Google Earth Pro: A Panoramic 3D Mapping and Geographic Analysis Tool to Explore Every Corner of the World

Updated Logs

Ref：See notes on Google Earth releases

Earth version 7.3.6

• Movie Maker tool:
  • Hardware-accelerated video encoding for faster processing and better image quality.
  • HEVC (H.265) codec support.
  • Full navigation controls, including Historical Imagery and Street View, available in live recording mode.
  • Better responsiveness during live recording.
  • Can defer video encoding until after live recording is finished.
  • In live recording mode, less obtrusive recording status dialog.
  • Live recordings accurately show the timing of user actions during the recording session.
  • Save video frames in QOI image format.
• Break apart a Multi Geometry place mark into individual place marks.
• Combine multiple selected place marks into a single Multi Geometry place mark.
• Import GeoJSON files.
• Improved printing tool quality.
• Save Image tool:
  • Increased maximum image size.
  • PNG format support.
• Adjusted Google Earth logo size in main view, saved images, and printouts.
• Windows: Automatically support high-DPI displays.
• macOS: Fix illegible dialog tabs on macOS 11+.
• macOS: Cosmetic refinements to My Places and Layers panels.
• Regionate tool supports KML Schema extended data.
• Consistently save KML files with no changes from session to session.
• Correctly import CSV files with values that contain quotation marks.
• Edit KML LinearRing place mark line style.
• Other minor fixes and improvements.

Earth version 7.3.4

• Fixes for 3D controller devices on Mac and Windows.
• Resolves navigation bugs in Street View mode.
• Fixes distorted rendering of Street View imagery.
• Improved support of new map layers.
• Faster import of GeoTIFF files.
• Accurate stars and night sky background positions.
• Improved compatibility with recent Linux versions.
• Security updates and fixes.
• Other fixes and enhancements.

Earth version 7.3.3

• Updated Street View experience.
• Enhanced plus code search results.
• Shift+right-click on map displays plus code.
• "View in Google Earth on Web" button opens the current view in Google Earth on web.
• When you add a photo to a placemark, the placemark can be automatically repositioned to the GPS location of the photo.
• Fixes connectivity issues sometimes seen after reconnecting to WiFi.
• GPS imports now support GeoJSON format.
• Addresses security vulnerabilities:
  • CVE-2020-8895: DLL hijacking of Windows executable installer.
  • CVE-2020-8896: Buffer overrun due to invalid encryption key lengths.
• Other minor fixes and updates.

Earth version 7.3.2

• Places panel: multiple-item selection, moving, deletion; performance improvements.
• Network security updates and fixes; improved certificate support.
• CSV import improvements: support older Mac file formats, multi-line text fields.
• Ground overlay editor: fix glitchy rotation, rotation handle positioning.
• Print preview: fixed mouse-wheel zooming, display refresh problems.
• International languages: fix missing translations, keyboard shortcuts, UI elements.
• Tables tool: improved stability, layout, data synchronization.
• Tour Guide is hidden by default, reflecting Earth Pro use case.
• Windows: allow Earth to run concurrently in multiple user sessions.
• Windows: improved appearance on high-resolution monitors.
• Windows 64-bit fixes: joystick support; crash when hiding 3D buildings; COM application (e.g., Garmin BaseCamp) interface.
• Linux: support for "spacenav" 3D controller driver software.

Earth version 7.3.1

• Windows 64-bit: 64-bit application.
• Windows: support for SSL client authentication with secure servers.
• Windows: stability improvements in DirectX mode.
• Linux: added support for printing, embedded video, and sounds.
• Performance improvements with large KML files.
• Improved support for secure connections and handling of certificate errors.
• Polygons spanning the antimeridian no longer sometimes disappear.
• CSV import tool user interface fixes and better Unicode support.
• Repair Tool improvements.
• Elevation Profile tool measurements are now more consistent.
• Better translations throughout the user interface.
• GPS device live mode functionality restored.
• Fixed incompatibility with high-refresh-rate displays.

