You can see how a location looked in previous years by using Google Earth's time slider
Google Earth stores satellite images from different dates going back decades for many locations. To view an older image, you open Google Earth on your computer, find the place you want to see, then drag the time slider that appears at the top of the screen. The slider shows you which years have images available for that specific spot — not every location has images for every year, and coverage varies widely depending on where you are looking.
This feature works only on the desktop version of Google Earth (the free version you download to your computer), not the web version you access through a browser. If you are using Google Earth on your phone or tablet, you cannot access the historical imagery tool.
Key Takeaways
- The time slider appears at the top of Google Earth when you zoom in on a location and historical images are available for that area.
- You drag the slider left to go back in time and right to move forward, and the year displays as you move it.
- Not all locations have historical images, and the dates available depend on when Google collected satellite data for that specific area.
- If you do not see a time slider, it means no historical images exist for that location in Google Earth's database.
Download and open Google Earth on your computer
Go to google.com/earth and click the blue "Download Google Earth Pro" button. The download is free. Once the file finishes downloading, open it and follow the installation steps — the process is the same whether you use Windows or Mac.
After installation, open Google Earth from your applications folder or start menu. The program will load and show you a view of Earth from space. You do not need to sign in with a Google account to use the historical imagery feature, though you can if you want to save places.
Search for the location and zoom in
Type the address or place name into the search box at the top left of the window. Press Enter, and Google Earth will fly to that location. Zoom in by scrolling your mouse wheel or using the zoom controls on the right side of the screen until you can see the area clearly.
The time slider only appears when you have zoomed in enough and when historical images exist for that spot. If you zoom in on a rural area or a location where Google has not collected satellite data over time, the slider will not appear. This is normal — it simply means historical images are not available there.
Find and use the time slider
Look at the top center of the Google Earth window. When historical images are available, you will see a small clock icon and a slider bar with a year displayed. This is the time slider. The slider shows you the range of years that have images for this location.
Click and drag the slider to the left to go back in time, or to the right to move forward. As you drag, the year number updates and the satellite image on the map changes to show what that location looked like in that year. Release the slider when you reach the year you want to view. You can drag back and forth as many times as you want to compare different years.
What to do if the time slider does not appear
If you have zoomed in on a location and no time slider appears at the top of the screen, it means Google Earth does not have historical satellite images for that area. This is common in rural regions, developing countries, and places where Google has not collected imagery over multiple years.
Try searching for a different location nearby, such as a larger city or town. Major cities and populated areas are much more likely to have historical images going back several years or even decades. You can also try zooming in on the same location at different zoom levels — sometimes the slider appears at one zoom level but not another.
Understanding what years are available for your location
The time slider shows you only the years when Google actually collected satellite data for that specific spot. If the slider jumps from 2015 to 2018, it means Google does not have images from 2016 or 2017 for that location. The gaps depend on Google's satellite collection schedule and which satellites or aerial photography providers covered that area.
Major cities often have images from many years — sometimes going back to the early 2000s or even the 1990s. Suburban and rural areas may have only a few images spread across recent years. International locations vary widely; some countries have extensive historical coverage while others have very limited imagery.
Tips for getting the most out of historical imagery
Drag the slider slowly to watch changes happen gradually over time rather than jumping between years. This makes it easier to spot what has changed — new buildings, roads, vegetation, or other developments become obvious when you see them appear step by step.
If you want to compare two specific years side by side, you can take a screenshot of one year, then move the slider to another year and compare. Some people zoom in on the same street corner across 20 years of images to see how a neighborhood has transformed. You can also use the measurement tools in Google Earth to measure distances in historical images, which is useful if you are researching how a location has developed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the time slider not show up when I zoom in?
Google Earth only displays the time slider when historical satellite images exist for that location. If you are zoomed in on a rural area, a small town, or a country with limited satellite coverage, no historical images may be available. Try zooming in on a major city instead, where coverage is much more complete.
Can I see historical images on Google Earth on my phone?
No. The historical imagery feature only works on the desktop version of Google Earth that you download to your computer. The mobile app and the web version do not include the time slider tool.
How far back do the historical images go?
It depends on the location. Major cities may have images from the 1990s or early 2000s, while other areas may only have images from the last five to ten years. The dates available are shown on the time slider for each specific location.
Can I download or save the historical images I find?
You can take screenshots of any image you see in Google Earth and save them to your computer. Right-click on the image and select "Save image as" to download it, or use your computer's screenshot tool to capture what is on your screen.
Do the historical images update automatically?
Google Earth adds new satellite imagery periodically, so the available years and images may change over time. If you check the same location months or years later, you may find additional historical images have been added to the database.