Google Earth did have some issues in Windows 10 and 11, as well, but it did work for the majority of users. Now, they complain about the Google app not loading or not opening at all. Note that Google Earth hangs or crashes at its startup and there are times when the Windows troubleshooter indicates that it is actually incompatible with Windows.

Does Google Earth Pro work on Windows 11?

Google Earth works on all versions of Windows from 8 down to Windows 11. The Pro version comes with more features and offers better flexibility. To know how to download Google Earth on Windows 11, check our detailed guide on the topic.

Why can’t I get Google Earth to work?

There are many reasons why Google Earth is not working and as you will see right below, there are many bugs to be considered. If we’re talking about the Google Earth desktop app, it’s usually the case of file corruption or a problematic graphics card driver. With the online version, the reasons for not working range from connectivity issues to simply browser problems. The following are some of the variations of the Google Earth not working issue:

Google Earth not opening on the screen Google Earth not working on Android Google Earth not working Windows 7 Google Earth not working iPhone Google Earth not working on Mac

Other Google Earth frequent bugs that our readers reported

There are many problems that can occur with Google Earth, and in this article, we’re going to show you how to address the following issues:

Google Earth not responding, running, updating, found, connected to the Internet, closing – These are frequent bugs but you can fix most of them using our solutions Google Earth won’t load, open, focus, install – Google Earth won’t open, and in some cases, users can’t even install the app Google Earth crashes on startup – This is usually caused by a corrupted installation, but it can be easily fixed Google Earth blurry – To solve this issue, you need to reinstall or update your graphics card drivers Google Earth not working in DirectX mode – It’s easy to fix this by simply by changing your graphics card settings Google Earth plugin not working – To fix this problem, reinstall it and check if that solves the issue Google Earth search, street view not working – Some of our readers reported that the search and street view feature isn’t working for them Google Earth not working has stopped – This is most likely caused by a corrupted installation Google Earth not working black screen – Updating the graphics card drivers will fix this problem quickly

Rest assured that there are some quick tips you can apply and after performing them, the app will function properly once again.

How can I make Google Earth work in Windows 10 & 11?

1. Use OpenGL instead of DirectX

Some users also get reddish maps and view when using Google Earth. The specific release of Google Earth that doesn’t work in Windows 10 is number 7, so a few users have managed to bypass this issue by getting back to Google Earth 6.2 release. An open thread on the Google Product Forums suggests the workaround described above too. Of course, if the app doesn’t open at all, and if that’s the case, go for the next solution. If you encounter any problems, we have a detailed article on how to fix OpenGL problems in Windows 10 that will help you solve them in no time.

2. Use the built-in Repair Tool

Google is obviously aware of the many bugs that users are experiencing so they included a Repair Tool that addresses the problems head-on. The tool is also accessible from the app itself but since you can’t open it, the only solution is to execute it from the Google Earth folder from Program Files.

3. Update your graphics card

The culprit for Google Earth hanging and crashing in Windows 10 seems to be the stereoscopic 3D that was turned on by the latest Windows 10 updates. Should you encounter any problems, our extensive guide on how to update drivers in Windows will provide more information. If you want to try efficient and fast software, our recommendation is to use an automated driver updater. This tool monitors your PC for missing and outdated drivers and lets you easily repair and update them.

4. Enable Windows to fix the scaling

If you receive the following message Your desktop resolution is set to smaller than 1024×768, Google earth requires a resolution of at least 1024×768 to be viewed properly. Disclaimer: this program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions. The application will run. However, the layout may not be optimal as you’ll have to change DPI settings. This little trick should solve all your problems with the wrong resolution when trying to launch Google Earth. We also have a detailed guide on how to create your own custom resolutions in Windows 10 and the information might be helpful in this situation.

5. Recreate the Google Earth shortcut

Some of our readers have reported that they’re even unable to install Google Earth on their Windows 10 computers. That’s because when they try to install the program, an error 1603 appears, and the installation process is stopped. SPONSORED This error tells you that Google Earth is already installed on your computer, so you can’t install it again. This case mostly occurs to Windows 10 users, because there’s a possibility that, during the update process, Google Earth shortcuts from Desktop and Start Menu have been removed. That means you can actually create the shortcut again and that will fix the problem straight away. If you can’t find the app in Program files, you should also check in Program Files (X86).

6. Uninstall and reinstall the app

If Google Earth is not working on your Windows 10 PC, you might want to reinstall it. This usually fixes any corrupted files, so be sure to try it. Should reinstalling doesn’t help, you might want to try installing an older version. Several of our readers reported that this solved their issue.

7. Install the older graphics drivers

In most cases, it’s better to use the latest drivers on your PC, but sometimes the latest drivers aren’t fully compatible with certain software. If Google Earth is not working in Windows 10, you might want to try rolling back to the older version of Nvidia drivers. After the driver is uninstalled, you need to download the older version of the Nvidia driver. In case the rollback works, you’ll have to prevent Windows from automatically updating the driver in the future.

8. Create a new user account

Many users reported that Google Earth is not working on their Windows 10 PC. Apparently, the issue can be your user account. Sometimes your account can become corrupted causing this issue to appear. After switching to a new account, check if the problem still appears. If not, you’ll have to use the newly created account to run Google Earth on your PC. Also, you might want to use your new account as your main one. Alternatively, here’s what you can’t do if Windows doesn’t allow you to create a new user account.

How can I make Google Earth work in Windows 11?

Windows 11 has a great new design and features but as you’ve come to discover, it also inherited a lot of the bugs and problems from Windows 10. And that includes issues with the Google Earth app that is not working or loading in Windows 11. Luckily, apart from a few cosmetic changes that will appear along the way, all the solutions presented above for Windows 10 fork seamlessly on the new OS. One of the differences is that in Windows 11, for step 6, you will have to click on Installed apps instead of Apps & features from Windows 10 to uninstall Google Earth.

How do you refresh Google Earth?

By default, Google Earth refreshes automatically every 5 minutes. However, there is a way to force the refresh: To do that, right-click on the InterMapper entry in the Places sidebar, and select Refresh. If you want to change the refresh interval, right-click on the InterMapper option, and select Properties. Then, go to the Refresh tab and set up the preferred interval. As a last resort, if Google Earth desktop is not working, you can always use Google Earth online. If you’re going to use the same account, you will have all the settings in place. Of course, this problem can also be from the connection. In that case, you should read about how to fix Google Earth if it cannot connect to the server. Windows users often seem to struggle with these issues. If you are one of them, let us know which solution worked for you in the comments section below.

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