Fix: “Google Maps can't open this link” on iPhone
Short answer
Google Maps shows this when the link is not a Google Maps address it knows how to read. The common cases: it is an Apple Maps link (maps.apple.com), a short link that did not expand, or a URL with parameters the app does not handle. If it is an Apple Maps link, the Decoder below turns it into a Google Maps link. If it is a Google Maps link that only opens in the browser, open it there and share the place again.
What usually causes it
| The link is… | Why Google Maps refuses it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
maps.apple.com/… | An Apple Maps link; Google Maps does not read them | Open it in Apple Maps, or decode it into a Google Maps link |
maps.app.goo.gl/… that was cut short | Missing characters break the redirect | Ask for the link again, or the place name |
A google.com/maps URL with unusual parameters | Some embed, print or API URLs are web-only | Open it in Safari; the page shows the place |
| A link from an email that was rewritten by a mail scanner | The real address is wrapped in a tracking link | Open it in Safari once; then share from the page |
Three ways to open the place
- Open it in Safari. Google Maps on the web reads more URL forms than the app. Once the place is on screen, use Share to get a clean link.
- Search by name. If the link came with a place name, search for it in Google Maps or Apple Maps directly.
- Decode it. For an Apple Maps link, paste it into the Decoder below: you get the place and a Google Maps link for it. Would you rather open a Google Maps link in Apple Maps? Use Quick Convert.
Turn an Apple Maps link into a Google Maps link
The Decoder reads any maps.apple.com link — a place, a pin or a shared Guide — and gives you the places inside it, each with a Google Maps link.
Going the other way? Convert a Google Maps link to Apple Maps.
The link came from an iPhone user
Apple Maps shares maps.apple.com links by default, and Google Maps cannot open them. Paste the link into the Decoder to get the place and a Google Maps link, or ask the sender to share the address as text. See sharing Apple Maps locations with Android users.
FAQ
Why does Google Maps say it can't open this link?
The link is not a Google Maps address the app understands. Most often it is an Apple Maps link (maps.apple.com), a short link that was copied incompletely, or a web-only Google Maps URL. Opening the link in Safari usually works.
Can Google Maps open an Apple Maps link?
No. Google Maps does not read maps.apple.com links. The Decoder on this site turns an Apple Maps link into the place it points to, with a Google Maps link for it.
The link worked for my friend but not for me. Why?
Links shared from Apple Maps open for iPhone users, who have Apple Maps, but not inside Google Maps. Short links also fail when a few characters are lost in copying. Ask for the place name or a fresh link.