You just moved. Boxes are everywhere, the cat is hiding under a radiator, and you’ve realized that every time you tap "Home" on your phone to check traffic, Google tries to send you back to your old apartment three towns away. It's annoying. Actually, it's more than annoying when you're tired and just want to get to your new bed without thinking.
Getting your digital life to catch up with your physical one is usually a clunky process. Google Maps is great, but it’s a bit stubborn about your "Home" and "Work" labels because they’re tied deep into your Google Account’s "Your Places" data. If you’ve ever tried to just drag a pin and failed, you’re not alone. The interface changes depending on whether you're using an iPhone, an Android, or a desktop browser, which makes a simple fix feel like a tech support nightmare.
The fastest way to change your home address on Google Maps right now
Let's get straight to it. Most people try to search for their new address and look for a "make this home" button. It doesn't exist. Instead, you have to go into your profile settings. If you’re on your phone, open the app and look at that little circular icon in the top right—your profile picture. Tap it. Then hit Settings, followed by Edit home or work.
Wait. There’s an even faster way if you’re already looking at the map.
Tap the Saved tab at the bottom of the screen. Right at the top, you’ll see a section called "Your lists" and a specific button for Labeled. This is where Google hides your Home and Work tags. See the three little dots next to "Home"? Tap those, select Edit home, and type in the new spot. It’s that easy, yet for some reason, the menu layout makes it feel like you’re searching for a needle in a haystack.
Sometimes the app hangs. If you type the address and it doesn't "take," it’s usually a cache issue. Honestly, just close the app entirely and restart it. Google’s servers sometimes need a second to realize you don't live on 5th Street anymore.
Why your computer might be easier than your phone
If you're sitting at a desk, don't bother fumbling with your thumb on a small screen. Using a browser is actually way more reliable for syncing across all your devices. Go to maps.google.com.
Look at the search bar in the top left corner. Don't type anything yet. Just click inside it. Usually, "Home" and "Work" will pop up as suggestions immediately. If they do, you'll see a small "Edit" link next to them. Click it. If they don't show up, click the "hamburger" menu (those three horizontal lines) in the top left, go to Your places, and then the Labeled tab.
Type the new address. Google will suggest it. Click the right one. Done.
One thing people get wrong: they think changing the address on the map changes their billing address for Google Pay or their shipping address for Chrome. It doesn't. This is strictly for navigation. If you want your packages to go to the right house, that’s a whole different setting in your Google Account under "Addresses." Maps is just for the "Take me home" voice command.
Dealing with the "Old Address" ghosting issue
You changed it. You’re sure you did. But then you’re driving, you say "Hey Google, navigate home," and the lady in the dashboard starts directing you to your ex’s house. This is a common sync error.
Google Maps stores data in multiple layers. There is your "Personalized Map" and then there is your "Web & App Activity." If the old address keeps popping up, you might need to clear your Map history.
Go to your Google Account settings, find Data & Privacy, and look for Maps History. Sometimes the old address is pinned there as a "recent" result, and the algorithm gives it priority over your new labeled home. Delete the old entries. It feels like overkill, but it works.
When the map simply doesn't recognize your house
New builds are a headache. If you’ve moved into a brand-new subdivision, Google Maps might not even know your street exists yet. You’ll try to change your home address on Google Maps and get an error saying "Address not found."
In this case, you can't just type it. You have to drop a pin.
- Zoom in on the map until you find the exact spot where your house is.
- Long-press on the screen to drop a "Dropped Pin."
- Pull up the info sheet from the bottom.
- Tap Label.
- Type "Home."
Google will ask if you want to replace your existing home address with this coordinate. Say yes. Over time, as more people use GPS in your neighborhood, Google will eventually verify the street name and number, but the coordinate-based label will get you home in the meantime.
The weird truth about Google's "Predictive" home address
Google knows where you live even if you don't tell it. It’s a bit creepy, but if you have "Location History" turned on, Google tracks where your phone stays overnight. If you move and forget to update your labels, after a few weeks, Maps might actually prompt you: "Is this your new home?"
If you see that notification, click it. It’s the easiest way to update the system. It’s using a process called "semantic location" where the AI recognizes patterns in your movement. It sees you stop at 6:00 PM and stay there until 7:00 AM every day. It figures it out.
Privacy concerns and the "Work" label
A lot of people are getting rid of their "Home" and "Work" labels entirely. Why? Because if someone gets a hold of your unlocked phone, those labels are a roadmap to your most vulnerable locations.
If you want to remove the address instead of changing it:
- Go back to that Labeled section in Your places.
- Hit the 'X' or the three dots and select Remove home.
You can still navigate home by typing your address manually each time, or by using a nickname that isn't "Home." Maybe call it "The Batcave." It keeps things a little more private if you’re worried about data security or someone snooping through your phone.
Real-world troubleshooting for iPhone users
If you’re on an iPhone, Google Maps has to play nice with Apple’s permissions. Sometimes, even if you change your home in Google Maps, Siri will still try to use Apple Maps to take you to the old place.
To fix this globally on an iPhone, you actually need to update your "My Card" in the Contacts app.
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- Open Contacts.
- Tap your name at the top.
- Edit your home address there.
Google Maps will often pull from your Google Contacts if they are synced. If there is a conflict between what’s in your contacts and what’s in the Maps app, the app can get confused. Keep them identical.
Actionable Next Steps
Don't just read this and hope it works later. Do it now while you're thinking about it.
- Check your current label: Open Google Maps, type "Home" in the search bar, and see where the pin drops.
- Update the "Labeled" tab: Use the Saved > Labeled path to swap the address if it's wrong.
- Clear the cache: If the old address persists, go into your phone's app settings and clear the Google Maps cache.
- Verify on desktop: Log in to your computer to ensure the change synced across your entire Google account.
- Update your Contact Card: If you use an iPhone or use Google Contacts, make sure your "Home" address is updated there too to prevent data conflicts.
Once you’ve updated the label, try a test run. Use a voice command to see if the assistant recognizes the new location. Usually, the change is instant, but give it five minutes before you assume it failed.