What "Home" means in Google Maps and why you might change it
Google Maps stores a Home location — a single address you designate as your primary residence. When you tap the Home icon during navigation, Google Maps takes you there. When you search for directions without specifying a destination, it assumes you're starting from Home. If you've moved, changed your mind about which address to use, or set it incorrectly the first time, you can update it in seconds.
This is different from your Google Account home address (which appears on your Google Account page) or your work location. Changing your Maps Home only affects navigation and directions within the Google Maps app itself.
Key Takeaways
- Your Home location in Google Maps is a single address you set for quick navigation, separate from your Google Account address.
- You can change it on any device — phone, tablet, or computer — by opening your profile menu and editing the saved location.
- Google Maps will ask you to confirm the new address before saving it, so you can catch typos before they stick.
- If you delete your Home location by mistake, you can set a new one the same way you set the original.
Changing Home on an Android phone or tablet
Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initial in the top right corner. A menu will appear with options including "Settings" and "Your places". Tap "Your places", then tap the "Saved" tab at the bottom of the screen.
Look for "Home" in the list of saved locations. Tap it, then tap the pencil icon (edit button) at the bottom right. You can now change the address by tapping the address field and typing a new one, or by tapping the map to drop a pin at the new location. Once you've entered the address, tap "Save".
Changing Home on an iPhone or iPad
Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initial in the top right corner. Tap "Settings" from the menu that appears. Scroll down and tap "Saved" under the "Places" section.
Find "Home" in your saved places and tap it. Tap "Edit" (the pencil icon) at the bottom of the screen. Type the new address in the search field or tap the map to place a pin. When you're satisfied with the location, tap "Save".
Changing Home on a computer
Go to maps.google.com in your web browser and sign in with your Google Account if you're not already signed in. Click your profile picture or initial in the top right corner and select "Settings".
In the left sidebar, click "Your places", then click the "Saved" tab. Find "Home" in the list and click it. Click the pencil icon to edit. You can type a new address in the search box or click on the map to move the pin. Click "Save" when you're done.
What to do if you can't find your Home location
If you don't see "Home" in your saved places, it may never have been set, or it may have been deleted. You can create a new Home location from scratch. In your saved places, look for a button or option to add a new place (usually a plus sign or "Add" button). Select "Home" from the category options, then enter your address or drop a pin on the map.
If you're signed into multiple Google Accounts on the same device, make sure you're looking at the saved places for the correct account. Your Home location is tied to your Google Account, not to the device itself.
Why your Home location might not update right away
After you save a new Home address, Google Maps may take a few minutes to sync the change across your devices. If you're using the app on your phone and the computer at the same time, close and reopen Google Maps on both devices to force a refresh.
If the old address keeps appearing after you've changed it, clear your app cache. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Google Maps > Storage > Clear Cache. On iPhone, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the app, since iOS doesn't let you clear app cache the same way.
Setting a Work location alongside Home
Google Maps also lets you save a Work location, which works exactly like Home. You can set both and switch between them quickly during navigation. To add a Work location, follow the same steps as setting Home, but select "Work" instead of "Home" when you're creating the saved place.
Having both Home and Work saved means you can tap either one during navigation without typing an address. This is especially useful if you commute regularly or want quick access to directions without searching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my Home in Google Maps change my address anywhere else?
No. Your Home location in Google Maps only affects navigation within the app. It does not change your address on your Google Account, in Gmail, or anywhere else. Those are separate settings.
Can someone else see my Home address if I share my location with them?
Your saved Home location is private to your account. When you share your real-time location with someone (through Google Maps' location-sharing feature), they see your current location, not your saved Home address. You control what you share.
What if I set Home to the wrong address by accident?
You can change it immediately using the same edit steps. Open your saved places, tap Home, tap edit, and enter the correct address. There's no penalty for changing it multiple times.
Does Google Maps use my Home location for anything besides navigation?
Google Maps primarily uses it for quick navigation access. However, your Home address may also appear in Google Search results when you search for things like "restaurants near me" — Google uses it to show results near your saved Home location.
Can I set Home to a business address or a place that isn't a residence?
Yes. Google Maps calls it "Home," but you can set it to any address you want — a workplace, a gym, a friend's house, or anywhere else. The label is just for your convenience.