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Export Google Maps Favorites: Complete Guide for Starred Places

Learn how to export Google Maps starred and favorite places with coordinates. Step-by-step guide for saving your favorite locations in multiple formats for GPS devices and apps.

May 2, 2025

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8 min read

Do you want to export your Google Maps Starred or Favorite places to use in other applications? Whether you're switching navigation apps, creating a custom map, or just backing up your favorite locations, this guide will walk you through the entire process step by step.

Many users are surprised to discover that exporting Starred places isn't as straightforward as it should be. This guide solves the common challenges and helps you get your favorite locations in exactly the format you need.

What are Google Maps Starred and Favorite Places?

In Google Maps, your Starred or Favorite places are locations you've marked with a star or heart icon for quick access. These are special collections that help you keep track of important places like:

  • Your home, work, and frequently visited locations
  • Restaurants you love
  • Places you want to remember
  • Important landmarks

Understanding Google Maps Collections

To properly export your Starred places, it helps to understand how Google organizes saved locations:

  • Starred/Favorites: Personal markers you tap the star/heart icon on (these are your default favorites)
  • Saved: Any items you've added to a specific collection (e.g., "Want to go")
  • Lists: Named collections (custom or default) that bundle Saved places

All of these collections are exported through Google Takeout under the "Saved" product category.

The Challenge: Missing Coordinates in Google Exports

When you export your Starred places through Google Takeout, you'll quickly discover a significant limitation: the exported files don't contain geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude). Instead, you only get place names and addresses, which aren't directly usable in most mapping applications or GPS devices.

This creates a major hurdle since coordinates are essential for:

  • Plotting your favorite locations on maps
  • Navigation in GPS devices and apps
  • Visualization in mapping applications
  • Spatial analysis and planning

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Export Your Starred Places from Google Takeout

First, let's get your data out of Google:

  1. Visit Google Takeout
  2. Click "Deselect all" at the top
  3. Scroll down and select only "Saved" (this contains all your Google Maps collections, including Starred places)
  4. Click "Next step"
  5. Choose "Export once" and set the export format to .zip
  6. Click "Create export"
  7. Wait for the export to complete (you'll receive an email)
  8. Download the ZIP file from your email or the Takeout page
  9. Unzip the file and locate the CSV files in the "Saved" folder

Important tip: Look for files named "Starred.csv" or similar in the export. If your Google account is set to a language other than English, the CSV headers might not be in English. You'll need to translate them to match the original English header names exactly (case-sensitive) before processing.

2. The Geocoding Challenge

At this point, you have your Starred places data, but it's not in a format that can be used in most applications. The exported data lacks geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), which are essential for mapping. This is where geocoding comes in – the process of converting addresses and place names into geographic coordinates.

3. Geocoding Options

You have several options for adding coordinates to your Starred places:

Option 1: Manual Geocoding (Time-Consuming)

You could manually look up each address and find its coordinates using Google Maps or other services. This works for a handful of places but becomes extremely time-consuming if you have dozens or hundreds of starred locations.

Option 2: Use a Geocoding API (Technical)

Developers might use Google's Geocoding API, Mapbox, or other services to programmatically add coordinates. However, this requires:

  • Programming knowledge
  • API keys and potential costs
  • Rate limit management
  • Error handling for failed geocodes

Option 3: Use Takeout Tools (Recommended)

The simplest solution is to use Takeout Tools, a service specifically designed to solve this problem:

  1. Visit Takeout Tools
  2. Upload your exported CSV files from Google Takeout
  3. The service automatically geocodes all your starred places
  4. Choose your preferred export format:
    • GPX (for navigation apps like OsmAnd, HERE WeGo)
    • KML (for Google Earth, My Maps)
    • GeoJSON (for developers and data workflows)
    • CSV (with added latitude/longitude columns)

4. Understanding Your Export Format Options

Each format has specific uses and advantages:

GPX Format

GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is an XML schema designed for GPS devices and navigation apps. It's ideal for:

  • Importing into OsmAnd, HERE WeGo, and other navigation apps
  • Loading onto handheld GPS devices like Garmin
  • Route planning for outdoor activities

KML Format

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) was developed for Google Earth. Use it to:

  • Open your Starred places in Google Earth with proper place markers
  • Import into Google My Maps for custom styling
  • Share location collections with visual elements

GeoJSON Format

GeoJSON is a developer-friendly format based on JSON, perfect for web mapping and data analysis projects.

CSV with Coordinates

A CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file is perfect for spreadsheet analysis and database imports. Your exported CSV will contain:

  • Original place names and addresses
  • Added latitude and longitude coordinates
  • Category information
  • Any notes or additional metadata

5. Importing Into Popular Applications

OsmAnd

  1. Export your places as GPX from Takeout Tools
  2. In OsmAnd, go to My Places → Import
  3. Select your GPX file
  4. Your starred places will appear as favorites

For detailed instructions, see How to Transfer Google Maps Saved Places to OsmAnd.

Google Earth

  1. Export your places as KML from Takeout Tools
  2. Open Google Earth
  3. Go to File → Open or simply drag and drop the KML file
  4. Your places will appear as placemarks

HERE WeGo

  1. Export your places as GPX from Takeout Tools
  2. Visit HERE WeGo on the web or mobile app
  3. Import the GPX file into your collections

Tips and Best Practices

Collections Mapping

To ensure your Starred places maintain their organization when imported into other apps:

  • Keep list names tidy and consistent so categories import clearly
  • Consider renaming very long list names to shorter versions before export
  • Use consistent naming conventions for your collections

Handling Duplicates

Sometimes the same place might appear in multiple collections or lists:

  • You can de-duplicate inside your target app after import if needed
  • Some apps have built-in duplicate detection
  • For spreadsheet exports, you can use Excel or Google Sheets to identify and remove duplicates

International Headers

If your Google account is set to a non-English language:

  • Translate CSV headers to English (exact, case-sensitive) before upload to avoid parsing errors
  • Common headers to translate include "Title", "Address", "Notes", "URL", etc.
  • The column order doesn't matter, but the header names must match exactly

Benefits of Using Takeout Tools

  • Time-Saving: Automatically processes hundreds of places in minutes instead of hours of manual work
  • Accurate Geocoding: Ensures your places are positioned correctly on any map
  • Format Flexibility: Convert between multiple formats based on your specific needs
  • Privacy-Focused: Your data is processed securely and not stored permanently
  • Batch Processing: Upload multiple files at once for efficient processing

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I export only "Starred" and not other lists? Yes—filter your source CSVs to the Starred entries before conversion, or split by list during conversion if supported.
  • Will photos and notes export? Notes typically export as text fields; photos aren't guaranteed to transfer to all formats.
  • How accurate is the geocoding? Generally very accurate for well-known places and addresses, but may vary for obscure locations or places with ambiguous names.
  • Can I combine multiple lists into one export? Yes, you can upload multiple CSV files at once to Takeout Tools.

Conclusion: Take Your Favorite Places Anywhere

Exporting your Google Maps Starred places opens up a world of possibilities beyond the Google Maps app. With properly geocoded data in your preferred format, you can visualize, analyze, and use your carefully curated places in any application or device.

Don't let Google's export limitations hold you back. With the right tools, you can quickly transform your Starred places into properly geocoded files ready for immediate use.

Get it done quickly with Takeout Tools

Save hours and avoid API complexity. Upload your Google Takeout CSVs and get clean GPX/KML/GeoJSON/CSV with coordinates in minutes.

  • Takeout Tools
  • Accurate geocoding
  • Multiple export formats
  • Privacy-conscious processing

See Other Export Guides

Need a different format? We've got you covered: