# How to make Satellite View the default in Google Maps?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-satellite-view-the-default-in-google-maps/965162>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 26, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-satellite-view-the-default-in-google-maps/965162 "2022-05-26T18:18:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-satellite-view-the-default-in-google-maps/965162/1 "2022-05-26T18:18:39Z")

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I use Google Maps dozens of times a day and always have to switch to satellite view when it starts. I searched for this topic and found solutions for smartphones but not for a PC.

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**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-satellite-view-the-default-in-google-maps/965162/2 "2022-05-26T20:02:51Z")

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Found this on [google support](https://support.google.com/maps/thread/5333401/how-do-i-set-satellite-view-as-default?hl=en), which basically says there is no way to set this as a preference, but there is a work-around. You open google map, set the desired view option and then bookmark the link. Then, each time you open the link your view option will be set.

I haven’t investigated, but it may be that there is information about your view option saved in the link. If so, and it can be isolated, then creating a link with just that preference set won’t also always open to whatever the location was when the link in the setup above was created.
