How to Add Google Maps in PowerPoint for Geographic Presentations

Adding a Google Map to your PowerPoint slide can help visualize locations, display data by region, illustrate business presence, explain travel routes, and also support educational content.

There are three main approaches for adding a PowerPoint map to your presentation: inserting a static image, using PowerPoint’s built-in map/chart feature, and embedding an interactive map via a web service or add-in.

You’ll learn step-by-step methods to use each approach, plus bonus tips on how you can add maps to slides on AiPPT.

Before we begin, here’s a table comparing these three approaches:

Method	Types	Mode of Use	Interactivity	Best For
Static Image	Manual	Offline	✖️	Simple location views
Map Chart	Built-in	Offline	Limited	Analyzing regional data
Embedded Map	Add-in	Online	✅	For live, interactive navigation

What You Need to Know Before Creating a PowerPoint Map

You have to make some preparations before adding PowerPoint maps to your presentations. Here are some things you must do to get the best from your slides:

1️⃣ Choose the right map type: Each map type has different applications from others. You can make your choice based on the following information.

• Static maps: To show locations visually (with a static image).
• Built-in maps: To analyze and compare data based on regions.
• Interactive maps: For the audience to zoom, click, and interact with your piece.

2️⃣ Check version compatibility: Built-in maps are available in PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, and later versions. If you’re using an older version, you may need to insert an image or use an add-in.

3️⃣ Prepare your data: Ensure that your Excel or CSV file is clean and uses consistent region names, if you’re mapping values by country, state, or city.

4️⃣ Plan your slide layouts: Maps take up space, so make room for other elements, such as titles and labels.

1. Insert Google Map into PowerPoint as a Static Image

Static maps are perfect when your slides don’t require interactivity or live data updates, like in offline presentations. An advantage of using this approach is that the image will display exactly as you have intended. However, static maps are limited to simple, location-based visuals, since they can’t be zoomed or interacted with.

📝 Tips when using static maps:

• Always capture high-resolution screenshots so your map remains clear on large screens.
• Add annotations such as arrows, shapes, and labels to highlight key points.
• Review Google’s image-use guidelines if the presentation will be shared publicly.

🔍 Here’s how to insert a map in PowerPoint as a static image:

Step 1: Open Google Maps on your browser.

Step 2: Type the location you want and adjust the zoom and map style (Map, Satellite, or Terrain).

Step 3: Take a screenshot of the desired view (Windows: Snip & Sketch / Mac: Command + Shift + 4).

Step 4: Open your PowerPoint presentation and go to the target slide. Click Insert → Pictures → This Device, then select the saved map image and click “Insert”.

2. Add an Interactive Map for PowerPoint Using Built-in Tool

PowerPoint’s built-in map chart feature allows you to create an interactive map for PowerPoint directly within your slides. It’s the ideal option when you want to make data-driven presentations, like visualizing regional data or comparing statistical values by country, state, or region.

You may also like: >> How to Embed a GIF in PowerPoint

Tip:
Avoid extra spaces or inconsistent region names in your data so that PowerPoint recognizes all map areas correctly.

🔍 Here’s how to add an interactive map for PowerPoint using the built-in tool:

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation and go to “Insert > Chart > Map” and click “OK”.

Step 2: Fill in your regional data and click “I accept” in the sample Excel sheet that pops up to create your map chart.

Step 3: Close the “Excel” window, and your slide will update to display the new PowerPoint map.

Use the “Chart Design” tab to change colors, fonts, borders, effects, layouts, styles or add data labels.

3. Add a Global Map for PowerPoint with an Add-in

Do you want to create a global map for PowerPoint, but your Microsoft Office version is too old to use the built-in tool? Don’t worry. Using an add-in is a good alternative. PowerPoint allows you to install and use various add-ins to embed dynamic, clickable maps directly into your slides.

A popular example we’ll be using here is “Country Map”. This add-in is great when you need to create presentations that require global coverage and use interactively to zoom, move across regions, and even add clickable markers.

However, keep in mind that add-ins require an active internet connection, and some advanced features may only be available to paid users.

🔍 Follow these steps to add maps in PowerPoint with add-ins:

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation and go to “Insert > Get Add-ins”. Alternatively, go to “Home > Add-ins”.

Step 2: Type “Country Map” in the search bar and click “Add” to install.

Step 3: Open the add-in you just installed from “Insert > My Add-ins” or “Home > Add-ins”.

Step 4: Click on “Settings” from the pop-up.

Step 5: Choose your preferred map and customize it by adding colors or labels to specific regions.

Bonus: Generate a PowerPoint Using an AI Tool

Why not save some time while still creating stunning and professional slides? With AiPPT.com, you can generate complete, well-designed PowerPoint presentations using AI.

AiPPT also lets you insert a PowerPoint map into your slides as an image. This can help you showcase geographic data clearly and beautifully.

Beyond this, AiPPT offers a wide range of ready-made templates from business reports and pitch decks to educational layouts. You can fully customize these templates and adjust fonts, colors, fonts, and icons to match your design theme.

✨ Key Features of AiPPT:

• Instantly generates custom PowerPoint templates based on your topic.
• Generate images quickly with advanced AI modes, such as Nano Banana.
• Exports presentations compatible with PowerPoint.

Conclusion

Adding a PowerPoint map to your presentation makes your presentation more visual and informative. You can explore various options such as adding a static map image, using PowerPoint’s built-in maps feature, or using add-ins.

All of these options are great as long as you want to insert Google Maps into PowerPoint. However, using static maps in your presentation may not make it as interactive as you want it to be.

If you want your slides to be more dynamic, PowerPoint’s built-in map feature or a reliable map add-in like “Country Map” provides the best experience.

Learn More About PPT Maps

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about adding Google Maps to your PowerPoint presentations.

1. How do I import Google Earth into PowerPoint?

You can’t embed Google Earth directly into PowerPoint, but you can add a view from it:

1. Open Google Earth and navigate to your location.
2. Adjust the angle and zoom level you want.
3. Take a screenshot or use “Project > Save Image”.
4. In PowerPoint, go to “Insert > Pictures > This Device”, then select the image.
5. Optionally, crop and annotate it to highlight areas.

2. How to use a fillable map for PPT?

A fillable map for PPT lets you manually edit colors or labels of specific regions in your slide.

The following tutorial will show you how to use a fillable map for PPT:

1. Download a vector or SVG map template and open it in PowerPoint.
2. Right-click the map and choose “Group > Ingroup” to separate shapes.
3. Click on any region to fill with color, add text, or apply animations.
4. Save your slide.

3. How can I make an editable US map PPT?

To create an editable US map:

1. Go to “Insert > Get Add-ins” and search for “Country Map.”
2. Install the add-in and open it inside PowerPoint.
3. Choose the editable version, where each state is clickable.
4. Customize by changing state colors, adding labels, or inserting data.