How to Remove Labels in Google Maps: A Complete Guide for 2026
- Google Maps does not offer a native option to hide labels in the Default map view; labels can only be toggled off when using Satellite view.
- Personal custom labels (e.g., “Home,” “Work,” “Favorite Cafe”) can be permanently deleted but not temporarily hidden within your main account.
- Effective workarounds for a label-free view include using Incognito Mode, creating maps in Google My Maps, or using developer tools for advanced customization.
- Removing labels helps declutter the map for better visualization, planning, and creating cleaner presentations or screenshots.
Introduction
Google Maps utilizes labels to display various points of interest, such as restaurants, shopping centers, and parks. These labels also serve as informational hubs, providing details like operating hours, directions, and user reviews. Additionally, users have the option to create personalized labels for their work, home, or favorite places.
Google Maps has become an indispensable tool for navigating the world around us. Whether you are exploring a new city or seeking the fastest route to your destination, Google Maps offers a vast amount of information conveniently accessible at your fingertips. However, there are instances where the labels on the map can become distracting or cluttered, hindering your ability to focus on specific areas.
Fortunately, it is possible to remove or hide these labels from Google Maps, though Google doesn’t make it straightforward for all map views. The methods to do so vary depending on your requirements—from simple toggles for public labels to advanced workarounds for custom pins. You may need to utilize different approaches like Google’s My Maps, the Google Maps Styling Wizard, or simply switching your map view, depending on the specific outcome you desire.
In this updated 2026 guide, we will explore all current processes for removing labels in Google Maps, empowering you to personalize your map-viewing experience according to your preferences.
Why Remove Labels in Google Maps?
Labels on Google Maps provide valuable information such as street names, landmarks, and points of interest. However, in certain situations, removing labels can be beneficial. Here are a few reasons why you might want to remove labels:
- Enhanced Visualization and Decluttering: Removing labels can significantly declutter the map, making it easier to visualize geography, routes, and the relationship between spaces without text overlay.
- Focused Exploration: By removing labels, you can focus on specific areas of the map, highlighting points of interest or geographical features for planning or analysis.
- Presentation and Screenshot Purposes: Labels can sometimes interfere with the visual appeal of maps used for presentations, reports, or displays. Removing them provides a cleaner, more professional, and minimalist look.
- Privacy: Temporarily hiding your personal custom labels (like “Home” or “Work”) when sharing your screen or giving a demonstration.
Quick Overview: Methods to Remove Labels
Before diving into detailed steps, here is a comparison of the primary methods available to remove or hide labels on Google Maps as of 2026.
| Goal | Best Method | Platform | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hide all public labels (streets, businesses) | Toggle off in Satellite View | Desktop Web | Only works in Satellite view, not Default map view |
| Hide personal custom labels | Use Incognito Mode or a different account | Desktop Web & Mobile | Requires logging out; no native “hide” button in app |
| Permanently delete a custom label | Delete from “Your Places” or “Saved” tab | Desktop, iOS & Android | Action is permanent; label must be recreated if needed later |
| Create a shareable map without default labels | Use Google My Maps with “Simple Atlas” base layer | Desktop Web | Recipients may still see labels unless they also change base map |
| Maximum control for embedding/screenshots | Use Google Maps Platform Styling Wizard | Desktop (Developer Tool) | Technical; output is for development or screenshots, not live navigation |
How to Remove Public Map Labels on Desktop
This method removes Google’s default labels for streets, businesses, and points of interest. A crucial point to understand is that this option is only available when the map is in Satellite view. The “Labels” checkbox will be grayed out and unavailable in the Default map view.
Note: Some interfaces may have a dedicated “Layers” button that shows a satellite icon. Clicking this button once removes points of interest labels; clicking it twice removes all labels, including street names.
Access the “More” option in the Layers menu to find the label toggle.