• Windows: upgrading from 32 to 64-bit application resets cache.
• "Tables" tool user interface, stability problems.

Earth version 7.1.8.3036

• Various security issues.
• Some files missing from saved KMZs.
• Crash in View in Maps if user logged in.
• License-related problems with Earth Pro.
• Incorrectly-localized user interface elements.
• Settings/Preferences dialog unexpected behavior.
• Windows: View in Maps frozen.
• Windows: Feedback tool broken.
• Windows: program hangs when saving search results.
• Windows: installer doesn't clean up files.
• Mac: crash running on OS X 10.6.
• Mac: installer conflicts between different Earth variants.
• Linux (Debian): search crash.
• Linux: installer not installing needed libraries.
• Linux: spurious network warning messages.
• Linux: crash viewing Moon landmarks.

• Image picker for placemark editing.
• Remove Earth Pro "upsell" links.
• Browser Plugin (bundled and standalone) discontinued.
• High-detail terrain enabled by default.
• Windows: Qt application library upgraded.
• Linux: Earth Pro now available.
• Linux: installers now signed.

• Tour guide, overlays sometimes overlap Startup Tips, About dialogs.
• Windows (7): Installer drawing issues.
• Linux: Earth Pro: In Movie Maker, some GPS features not available.
• Linux: Earth Pro: Import dialogs sometimes slow/laggy.

Earth version 7.1.7.2606

• Compatibility problem with Windows XP.
• Earth Pro stops refreshing content after a few minutes.

Earth version 7.1.7.2602

• Compatibility issue with 3dconnexion framework causing startup failures on some Mac installations.

Earth version 7.1.7.2600

• Removed menu items for Google Maps Engine and the Google Earth Community.
• New Google and Google Earth logos.
• Crashes from rearranging items in My Places.
• Earth Pro: Removed registration dialog as Pro no longer requires a license.
• Windows: “1603” installer error caused by attempts to re-install Earth 7.
• Linux: Font dialog and other crashes.
• Linux: Cache data inconsistency between 32 and 64-bit builds.
• Linux: RPM installer problems with permissions in directory “/usr/bin”.
• Mac & Linux: Updated driver support for 3Dconnexion controller devices.

Earth version 7.1.5.1557

• The Google account sign-in process was updated from OAuth 1.0 to OAuth 2.0, given the deprecation of OAuth 1.0.
• Fixed issues with the auto-update process on Mac OS X.

Earth version 7.1.4.1529

• New Windows installer: MSIs are now created using WiX instead of InstallShield.
• New Mac installer: new installations and first-time auto-updates to 7.1.4+ may require an admin password.
• Enterprise version no longer connects to Google OAuth servers at startup.
• Minor security fixes.
• Logo refresh (now with capital 'E' in Earth).

Earth version 7.1.2.2041

• The “Enable Controller” option in user preferences is now turned off by default. This prevents red directional arrows from displaying as a result of uncalibrated joysticks and other controllers being connected to Earth at startup.
• For enhanced security, “Use HTTPS for Google connections” is now toggled on by default.
• We fixed a bug whereby the cache size rose above user-specified limits.
• We fixed a crash resulting from searching on some Windows machines.
• We updated the LEAP API to version 1.0.8.
• We reduced LEAP controller sensitivity to user hand motions. This enables a smoother flight and greater control over your flight path when using a LEAP.

Earth version 7.1.1.1888

• Updated the LEAP API to version 1.0.8 and fixed a crash affecting a portion of users running Earth on Windows XP.
• "Enable Controller" option is now default on. To address uncalibrated controller issues:
  1. Turn off "Enable Controller" in "Navigation" tab of Options/Preferences.
  2. Unplug external controllers.
  3. Recalibrate external controllers.

