KML Viewer
Open a .kml file on a map straight away — no Google Earth install, no account, and the file never leaves your computer.
Opening a KML without installing anything
KML is the format Google Earth popularised, and it is still what a lot of government agencies, surveyors and drone operators hand out. The problem is that opening one traditionally means installing Google Earth Pro or a full GIS package. When somebody emails you a boundary file and you simply need to see where it is, this page renders it in a couple of seconds. Parsing happens in your browser using JavaScript, so the file is never uploaded to a server.
What is rendered and what is ignored
All KML geometry types are drawn: Point placemarks, LineString paths, Polygon boundaries with holes, and MultiGeometry collections. Names and descriptions appear in a popup when you click a feature, along with any ExtendedData fields. KML styling — custom icons, line colours, fill opacity — is not applied, because the viewer draws everything in a consistent house style so that all features stay visible against the basemap. Network links and ground overlays are not followed.
- Drawn: Point, LineString, Polygon, LinearRing, MultiGeometry
- Readable: name, description, ExtendedData attributes
- Not applied: Style, StyleMap, custom icons and colours
- Not followed: NetworkLink, GroundOverlay, ScreenOverlay
Why your KMZ will not open here
A KMZ is a ZIP archive containing a KML plus any images and icons it references. Because it is compressed, a plain text parser cannot read it directly. The quickest workaround is to rename the file from .kmz to .zip, unzip it, and upload the doc.kml found inside. A GeoDataMapper account handles KMZ upload directly, including the packaged imagery.
Where the file came from matters
KML exported by Google My Maps and Google Earth is usually clean and predictable. KML generated by older desktop tools or by hand can contain quirks: coordinates with line breaks in unexpected places, missing namespace declarations, or a Document element wrapped in extra layers of Folder. If a file fails to load, opening it in a text editor and checking the first twenty lines almost always reveals the problem.
Free version
- Placemarks, paths, polygons and MultiGeometry
- Click a feature to read its name and description
- Automatic zoom to the data extent
- Works on phones and tablets too
With a GeoDataMapper account
- Open KMZ archives with embedded imagery and styles
- Overlay several KML files at once
- Edit placemarks and re-export
- Publish as a shareable web map
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Google Earth?▾
No. This viewer runs entirely in the browser, on any device, with no plugin or install.
Why do my custom icons and colours not show?▾
KML styles are deliberately not applied so every feature stays legible over the basemap. Paid plans support full style rendering.
Can I open a KMZ file?▾
Not directly. Rename it to .zip, extract it, and open the .kml inside — or use an account for direct KMZ support.
Is my file uploaded to a server?▾
No. It is read locally by your browser and nothing is transmitted or stored.
How large a file can it handle?▾
Tens of megabytes is fine on a modern machine. Very large files render faster if you simplify them first.