have anything older than 2010 or 2015.
Why does the date I select not match the image I see?
Google shows you the closest available image to the date you pick. If you drag to July 2015 but Google only has images from June 2015 and September 2015, it will show you one of those two. The timeline usually indicates which dates actually have imagery available, so check the markers on the slider.
Does Google Earth update its historical images regularly?
Yes, Google adds new satellite images to Earth regularly, so what appears as the "current" image today may be a few months old. Historical images are added less frequently — you might not see a new date added to the timeline for a year or more, depending on the location and how often that area is photographed.
Can I see historical imagery on Google Maps instead of Google Earth?
Google Maps has a limited street view history feature that lets you see past versions of street-level photos, but it doesn't have the full satellite imagery timeline that Google Earth does. For comprehensive historical satellite images, you need to use Google Earth itself.