The Question Every Geo-Photographer Asks
You have a folder of photos taken with your phone or camera. Each one carries GPS coordinates hidden inside its metadata. You want those photos to appear on Google Earth — pinned at the exact spot where each was taken — so you can relive a trip, document a site, or share a location-aware story with someone else.
The problem: Google Earth has no built-in “import my photos and place them automatically” button that handles batches of geotagged images gracefully. Doing it photo by photo, manually entering coordinates, is impractical for any real collection.
This guide shows you how to import geotagged photos to Google Earth in minutes using the free WTSolutions “Images to Google Earth/Ovi Maps” tool — covering single photos, batch imports, and the common pitfalls that cause photos not to appear.
What You Need Before You Start
1. Photos that contain GPS data
A “geotagged photo” is a JPEG whose EXIF metadata includes latitude, longitude, and (usually) altitude. Most smartphones write this automatically when location services are on.
Quick check: On macOS, open the photo in Preview → Tools → Show Inspector (⌘I) → GPS tab. On Windows, right-click → Properties → Details → scroll to GPS. If you see coordinates, you’re ready. If not, see our Photo Geotagging Best Practices guide — photos without GPS cannot be placed on the map.
2. Google Earth installed
Download the free Google Earth app from earth.google.com for desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux).
3. The Images to Google Earth tool
Open it in any modern browser: https://s.wtsolutions.cn/gps.html. No installation required for the online version; a desktop offline version is also available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
How to Add Geotagged Photos in Google Earth: The Complete Workflow
Step 1: Open the tool and set the language
Go to https://s.wtsolutions.cn/gps.html. Click the English button in the top-right language switcher if the interface is in Chinese. The page loads with the photo drop zone ready.
Step 2: Import your geotagged photos
How to import a single photo with GPS location:
- Drag one JPG/JPEG file from your file explorer into the dashed drop zone, or
- Click the Select Images button and choose one file
How to import geotagged photos in batch:
- Drag multiple photos (or an entire folder selection) into the drop zone at once, or
- Click Select Images and pick several files in the file dialog
The tool immediately reads each photo’s EXIF data — extracting GPS coordinates, altitude, and capture timestamp. The free version handles up to 6 photos per batch; a Pro Code unlocks unlimited imports for larger collections.
Format note: JPG and JPEG are fully supported. Photos shared through messaging apps (WeChat, WhatsApp, email attachments) often have their EXIF GPS stripped during compression — always work from originals transferred via USB, SD card, AirDrop, or cloud storage.
Step 3: Configure Map Settings
Click the Download KMZ File button to open Map Settings. For importing to Google Earth, set:
- Map Service Provider: Google Earth (this embeds photos inside the KMZ so the file is fully portable and shareable)
- Icon Style: pick any — Camera is a good default that communicates “photo location”
- Image Display Width: 600 px (default) for general use; raise to 1000–1500 px for presentations; lower to 300–400 px for large batches
Close the settings. No path configuration is needed for Google Earth — unlike Ovi Maps, which requires a local image path.
Step 4: Export to KMZ
After the photos are loaded and processed, find the Data Export section below the drop zone. Click Export to Image KMZ File.
The tool generates a .kmz file — a compressed KML archive with your photos embedded inside. This single file contains everything Google Earth needs: the coordinates, the photo images, the icons, and the styling.
A browser download prompt appears; save the KMZ to a location you’ll remember.
Step 5: Open the KMZ in Google Earth
On desktop:
- Double-click the
.kmzfile — Google Earth opens it automatically if it’s your default for that extension, or - Open Google Earth → File → Open → select the KMZ file
Step 6: Explore your photos on the globe
Google Earth flies to the location of your first photo. You’ll see a pin for every imported photo at its exact GPS coordinates. Click any pin to open its photo popup. Drone photos taken at altitude appear as floating pins at their true height — striking in 3D view.
Use the scroll wheel or pinch to zoom, tilt, and rotate. Your photos now live on the globe, each in its rightful place.
That’s It — You’ve Imported Geotagged Photos to Google Earth
The entire workflow from photo folder to globe-pinned map typically takes under a minute for a batch of photos. No manual coordinate entry, no scripting, no GIS expertise required.
Importing Geotagged Photos to Google Earth: Common Questions
Why don’t my photos show up on the map after import?
This is the most common issue, and it almost always means the photos lack GPS data. Causes:
- Photos were shared via messaging or social apps — these strip EXIF metadata. Re-transfer the originals via USB, SD card, AirDrop, or cloud.