Earth version 7.1.1.1871

• Fixed unified_cache_leveldb_leveldb2 directory exceeding specified cache limits for some users.
• Imagery no longer stays blurry when cache is full.
• Fixed corrupted text or navigation controls for certain NVIDIA cards.
• Font and tilt settings now persist between sessions.
• Improved UI for Flight Simulator and fixed balloon display issues when recording tours.
• Fixed polygons and image overlays display across the Antimeridian.
• Performance and stability improvements.
• [Pro] Fixed .avi file artifacts in movie rendering and Viewshed errors in the southern hemisphere.

• SketchUp Buildings appear corrupted when Atmosphere is on for certain Radeon GPUs.
• Elevation Profile displays blank on Mac machines with specific GPUs.
• Plugin will not install in Firefox while running. Install with Firefox closed.
• Audio recorded in tours does not play across platforms.
• Tours stop recording without 3D View movement during recording.
• [Pro] Print style options are broken when Atmosphere is off.

Earth version 7.1.1.1580

• Ability to create rich, annotated images from print and save.
• Redesigned print flow.
• Viewshed/Line of Sight analysis tool from a placemark.

• Support for LEAP Motion device.
• Enhanced starfield.
• Google Feedback tool integration.
• Redesigned balloons.

• Improved performance in Movie Maker and 3D imagery areas.
• Fixed incorrect rendering of vector layers and better handling of international dateline overlays.

• Plugin fails to initialize on Internet Explorer 10 and 11. Enable Compatibility View as a workaround.
• Elevation profiles display blank on certain Mac configurations.

Earth version 7.0.3.8542

• Fixed unified_cache_leveldb_leveldb2 directory exceeding cache limits.
• Handled SSL certificate revocation errors.
• Improved lighting for Diorama buildings in OGL.
• Improved stability for extended usage and specific GPU families.
• Fixed imagery display issues for Linux users with Intel GPUs.

• Placemark and linestring quality no longer diminishes after browser refresh.

• Water surfaces around coastlines flicker upon zoom.
• [Pro/Enterprise] Slow rendering of movies with 3D imagery tilt. Use Earth 6.2.2.6613 as a workaround.

Earth version 7.0.2

• Substantial performance improvements. Scenes load faster than previous Beta releases.
• Minor tweaks to the Tour Guide UI.

• Fixed the bug preventing movie recording from saved tours.
• Wikipedia text displays in tours.
• Gray buildings and extruded polygons have improved lighting effects.
• Imagery holes no longer appear after enabling the sun in DirectX mode on certain hardware.
• Icons align correctly upon installation of .dmg.

• SketchUp models and extruded polygons appear gray in DirectX mode on Radeon graphics cards; use OpenGL as a workaround.
• Clamped polygons and image overlays display multiple instances in 3D cities on certain hardware.
• Water surfaces around coastlines flicker upon zoom.
• Terrain and water surface oddities exist at the antimeridian.

Earth version 7.0

• Support for 3D imagery data for metropolitan environments.
• Tour Guide mechanism for exploring interesting places dynamically.
• Support for terrain data accessed via Google Maps Engine.
• Zooming in tilts at higher elevation to showcase 3D imagery.
• Unified graphical rendering pipeline.
• Redesigned startup tips and status bar.

• Fixed a Pro and Enterprise bug where cached login data disappeared after upgrading to Mac OS 10.8+.
• Sound can now be recorded from a microphone for tours.
• Improved Atmosphere feature for NVIDIA GeForce cards.
• Polygons clamped to the seafloor now display correctly.

• PC Enterprise users note flashing historical imagery when using the time slider in some areas; use 6.2 for Enterprise as a workaround.
• Terrain and imagery overlapping the antimeridian occasionally appear broken.
• Changes to shaders strain older graphics cards; check updated system requirements.

Earth version 6.2

• Enhanced search with clearer local business and directions results.
• Improved imagery rendering:
  • Seamless imagery at higher altitudes.
  • Fade-in animation for imagery as it loads.
  • Anisotropic filtering enabled by default.
  • Improved level of detail calculation for imagery tiles.
• Unified network stack for consistent loading of imagery, vector content, and embedded browser content.
• Ability to share screenshots with Google+ circles directly from the client.
• Improved performance for 3D buildings.

