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Why is Google Earth slow on my PC? How to fix it

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Fixing these problems helps speed up the Google Earth app. In this article we have collected all known ways and methods of solving this technical error related to the incorrect operation of Google Earth.

Table of Contents

Why does Google Earth glitch on Windows PC?

The most common reasons why is Google Earth so laggy are:

  • slow Internet connection,
  • outdated OS (Windows / Mac OS),
  • outdated PC hardware.

All of these things can be summed up in one definition - the system requirements do not meet the minimum Google Earth requirements.

Go to the Install & uninstall page and check the minimum system requirements for Google Earth Basic / Pro.

Why is Google Earth so slow on my iPad?

If you've downloaded and installed Google Earth or are using the web version of maps, chances are the app is slow. More often than not, the root of the problem is a lack of free space in iPad memory.

  1. You can check the free space on the iPad using these instructions.

  1. If there is not enough space, you need to clear it and restart the iPad.

  2. Otherwise, try other ways to fix the lag.

Turn on hardware acceleration on your PC

Incorrect browser settings can cause Google Earth to crash and lag. To use 100% of your PC's power, follow these steps on your Windows or Mac OS PC:

Step 1. Run the Chrome browser app.

Step 2. Type chrome://settings/ in the address bar.

Step 3. You will get to the browser settings. Then go to the System section.

Step 4. In the System subsection activate the Use hardware acceleration when available option.

Step 5. Restart the browser and open the web version of Google Earth.

This measure helps speed up Google Earth on your PC or Mac OS significantly, as the browser will use the resources of your graphic card and CPU to draw maps.

Check your DirectX version

Installed DirectX software is necessary for your graphics card and its dependent applications to work properly. In particular, Google Earth, Maps, and similar services that work through your browser may have difficulty rendering if your DirectX version is out of date.

To fix the Google Earth freeze, update DirectX to the latest version.

  1. You can download the update at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35.
  2. Choose a language and click Download.
  3. Then follow the instructions.

Secret way to speed up the web version of Google Earth

By changing the memory cache size, you will improve the performance of Google Earth. Here are instructions on how you can change memory cache size:

  1. Open the web version of Google Earth.

  2. Go to Settings.

  3. Find the Memory cache size option.

  4. Move the slider to the left to change the quality of the map display.

  1. Tap on Save button. Reload the page if necessary.

Use Maps GO instead of Google Earth

If your PC is slow because of outdated hardware, switch to a mobile platform. For example, there is a handy app called Google Maps GO.

This navigation app has a number of similar features to Google Earth, while being compatible with most versions of iPad / iOS / Android.

Google Maps GO can also be used on relatively slow devices with little free memory.

Here is information to help you get familiar with the product and download it for your mobile device.

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Ilia is a professional writer. He has expert knowledge in GPS and cartography with 15 years of experience. Additionally, Ilia has extensive experience in data recovery on PC and mobile. He started his career as a journalist by reviewing PC and mobile apps. His current responsibilities are to keep track of users' questions on MGT and answer them.