Change Year Google Earth: How to View Past Imagery

Updated 4 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To change the year in Google Earth, use the Historical Imagery tool, which lets you slide through available satellite and aerial photos of a location taken over time. You can access it by clicking the clock icon in the toolbar (desktop) or the “Historical Imagery” button in the menu (mobile), then dragging the time slider or picking a specific year. This article explains exactly how it works on each platform, what the slider shows, and how to get the most out of it.

What Historical Imagery Does

Google Earth doesn’t keep just one image of a place; it archives many captures from different dates, often spanning decades. The Historical Imagery feature taps into that archive, letting you view a location as it looked in the past. You might see a city block before a new building went up, a coastline before a storm, or your own neighborhood years ago. The tool is available in Google Earth Pro for desktop, the web version, and the mobile apps, though the interface differs slightly.

How to Change the Year in Google Earth Pro (Desktop)

Google Earth Pro is the free desktop application (for Windows, Mac, and Linux) that offers the most complete historical imagery controls. Here’s the step-by-step:

Open Google Earth Pro and navigate to the location you want to inspect.
Click the clock icon with a circular arrow on the toolbar (it’s usually at the top, near the search bar). This opens the Historical Imagery panel.
A time slider appears at the top-left of the map. It shows a range of years available for that area. Drag the slider left or right to move through time, or click the play button to animate the changes.
You can also click directly on the year label above the slider to type a specific date, or use the arrows to step through available captures.
The map view updates instantly to show the imagery from the selected date. A small date stamp appears at the bottom of the screen.

If you don’t see the clock icon, make sure you’re using the latest version of Google Earth Pro. The feature is not available in the basic Google Maps, only in Google Earth.

How to Change the Year in Google Earth Web and Mobile

Google Earth’s web version (earth.google.com) and mobile apps (Android and iOS) have a simpler interface. The historical imagery tool is still there, but it’s a bit more hidden:

Web: Click the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top-left corner, then select “Historical Imagery.” A time slider will appear at the top of the map. Drag it to change the year.
Mobile (Android/iOS): Tap the layers icon (a diamond or stacked squares) in the top-right, then tap “Historical Imagery.” The time slider appears at the bottom of the screen. Swipe or drag to change the date.

Note that the web and mobile versions may not have as many historical captures as Google Earth Pro, and the slider might be coarser (showing only years, not specific months). For the most granular control, use the desktop app.

Why Some Years Are Missing

You might notice that the time slider doesn’t show every single year, or that certain years are grayed out. This happens because Google only has imagery for the dates when a satellite or aircraft actually captured that area. The availability depends on:

Location: Densely populated areas and major cities have frequent captures (sometimes multiple per year). Rural or remote areas might have only one image every few years, or even a single image from the early 2000s.
Source: Different providers (e.g., Maxar, CNES/Airbus, USDA) contribute imagery, and their coverage varies.
Cloud cover: If a capture was too cloudy, it might be discarded, leaving a gap.

If you see a gap, it simply means no good image exists for that time period. You can’t force Google to show a year it doesn’t have.

How to Get the Most Out of Historical Imagery

Here are a few practical tips:

Use the play button: The time slider has a play button that animates the changes. This is great for seeing how a river changed course or how a forest regrew.
Check the date stamp: Always look at the bottom of the screen to confirm the exact date of the image you’re viewing. Sometimes the slider says “2015” but the image is actually from June 2015.
Combine with 3D buildings: In Google Earth Pro, you can turn on the 3D buildings layer while viewing historical imagery. This shows how the terrain and structures looked at that time, though 3D data is not available for all past dates.
Use the “View” menu: In Google Earth Pro, go to View > Historical Imagery (or press Ctrl+Alt+T on Windows, Cmd+Option+T on Mac) to toggle the slider quickly.

Common Problems and Fixes

If the historical imagery isn’t working, try these troubleshooting steps:

No slider appears: Make sure you’re in Google Earth, not Google Maps. Also, ensure your internet connection is stable, as the imagery is streamed.
Slider is grayed out: This usually means no historical imagery is available for that location. Try zooming out or moving to a nearby city.
Images are blurry: Older imagery is often lower resolution. Zoom in slowly to let the higher-resolution tiles load.
App is slow: Historical imagery can be data-heavy. Close other tabs or apps, and try a wired connection if on desktop.

If none of these work, clear your browser cache (for web) or reinstall the app (for mobile).

Google Earth vs. Google Maps for Historical Imagery

Many people confuse Google Maps with Google Earth. Google Maps does have a “Street View” timeline feature that lets you see past street-level photos, but it does not have the satellite imagery time slider. To change the year of aerial or satellite views, you must use Google Earth. The two services share some data, but the historical satellite tool is exclusive to Earth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the year on Google Earth on my phone?

Yes. In the Google Earth app (Android or iOS), tap the layers icon (a diamond), then select “Historical Imagery.” A time slider will appear at the bottom. Drag it to change the year. The feature is available for free.

Why can’t I go back to 1990 on Google Earth?

Google Earth’s satellite imagery generally starts in the early 2000s for most areas. A few places have aerial photos from the 1990s or even earlier, but that’s rare. If you need older maps, you’d have to look at scanned paper maps or other archives.

Does Google Earth show historical imagery for free?

Yes, the Historical Imagery tool is completely free in all versions of Google Earth, including Google Earth Pro. You don’t need a subscription or a special account.

Can I download historical imagery from Google Earth?

In Google Earth Pro, you can save a high-resolution image of the current view by going to File > Save > Save Image. This works with historical imagery too. The saved image will include the date stamp if you leave it visible.

How far back does Google Earth historical imagery go?

It varies by location. Some urban areas have imagery from 2001 or 2002. The earliest satellite images in Google Earth are from around 2001, though some aerial photos can be older. There’s no universal start date.

Why does the year slider show a range like “2002-2024”?

That range indicates the earliest and latest available imagery for the area you’re viewing. The slider is not continuous; it only has stops at dates where actual imagery exists. You can’t select a year in between if no image was captured then.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.