Google Maps has introduced a new feature for smartphone users, allowing them to explore historical Street View imagery directly from their mobile devices.
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The update comes as Google celebrates the 15th anniversary of its Street View service, one of the platform’s most popular features. Previously, the ability to view older Street View images was mainly available on desktop and laptop computers, but the company is now extending the functionality to Android and iOS users.
With the new addition, users can browse archived Street View photographs and compare how streets, neighbourhoods and landmarks have changed over time. The feature offers a unique way to revisit locations from previous years and observe urban development, infrastructure changes and other transformations.
To access historical imagery, users need to open a Street View image within the Google Maps app and select the “See more dates” option. If archived images are available for that location, the app will display photographs captured in earlier years.
The feature can provide a fascinating glimpse into the past, allowing users to see how their local area looked years ago. In some locations, archived imagery may stretch back a decade or more, depending on when Google’s Street View vehicles first collected data and how frequently the area has been updated.
Google said the update is designed to make historical Street View content more accessible, reflecting the growing number of users who rely on smartphones rather than desktop computers for navigation and exploration.
The company has continued to expand Google Maps with new tools and artificial intelligence-powered features aimed at improving navigation, travel planning and local discovery. The addition of historical Street View imagery on mobile devices further enhances the platform’s ability to serve as both a navigation tool and a digital archive of changing landscapes.
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The rollout is expected to reach users on both Android and iOS devices, giving millions of people easier access to one of Google Maps’ most engaging and frequently requested features.