How to Manage Your Custom Labels
Custom labels are the personal pins you create, such as “Home,” “Work,” “Gym,” or “Favorite Hiking Trail.” Unlike public labels, Google does not provide a toggle to temporarily hide these—your options are to view the map without them (using a workaround) or to delete them permanently.
View Maps Without Your Custom Labels (Workaround)
To see a clean map without your saved custom labels appearing:
- On Desktop or Mobile Web: Open your browser in Incognito or Private Mode and navigate to Google Maps. Do not sign in to your Google account. The map will load without any of your personalized data.
- On the Mobile App: The simplest method is to temporarily log out of your Google account within the app settings, or log in with a different account that doesn’t have the labels saved.
Permanently Delete Custom Labels
If you want to permanently remove a custom label, follow these steps:
1. Go to Google Maps and ensure you’re signed in.
2. Click the menu icon (☰) > “Your places.”
3. Click the “Labeled” tab.
4. Find the label and click the small gray “X” next to it.
1. Open the Google Maps app.
2. Tap the “Saved” tab at the bottom.
3. Tap “Labeled.”
4. Tap the three-dots menu (⋮) next to the label and select “Remove label.”
Advanced Methods for a Label-Free Map
For users who need more control, such as creating a shareable link or a map for embedding, these advanced methods are effective.
Google My Maps
Create custom, shareable maps with the “Simple Atlas” base layer that has no labels by default. Perfect for presentations.
Styling Wizard
A developer tool for granular control. Remove labels, adjust colors, and hide features to generate a custom map style code.
1. Remove Labels Using Google My Maps
Google My Maps is a useful tool that enables you to create personalized maps using Google Maps. One advantage is the availability of base layers that do not include labels.
- Go to Google My Maps and sign in with your Google account.
- Click “Create a new map.”
- In the left panel, click on “Base map.”
- Choose the “Simple Atlas” base layer for a clean, label-free view.
2. Create a Map Without Labels with the Google Maps Styling Wizard
Although primarily used by software developers, you can also utilize the Google Maps Styling Wizard to create your personalized map style without labels.
- Visit the Google Maps Platform Styling Wizard and sign in.
- Click “Create a Style”.
- Find the “Labels” section and use the slider to turn visibility to “Off.”
- Customize other elements (roads, landmarks) as needed and finish to get your style code.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I remove labels from the default map view, not just Satellite view?
No. Google does not provide an option to hide labels in the standard Default map view. The “Labels” checkbox in the Layers menu is only active when you have selected the Satellite view.
Can I hide my custom “Home” and “Work” labels without deleting them?
Not directly within your main Google account. There is no native “hide” toggle. To view a map without them, you must use a workaround: either browse in Incognito Mode (not signed in) or temporarily switch to a different Google account.
Turning off labels using the Layers menu only removes text. Roads, borders, and navigation routes will remain visible. However, the advanced Google Maps Styling Wizard gives you separate control to hide roads and other features.
Are there any mobile app settings to hide labels?
The official Google Maps mobile app (iOS/Android) does not have a setting to hide public map labels. The methods for mobile primarily involve managing (deleting) your custom labels or viewing the map in a mobile browser’s incognito mode.
“I use the Google My Maps method weekly to create clean client maps for location reports. Turning off labels is essential for professional presentations.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, customizing your Google Maps experience by removing labels requires understanding the specific limitations Google has in place. While you cannot hide labels in the standard map view, switching to Satellite view and unchecking the Labels box provides a clean, public label-free overview. For personal custom labels, using Incognito Mode or a separate account is the key workaround for a temporary clean view.
For more specialized needs—such as creating a shareable clean map or preparing a map for a presentation—leveraging Google My Maps with the “Simple Atlas” base layer or experimenting with the developer-oriented Google Maps Styling Wizard offers powerful solutions. By mastering these methods, you can effectively declutter your digital map, focus on the geography that matters to you, and create visually clean maps for any purpose in 2026.