• Fixed ground overlays without "icon" tag rendering issues.
• Added ability to create balloon HTML for locally saved images using the "Add image" button.
• Fixed proxy accessibility issues for the Google Earth Plug-in and Client.
• Improved network link updates in parallel on synchronous updates.

• New search and screenshot sharing pages are not fully translated into all languages.
• Text in the Google login box is clipped at the bottom.
• Instability and memory growth seen in long-running or looping tours.

Earth version 6.1

• Improved printing support, including North indicator, scale, and print size controls.
• Simplified movie-making interface and improved performance.
• Enhanced data import with shared balloon styles and increased categorization limit (8 to 64).
• Ability to view elevation profiles while measuring.

• Improved network access robustness (better Proxy and SSL cert support).
• Better resolution in elevation profiles for lines and tracks.
• Ability to sort and navigate "My Places."
• Enhanced Street View with zoom sliders, wider field of view, and indoor floor navigation.
• Fixed bugs for missing road labels in curvy or zoomed-in roads.

• Conformed to OGC KML 2.2 standards for coordinates parsing.
• Performance improvements for specific configurations.
• Fixed "Restrict to View" for shapefile imports.
• Corrected KML element ordering and improved placemark editing with UTM coordinates.
• Upgraded GDAL support to 1.7.0 for better .tab file imports.

Earth version 6.0.2

• Resolved excessive KML layer data fetching causing slowness and memory issues.
• Fixed ruler tool disappearing and measurement inaccuracies.
• Optimized data fetching for photo overlays and Street View.
• Fixed crashes with elevation profiles and fly-to links in KML files.
• Corrected missing titles for Panoramio pictures and 3D building rendering issues.
• Improved tilt functionality using "shift" + scroll wheel on Mac.

• Fixed crash with StyleMap referencing non-existent styles.
• Resolved plug-in issues with HTTPS sites and ground-level navigation API.

Earth version 6.0B

• Integrated Street View: Fully integrated Street View experience with pegman navigation.
• 3D Trees: Added trees to 3D buildings layer, available in select locations.
• Historical Imagery: Instantly view oldest available imagery by clicking date in the status bar.
• Ground-level navigation: Walk around 3D buildings, trees, and Street View imagery.
• 3D Measurements: Measure heights, widths, and distances of 3D buildings in Google Earth Pro.

• Tour Recorder Improvements: Enhanced motion fidelity, sound synchronization, and support for Sunlight, Street View, and Historical Imagery modes.
• Discontinued support for PowerPC Macs, OS X 10.4, and Windows 2000.
• Improved Linux compatibility with Linux Standard Base binaries.

• Addressed slow browser and balloon performance.
• Resolved broken images in balloons and Flash-induced crashes on Linux.

• Added API support for Street View, 3D trees, and altitude offsets for lines and polygons.
• Improved performance on Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard).

Earth version 5.2 Out of Beta

• Visualization of rain/snow in the weather layer.

• Fixed rendering issues with polygon overlays in DirectX mode.
• Improved stability and resolved GPS bugs with various devices.
• Corrected navigation issues with the Ruler tool and panoramic photo tilting.
• Fixed issues with high-resolution image saving and printing in Pro version.
• Improved startup time for the internal browser.

Earth version 5.2

• Improved embedded browser functionality: Better integration with the Google Earth application.
• Track and Multitrack: Create and animate tracks with position and orientation data over time using the time slider.
• Elevation Profile: View elevation profiles, speed, and extended data (e.g., heart rate) for tracks or line-strings.
• Additional file imports: Support for NMEA, Garmin GDB, Garmin Training Center, Ozi Explorer, and GPX files with fitness extensions.

