Google Earth Mouse Navigation and Keys

By Xah Lee. Date: 2011-03-12. Last updated: 2011-11-08.

This page explains Google Earth's mouse and navigation keys.

Google Earth Shanghai — Screenshot of Google Earth on Shanghai, China

Mouse Navigation

Mouse Wheel = zoom
Left Mouse Button = pan
Middle Mouse Button = move left/right = rotate; move up/down = tilt
Right mouse button = smart zoom/rotate/tilt. (move up/down = zoom; move left/right = rotate; when close to the ground = auto tilt)

By Keyboard

Zoom = PgUp, PgDn
Pan = ←, →, ↑, ↓
Rotate = Shift+←, Shift+→
Tilt = Shift+↑, Shift+↓

Holding down Alt before doing the above will make the steps smaller.

Extra for Control Freaks

tilt camera = Ctrl+↑ and Ctrl+↑
rotate camera = Ctrl+← and Ctrl+→ (camera is rotated around a axis from earth center to your camera)