A KML file does not look like much in your Downloads folder. Open it in the right app, though, and it turns back into a map full of pins. That makes KML one of the more useful exits from Google Maps: it is readable by Google Earth, Google My Maps, QGIS, ArcGIS, and quite a few navigation apps.
The awkward bit is getting the file. Google Maps lets you save thousands of places but does not put a KML export button next to a list. Google Takeout can return account data in bulk, while ExportMyMap can turn one particular saved list into a ready-to-use KML in a few minutes.
The short version
- Open the Google Maps list on a computer.
- Scan it with ExportMyMap.
- Choose KML.
- Download the file and open it in the app you actually want to use.
If this is your first export of any kind, start with the broader guide to exporting Google Maps saved places. The rest of this article is specifically about KML: what goes into it, where it works, and where it is the wrong choice.
Step 1: Open the list you mean to export
Open Google Maps in Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Arc on a computer. Sign in, click Saved, then open the list itself. It can be Starred places, Want to go, Favorites, Travel plans, or a custom list you named yourself.
For a Starred list that stops at about 200 places on desktop, use the Google Takeout workflow before exporting.
Step 2: Scan it with ExportMyMap
Install the ExportMyMap Chrome Extension, launch it from Google Maps, and choose the list. The extension reads the places from your open Maps session and prepares them for export.
Wait until the scan has finished before downloading. A half-scanned file is a perfectly valid KML file with half your places in it, which is much harder to notice than a loud error message.
The free version covers the first 10 places; a paid plan is required for the full list.
Step 3: Pick KML and decide about notes
Choose KML in the format list. If you have written your own notes in Google Maps, you can include them; each note is placed in that placemark's description field.
The exported file is KML 2.2. At its core it is deliberately simple:
- one document named after your Google Maps list;
- one Placemark per place;
- the place name;
- longitude and latitude;
- an optional note in the description.
It does not squeeze every enriched field into a free-form KML popup. Ratings, phone numbers, opening hours, images, and review counts are more useful as columns, so choose CSV or Excel if you need to sort and analyze those details.
Step 4: Open the file somewhere useful
What happens next depends on the job.
Google Earth
KML is the natural choice here. Google Earth on the web imports it into a project; Google Earth Pro opens it through File → Open. The full Google Maps to Google Earth walkthrough covers both versions and the exact menus.
Google My Maps
Create or open a map, add a layer, and import the KML into that layer. My Maps is handy when you want to change pin styles, split places into layers, or publish a custom map. Keep in mind that My Maps has its own layer and feature limits, so it is not an infinite warehouse for every pin you have ever saved.
Organic Maps
Move the KML to your phone and open it with Organic Maps. The app imports KML placemarks as bookmarks. Our Organic Maps migration guide explains the different Android and iPhone share menus.
Apple Maps
Apple Maps does not import KML directly. You need a converter that resolves the placemarks and generates an Apple Maps Guide. Follow the Google Maps to Apple Maps method rather than simply tapping the KML on an iPhone.
A GIS application
QGIS and ArcGIS both understand KML, but GeoJSON is often easier for analysis and web mapping. If the receiving system wants GeoJSON, use the KML to GeoJSON converter instead of manually pulling coordinates out of XML.
KML, KMZ, or GPX?
These names sound interchangeable until an import goes wrong.
KML is an XML map format built around placemarks, folders, styles, and geometry. It is the safe default for Google Earth and My Maps.
KMZ is a compressed KML package. It can bundle images and custom icons, but that extra packaging is unnecessary for this clean place export. ExportMyMap produces plain KML, which is easier to inspect and convert.
GPX is the language of GPS devices and outdoor navigation apps. It distinguishes waypoints, routes, and tracks. For OsmAnd Favorites, for example, GPX waypoints are a better fit.
A missing pin is usually a missing coordinate
KML writes a point as longitude, latitude, and an optional altitude. Without the first two values there is nothing an app can draw, so ExportMyMap skips entries that have no usable coordinates. This is uncommon with normal businesses and landmarks, but it can happen with old or malformed saved entries.
If the file refuses to open at all, test it with the free KML validator. It runs locally in the browser and checks the XML, root element, placemarks, and geometry. For a file from ExportMyMap, a failure is worth reporting. For a hand-edited file, the validator will usually point straight to the broken line.
Keep the KML as a portable backup
An imported map can change with an app update or a third-party service. A plain KML file is boring in a useful way: it is text, it has a published structure, and dozens of tools can read it. Save the original alongside any converted copies. If you change map apps again in two years, you will be glad you kept the boring file.