These Google Maps codes are more convenient than addresses: How they work
Key things
- Easily share your exact location with plus codes using Google Maps on mobile or desktop.
- Plus codes convert GPS coordinates into user-friendly codes so you can easily find your way or share your location.
- While not all services support plus codes, they are great for navigating areas with inconsistent addresses.
After watching delivery drivers circle my neighborhood and eventually give up, I realized that my perfectly clear address wasn’t so clear after all. Since I’d rather pick up my packages at my front door, I went looking for an alternative.
That’s when I discovered Google Plus Codes – a better way for anyone to pinpoint you with no extra effort required.
Here’s how to share your exact location using Google Plus codes
There are two ways to share your exact location with plus codes: with your smartphone or with your computer.
If you’re using a mobile phone, all you need is the Google Maps app.
- Launch the app and you will see a blue dot indicating your current location. If for some reason you don’t see this blue dot, tap the compass icon to refocus on your location.
- Tap the blue dot when you see it.
- Pull up Your location banner that appears.
- Scroll to the bottom and you will find your sa plus code Copy the code button.
If you’re using a desktop computer, the steps are even easier. Just go to map plus codes in any browser and allow the site to access your location.
Once authorized, you will find your plus code displayed at the bottom of the screen. Just like the mobile app, you can use the compass icon to refocus when needed.
I didn’t have much luck with the location accuracy through the desktop version. For example, if I am miles away, it will get me to Ibadan, Nigeria. It just means I need to improve my location accuracy and help Google Maps better locate my exact location, which I’m not really into at the moment.
Just like on mobile, you can easily copy your plus code to your desktop computer and use it in delivery apps or place it on your contact cards.
Plus codes are GPS coordinates that people actually understand
Plus Codes is a Google Maps feature that generates a simple code for any location, no matter how remote or difficult to describe. They essentially work like digital addresses, converting complex GPS coordinates into a user-friendly format that’s easier to share.
For example, instead of the decimal degrees (DD) of 52.891312 and -97.733937, you will have 9644V7R8+GC.
Each plus code consists of a combination of letters and numbers that represent an exact geographic area. For example, the code 9644V7R8+GC specifies a specific location in Lake Winnipeg, Canada. Even though this part of Lake Winnipeg doesn’t have a formal address, it still has a plus code because it’s based purely on GPS coordinates — not street names or landmarks. This system works anywhere in the world.
In cities like Tokyo, where addresses are often blocky and confusing, or in areas where streets don’t have names, plus codes offer a reliable way to navigate. They are particularly useful in developing areas, such as parts of Latin America or Africa, where traditional addressing systems may be inconsistent or non-existent.
Imagine visiting a country where the locals give directions using landmarks such as “turn right after the second oak tree”. Instead of relying on these wild directions, you can simply ask for their plus code and be guided directly by Google Maps (or any other app that integrates the plus code algorithm).
Because plus codes are integrated into Google Maps, they can be easily used in everyday situations – whether you’re sharing directions to a cafe or looking for a remote hiking trail. While not all delivery services support plus codes, they are still useful for navigating large parks, festival grounds, or city neighborhoods with poor signage.
My experience: When plus codes saved the day (and when they didn’t)
I live in one of three similar looking houses numbered 18 on my street – we distinguish them by letters. As you can imagine, this often leads to confusion with delivery drivers getting frustrated when they can’t easily tell which 18 is mine. I usually end up leaving my house to meet them because explaining that I’m not first or second house is a problem. However, the plus codes can easily identify which 18 is mine.
The first time I used plus codes was when I was visiting a friend in another city. She gave me her address and the name of her apartment building, but when I asked, no one seemed to know where it was. After some wandering I helped her find her plus code and entered it into Google Maps and finding her location was a breeze.
Plus codes haven’t always worked so smoothly, though. When I tried to use one to deliver food, the driver didn’t know what to do with it. Even though services like Uber technically support plus codes, many drivers still rely on traditional addresses and landmarks, or just drive through general areas out of habit. Some drivers prefer directions like “look for the blue gate” to entering and tracking the exact digital code on the map.
Another limitation is that not all services and companies integrate plus codes yet, so you may need to enter a traditional address for delivery or official purposes. While the technology behind the plus codes is open source, its full potential is mostly realized in Google Maps – which may not be everyone’s preferred navigation app.
This means that if Google Maps is your favorite, plus codes can be a game changer for you and your friends. And with several apps supporting them, they can still be a useful tool in the right situations.