Planning a holiday itinerary, curating favourite local restaurants, or bookmarking client offices often leads to scattered notes and lost links. Google Maps resolves this challenge through its built-in Saved Lists feature. Rather than leaving individual pins scattered across your map, custom lists allow you to categorise locations, add personal notes, select unique emoji badges, and invite friends to contribute in real time.
Whether you are organising a weekend road trip with friends or publishing a neighbourhood coffee guide, custom lists transform Google Maps into an interactive travel planner. In this guide, we explore how to create custom lists, organise saved locations, collaborate with others, and share curated maps publicly or privately.
Understanding List Types in Google Maps
Google Maps provides four default system lists alongside the option to build unlimited custom lists. Understanding how these lists differ helps keep your mapping data tidy:
| List Name | Default Privacy | Customisable Icon | Collaboration Supported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favourites (Hearts) | Private | No (Heart icon fixed) | No |
| Want to Go (Green Flags) | Private | No (Ribbon flag fixed) | No |
| Starred Places (Stars) | Private | No (Yellow star fixed) | No |
| Custom User Lists | Private / Shared / Public | Yes (Any custom emoji) | Yes (Invite editors via link) |
When travelling to remote regions or international destinations without guaranteed cellular reception, pairing custom lists with offline maps in Google Maps ensures your bookmarked spots remain accessible without mobile data.
Step-by-Step Tutorial: Creating a Custom List in Google Maps
You can create and manage custom lists using the Google Maps mobile application on Android and iOS or via your desktop browser:
- Open Google Maps on your smartphone.
- Tap the Saved (or You) tab in the bottom navigation bar.
- Under the Your lists header, tap New list (represented by a blue plus icon).
- Enter a descriptive name for your list (e.g., Edinburgh Coffee Shops or Cornwall Road Trip 2026).
- Add an optional description detailing the list’s purpose or recommendations.
- Tap Choose icon to select a distinctive emoji (such as a coffee cup, tent, or burger) that will appear directly over bookmarked spots on your live map view.
- Choose your initial privacy level:
- Private: Only you can view and edit the list.
- Shared: Anyone with the unique link can view (and optionally edit) the list.
- Public: Discoverable in Google search results and on your public Google Maps profile.
- Tap Save in the top-right corner to establish the list.
Adding and Annotating Locations in Your List
Once your list is created, adding locations is straightforward:
- Search for any business, landmark, or dropped pin on the map.
- On the location information card, tap the Save bookmark button.
- Tick the checkbox beside your newly created custom list and tap Done.
- Add Personal Notes: Return to the Saved tab, tap your list, locate the newly added venue, and tap Add note. You can record specific tips, such as “Order the sourdough croissant” or “Park behind the building”. These notes appear directly beneath the location card for everyone viewing the list.
How to Collaborate and Share Lists with Others
Custom lists are exceptionally useful for group planning. You can invite friends or colleagues to add their own suggestions to a collective itinerary:
- Open the list from the Saved tab and tap the Share button.
- To allow others to add recommendations, toggle on Let others edit this list.
- Copy the sharing link or send it directly via WhatsApp, Messages, or email.
- When recipients open the link in their Google Maps app, they can tap Join to become active collaborators, allowing them to append new venues and leave comments.
Managing and Hiding List Pins on Your Map
Having hundreds of emoji icons cluttering your screen can make general navigation overwhelming. You can toggle map visibility without deleting the list:
- Open your custom list, tap the three-dot overflow menu in the top-right corner, and select Hide on your map.
- To restore pins to your map canvas later, return to the list settings and select Show on your map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone edit my custom list if I only shared a view link?
No. Collaborator editing is strictly disabled by default. Other people can only append venues if you explicitly enabled the ‘Let others edit this list’ toggle before sharing the link.
Do custom list icons appear when navigating in driving mode?
Yes. Custom list emoji icons remain visible on your map layer during driving and walking navigation, provided the list visibility is toggled on.
What happens to a shared list if the owner deletes their Google account?
If the original creator deletes the list or closes their account, the shared link becomes invalid and the list is removed from collaborators’ accounts unless they individually saved duplicate copies.