• Additional layers: US Demographics, Parcel Data, and Daily Traffic Counts.
• Efficient Regionated KML creation for vectors and images.
• Improvements to Draw and Measure tools and spreadsheet data import.
• Other improvements:
  • Better polygon rendering and fixes for anti-meridian overlays.
  • Improved stability and memory consumption.
  • Added MGRS coordinate system and editing support for UTM coordinates.

• Distorted text and view in movie-making with high resolutions in OpenGL mode. Workarounds include adjusting window size or using DirectX mode.

• Enhanced time support, including toggling historical imagery and creating timestamps.
• Access to balloon content and improved accessors for various API functionalities.

Earth version 5.100B

• Bug fixes:
  • Icon style heading fixes.
  • Pro hi-res printing labels fixed.
  • Region fade-extent bug resolved.
  • Fixed placemarks flashing in region-based network links.
  • Crash-on-exit bug fixed.
• Changes:
  • Removed "beta" label from Google Earth clients.
  • Added Intel-only Mac installer package.

Earth version 5.1

• Improved startup time, rendering performance, and memory utilization.
• Better road rendering and smoother frame rates in dense road networks.
• Enhanced performance for large KML documents and region-based network links.
• Support for "moon" or "mars" KML hints to switch to respective celestial views.
• Desktop application compatible with Windows 7.
• Increased memory cache size to 1024 MB.

• API additions:
  • KmlListStyle::listItemType and related enums.
  • google.earth.executeBatch(fn).
  • Experimental KmlFeature::get/setOpacity.
• Improved performance for JavaScript applications with allocated processing time.

Earth version 5.0.1

• Improved 3D building streaming and memory handling.
• Better tour path smoothing and interpolation during tour creation.
• Enhanced Collada model handling for animated textures and resources.
• Pro Movie Maker fixes:
  • Resolved issues with animated water surfaces in high-resolution movies.
  • Fixed bugs in creating large AVI movies and crashes during recording.
• Fixed installation issues on 64-bit Linux machines.
• Resolved issues with text clustering below water and cases where sound continued playing after tours were paused.
• Improved handling of altitude modes in `` tags.

Earth version 5.0

• Support for displaying underwater terrain, water surfaces, and underwater 3D models.
• Historical imagery with a new UI element for selecting historical imagery assets.
• Touring feature for recording and playing back tours, including sound recording.
• Support for full HTML, JavaScript, and iframes in balloons.
• Mars imagery, terrain, and layers accessible through a dropdown menu.
• Support for 15 additional languages (total of 41 languages).
• Unified user interface for time-based KML, sunlight, and historical imagery.
• Redesigned user interface icons and splash screen.
• Ability to open description balloons by clicking on lines and polygons.
• Support for arbitrary corner positions for ground overlays.
• 3D buildings enabled by default on capable machines.
• Full-scene anti-aliasing in OpenGL mode on Windows systems.
• GPS device track import and real-time tracking now available at no cost.
• Improved label bouncing for KML content.
• Separate installers for all users or single users on Windows.

• Faster startup time and more rigorous adherence to cache settings.
• Faster KML file processing.
• Significant performance improvements for 3D buildings in DirectX mode.
• Enhanced support for anisotropic filtering and level of detail computation.
• Use of OGC standard KML names when saving KML files.
• Improved regionated KML file performance and better printing and saving features in the Pro version.
• Added HD view/output sizes.

• 3D buildings may not display in low memory situations. Workarounds include increasing cache size, restoring defaults, or clearing the memory cache.
• Sound recording may not work on some Windows systems. Installing Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86) may fix this.
• KML balloon formatting may differ compared to previous versions, sometimes showing unnecessary horizontal scrollbars.
• Switching to "Sky" from "Mars" does not update the search box for sky searches.
• Overlays drawn on the ocean surface may also appear on the underwater terrain.
• Missing images in balloons may cause flickering.
• Styles from network-linked KMZ files may not always override parent file styles.
• KML files saved from the client may contain unnecessary extra namespace declarations.
• Using "fly to" during tour recording might cause jittering in the recording.