How to Change Home Location on Google Maps (Mobile, Desktop, and Account Settings)

Sebastian Hartwell
23 hours ago
4 min read

Here's how to change home location on Google Maps: it's a saved location you can update through the mobile app, desktop site, or Google Account settings whichever is open in front of you.

Get it wrong, and every 'directions home' tap sends you somewhere you no longer live.

How to Change Home Location on Google Maps (Mobile App)

This is the method most people reach for first, and it's genuinely the quickest.

Open the Google Maps app on your phone.
Tap Saved at the bottom of the screen.
Scroll down to Your Lists and tap Labeled.
Tap the Home label.
Clear the existing address (if there is one) and type your new one, or use the map picker instead.
Tap Save.

How to Change Home Location on Google Maps by Dropping a Pin

If your address doesn't come up cleanly in search new construction, a rural property, an apartment complex with a confusing entrance you don't have to fight with the text field.

On the "Set Home Address" screen, tap Choose on map, then drag the pin to the exact spot. This is often more reliable than typing an address for locations that mapping data hasn't fully caught up with yet.

How to Change Your Home Address on Google Maps (Desktop/Browser)

The desktop flow is slightly less direct than mobile, and in practice a lot of people trip up on this step: you generally need to remove the existing home address before Maps lets you set a new one.

Go to the Google Maps website and sign in to your Google account.
Click the menu icon (three lines) in the top-left corner.
Select Saved, then open the Labeled tab.
Click the three-dot icon next to Home, then choose Remove Address.
Click the three-dot icon again and select Set Your Home Address.
Enter your new address and click Save.

How to Change Your Home Address via Google Account Settings

There's a second route that doesn't involve the Maps app or site at all — it lives inside your broader Google Account.

When to Use This Method Instead of the Maps App

Teams that manage Google-connected devices for others (a shared family tablet, for instance) often find it easier to update the address once at the account level rather than opening Maps separately.

It's also the method to use if you're not near the Maps app but still have Settings open on your phone.

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Google, then Manage your Google Account.
Tap Personal info, then Home address.
Enter your new address.
Tap Save.

Google Account Address vs. Google Maps "Home" Label What's the Difference

Short answer: there isn't one, functionally. Both point to the same underlying saved location.

What confuses people is that Google exposes two separate entry points one inside the Maps app itself, one buried inside general Account settings for editing what is, in the background, a single stored address.

Change it in either place, and it updates everywhere it's used.

Does Changing Your Home Address Sync Across Devices?

Yes. Update it on your phone, and it reflects on the desktop site and any other device signed into the same Google account. You only need to do this once, on one device not on each device separately, which is a common assumption that isn't necessary in practice.

This carries into other parts of the app too: according to Fortune, the Commute tab pulls its delay and timing alerts directly from whichever home and work addresses are currently saved, so a change flows through there as well.

How to Remove Your Home Address From Google Maps

If you'd rather not have a home address saved at all, that's an option too:

Open Settings on your phone and tap Google.
Tap Manage your Google Account and then Personal info.
Tap Home address.
Tap Remove.

Who Can See Your Home Address on Google Maps

Your home address is private by default only you can see it. It isn't visible to other users, contacts, or anyone viewing a public profile, unless you separately choose to add it as a public profile address, which is a distinct setting from the private home/work address field.

Methods Compared

Method	Where You Do It	Best For
Maps mobile app	Saved → Labeled → Home	Fastest, most common route
Maps desktop site	Saved → Labeled → three-dot menu	Working from a computer
Google Account settings	Settings → Google → Personal info	Editing without opening Maps

Conclusion

Whichever method you use the Maps app, the desktop site, or Account settings the change syncs everywhere automatically. Pick the one that's already open in front of you; there's no advantage to using one over another.

FAQ

Can I set a home address without typing a street address?

Yes. Use the Choose on map option and drag the pin to the correct spot instead of typing an address. This works well for new or hard-to-search locations.

Why isn't my new home address saving?

Usually a connectivity issue or an incomplete address entry. Confirm you're signed in, check your connection, and make sure you tapped Save after entering the full address.

Do I need to update my home address on each device separately?

No. It's stored on your Google account, so one update syncs to every signed-in device automatically.

Can I have no home address set at all?

Yes. You can remove it entirely through Account settings without setting a replacement.

Does changing my home address affect saved routes or commute predictions?

It can. As reported by TechCrunch, Google Maps' commute tools pull real-time ETAs directly from your saved home and work addresses, so updating either one also updates those estimates going forward.