Google Earth Pro Desktop Downloads to End in 2027

The platform moves to web-only access as Google prepares to launch new AI-powered spatial analysis tools.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Geography

Isometric editorial illustration showing a layered cardboard topographic map model representing geological terrain analysis. — Google will discontinue Google Earth Pro desktop downloads in 2027, transitioning its spatial analysis tools to a cloud-native web platform. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you prefer using desktop applications over web-based tools for your professional work?

Google will discontinue new desktop downloads for Google Earth Pro on June 25, 2027, as part of a transition to web-based platforms. Existing installations will remain functional after this date.

Why it matters

The change forces users to migrate workflows from legacy desktop applications to cloud-native tools as Google shifts its spatial strategy toward AI-assisted workflows like Detect Change and Classify.

The platform now supports imports of KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, and shapefile formats, with local KML editing restricted to Chromium-based browsers. Users are limited to 10,000 features for editable Map Features imports.

The players

Google

A multinational technology company focused on cloud computing, search, and spatial mapping software.

The details

The transition requires users to export data stored in 'My Places' folders as KML (Keyhole Markup Language) or KMZ (zipped KML) files for migration to the web interface. A local KML editor enables the manipulation of geographical data directly from a local drive without requiring cloud storage, provided the user utilizes a Chromium-based browser to maintain automatic save functionality.

January 14, 2027: Deadline to move legacy browser-stored KML data.
June 25, 2027: New Google Earth Pro desktop downloads will be discontinued.

The Tech Race

Google is transitioning its spatial ecosystem toward web-based platforms to integrate new AI-assisted tools like Ask Google Earth and Classify. This shift reflects a broader industry move to centralize geographic data analysis in the cloud.

Users must export legacy data as KML or KMZ files before January 14, 2027, to prevent data loss from browser-stored systems. Professionals relying on local file management should ensure their workflows function within Chromium-based browsers before the desktop version is phased out.

The takeaway

Users should prioritize migrating local project files to the cloud-based interface well ahead of the June 25, 2027, deadline. Monitor upcoming releases of AI-driven spatial tools to determine if existing legacy workflows require reconfiguration.