- Location services were off when the photo was taken — check your camera app’s location/GPS toggle.
- Photos were edited or exported through software that strips EXIF — some editors remove metadata by default.
Fix: Verify GPS data exists (see the “Quick check” above), then re-import the originals. The tool silently skips photos with no GPS — they won’t appear in the KMZ.
Can I import geotagged photos to Google Earth without any software?
Not for batches. Google Earth can display a single photo via its built-in “Image Overlay” tool, but placing it at the correct GPS coordinates requires manual entry — and repeating that for dozens of photos is impractical. The WTSolutions tool automates the entire batch by reading EXIF data and writing the coordinates into a KMZ for you.
How do I add a photo to a specific GPS location in Google Earth?
If your photo already has GPS in its EXIF, the tool places it automatically — no manual coordinates needed. If the photo has no GPS, you can:
- Use a companion GPS editor to write the coordinates into the photo’s EXIF first
- Re-import the photo with the tool — it will then pin to the location you set
What image formats can I import?
JPG and JPEG are fully supported, which covers the vast majority of phone and camera photos. PNG files are not the primary target; convert them to JPEG if needed.
How many photos can I import at once?
- Free version: up to 6 photos per batch
- Pro version: unlimited — suitable for trip archives, drone surveys, and large documentation projects
You can run multiple free batches and merge the resulting KMZ files in Google Earth (open them all at once, then save the combined view).
Does the tool upload my photos to a server?
No. All processing happens locally in your browser (or on your computer if you use the desktop version). Your photos never leave your device. The exported KMZ for Google Earth embeds copies of the photos at the display width you chose — the originals remain untouched.
Can I share the imported map with someone else?
Yes — this is one of the main advantages of the Google Earth export. Email kmz along with images, put it on a USB stick, or upload it to cloud storage. Anyone who opens it in Google Earth sees all your photos in place .
Why are some pins in the wrong location?
GPS accuracy depends on the capturing device. Indoors, in canyons, or under dense tree cover, the GPS fix can drift. Drone photos and outdoor phone photos are usually accurate to a few meters; indoor photos may be off by tens of meters. For the trajectory export, capture-time ordering also depends on the camera clock being set correctly. If you would like to manually modify the coordinates, you can do so with Images-GPS-editor at https://s.wtsolutions.cn/image-gps-editor.html
Tips for a Better Import
Organize photos before importing
Name files meaningfully (2026-07-trip-paris-001.jpg) — the filename becomes the pin’s label in Google Earth. A consistent naming convention makes a large map navigable.
Use the right icon for your context
- Camera: general photo documentation
- Yellow Pushpin: high-visibility, presentations
- Green Circle: dense batches where minimal visual weight matters
- Pink Blank: contrast against green/natural backgrounds
Export a CSV alongside the KMZ
The CSV export gives you one row per photo (filename, latitude, longitude, altitude) — perfect for a backup record, spreadsheet analysis, or importing into other GIS tools later.
Re-import with different settings anytime
Because processing is instant and local, you can change the icon or image width and re-export the same batch as many times as you like. Try the default 600 px first; bump it up if a photo needs more detail.
Combine multiple trips into one map
Import each trip separately, export a KMZ for each, then open all the KMZ files in Google Earth at once. They layer automatically into a single multi-trip atlas. Save the combined view (File → Save Place As) to create one master KMZ.
Going Further: Beyond a Single Import
Once you’ve mastered the basic import, the same tool supports more advanced workflows:
- Trajectory export: connects your photos’ GPS points in chronological order — perfect for hiking routes, road trips, and drone flight paths
- GeoJSON export: feeds your photo locations into GIS software like QGIS or ArcGIS for spatial analysis
- Ovi Maps export: produces a KMZ optimized for teams using Ovi Maps (奥维地图) instead of Google Earth
- Offline desktop version: runs without internet — ideal for fieldwork in remote areas
Each of these starts from the same drag-and-drop import described above; only the export step changes.
Conclusion
Importing geotagged photos to Google Earth doesn’t have to involve manual coordinate entry or complicated GIS software. The WTSolutions Images to Google Earth tool reads the GPS already embedded in your photos and generates a ready-to-open KMZ in seconds — whether you’re importing a single photo with a GPS location or a batch of hundreds from a trip, survey, or drone flight.
The workflow is always the same: enable GPS when you shoot → transfer originals → drag into the tool → export KMZ → open in Google Earth. Master these five steps and every photo you take from now on can live on the globe exactly where it belongs.
Start importing your geotagged photos to Google Earth right now at https://s.wtsolutions.cn/gps.html.