Fix Google Earth errors - Google Earth Help (2024)

To more easily do things likeclear your cache or fix startup issues, use the Google Earth Repair Tool.

1. Open Google Earth Pro.
2. At the top, in the drop-down menu, click HelpLaunch Repair Tool.
   • If you're asked which product to repair, choose Google Earth Pro.
3. Leave the Repair Tool open but close Google Earth Pro.
4. Choose how you want tofix Google Earth Pro:
   • Clear disk cache: Delete the files that make content load quickerfromyour computer. These fileswill be recreated when they're needed again.
   • Turn on Safe Mode: Turn off advanced graphics.
   • Turn off the atmosphere: Removethe glow around the globe and blackenout the sky.
   • Restore default settings: Return Google Earth preferences totheir original settings.
   • Delete My Places: Remove the content yousaved in My Placesto prevent crashes when loading Google Earth. Note: your saved places file will be renamed as myplaces.repairtoolbackup.kml.
   • (Windows only) Switch between OpenGL and DirectX:Google Earth Pro isdrawn with one of two programming tools: DirectX or OpenGL. To fix graphics issues, switch between the two and check if one works better for your system.

To check which version of Google Earth you have:

• Windows: Click Help About Google Earth.
• Mac: Click Google Earth About Google Earth.

You might find an error message if:

• The imagery has not streamed completely.
• We don't have high-resolution imagery for that area.

Fix blurry imagery

1. To verify that you're not blocking the imagery with an overlay, turn off all layers in your Places panel.
2. Clear your cache.
   • Windows: Google Earth Pro Preferences CacheClear disk cache
   • Mac: Google Earth Preferences CacheClear disk cache
3. Turn off Anisotropic Filtering.
   • Windows: Tools Options 3D View
   • Mac: Google EarthPreferences 3D View
4. Check the status bar at the bottom of the image:
   • If the status bar is at 100% and the image still looks blurry: We don’t have high-resolution data for this location.
   • If the status bar is incomplete after several minutes: There may be an issue with your internet connection, firewall settings, or graphics card drivers.

1. Open Google Earth Pro.
2. At the top, in the drop-down menu, click HelpLaunch Repair Tool.
   • ​If you're asked which product to repair, choose Google Earth Pro.
3. Leave the Repair Tool open but close Google Earth Pro.
4. Click Clear disk cache.

1. Open Google Earth.
2. Click View.
3. Deselect Atmosphere.

1. Open Google Earth Pro.
2. At the top, in the drop-down menu, click HelpLaunch Repair Tool.
   • ​If you're asked which product to repair, choose Google Earth Pro.
3. Leave the Repair Tool open but close Google Earth Pro.
4. Click Delete my places.
5. ClickDelete.

1. Open Google Earth Pro.
2. At the top, in the drop-down menu, click HelpLaunch Repair Tool.
   • ​If you're asked which product to repair, choose Google Earth Pro.
3. Leave the Repair Tool open but close Google Earth Pro.
4. Click Switch between OpenGL and DirectX.
   • ​Note:The button text changes based on the mode you chose, like "Google Earth is currently using DirectX."

If you still have problems,update your graphics card drivers.

The Google Earth globe may spin if your controlleris not calibrated.

If you're using a controller: Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to calibrate your controller.

If you're not using a controller: Open Google Earth, then:

• Windows: Click Tools OptionsNavigation. Then, uncheck Enable Controller.
• Mac: Click Google Earth Preferences Navigation. Then, uncheck Enable Controller.

Mac

1. Open Google Earth.
2. Click Google Earth Preferences Cache.
3. Click Clear diskcache.

Windows

1. Open Google Earth.
2. Click File Server Sign Out.
3. Click ToolsOptionsCache.
4. Click Clear diskcache.

To boost performance for tasks like printing or making movies, adjust thememory or disk cache size.

Note: this may impact the performance of other applications.

1. Open Google Earth.
2. Windows: Click Tools Options.
   Mac: Click Google Earth Preferences.
3. Click Cache.
4. In the "Memory Cache Size" field, enter a value. Google Earth automatically limits the size according to the physical memory available on your PC.
5. In the "Disk Cache Size" field, enter a number below 2000.

To recover some disk space:

1. Open Google Earth.
2. Click File Server Sign Out.
3. Windows: Click Tools Options.
   Mac: Click Google EarthPreferences.
4. Click Cache Clear disk cache.