Explore · Measure · Discover
Earth Pro Support
Earth Pro 1.0 · build 8.
Questions, bug reports, feedback, and privacy requests go to Earth Pro’s developer, Zac Henson.
Getting started
Earth Pro runs on macOS 14 or later. Use the globe, Apple Maps, or OpenStreetMap without a Google Maps API key. Select a provider above the map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and use the compass to rotate or return north.
Google maps and 3D
Google maps and photorealistic 3D are optional. Add your own compatible Google Maps API key using Connect Google in the toolbar. Google services require the corresponding APIs, billing, and suitable key restrictions in your Google Cloud project; charges may apply. Coverage varies by location. The key is saved in macOS Keychain. If macOS asks for Keychain access after an update, allow access to the existing saved key or retry from settings.
Layers and historical imagery
Search the Layers section to find available layers. Drag the divider above Layers to resize it. The 3D Buildings toggle uses the selected provider’s capabilities; OpenStreetMap raster tiles do not provide 3D buildings. Historical imagery uses NASA satellite data, with dates and coverage dependent on that source.
Places, overlays, and measurements
Use the toolbar to add placemarks, paths, polygons, and image overlays, or open KML and KMZ files. The ruler and polygon tools offer selectable distance and area units and precision. Image overlays support bounds, rotation, opacity, and visibility controls.
Places, Layers, and Data
Places contains folders, saved pins and custom layers. Right-click a place for Fly To, notes, editing, move and export actions. Layers has a search box and visibility controls; its actions menu can restore the default core layers. Data discovers sources for the current map view or another chosen area. The catalog contains 21,412 source entries; coverage varies and not every entry has been tested. Choose a service and its layer before adding geometry. Water, sewer, parcel, zoning, and flood coverage depends on the publisher.
Use Import or Manage layers and connections to add KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, or a shapefile ZIP/folder. For a shapefile, keep the matching SHP, DBF, and PRJ files together with the same base name. Custom and public live layers refresh only when you request a refresh, and the request is bounded to the map view. Source update date is the date supplied by the publisher; Last checked is when Earth Pro last fetched that source. They describe different events, and some publishers provide no update date.
Supported source styles appear with filled polygon colors and layer legends. When a style cannot be represented, Earth Pro uses a visible fallback and explains it in the layer notice. FEMA hatch patterns are displayed as solid fills with an explicit notice. Results may be partial when a source or app limit is reached; custom layers are limited to 300 geometries and 16,000 vertices per layer. Zoom closer and refresh to request a smaller area.
Data libraries
Data → Data libraries organizes 31 sources into Local data & utilities, Imagery & earth observation, Historical maps, and Reference sources. Nine provider entries offer live searches; 22 offer reference links or manual setup. Select an area and provider, search, inspect access and source dates, then choose a numbered ArcGIS layer or add a supported Socrata/OpenDataSoft vector result. Those two connection types retain the original search area; repeat discovery to choose another area. Searching alone never enables a layer.
STAC and OpenAerialMap results show scene dates, footprints, and asset links. Add scene footprint plots the coverage boundary; it does not display the raster imagery. Some assets require another renderer, authentication, or a provider account. Metadata result handles expire after 15 minutes; search again if a result expires.
Imagery history
History supports NASA daily satellite archives and Esri Wayback releases. Archive release dates differ from imagery capture dates. Capture dates are displayed only when the provider supplies them. These archives do not provide Google historical aerial imagery.
Video recording
Use Record Video in the toolbar to start and stop a silent map recording. Choose a save location when prompted. Recordings do not include microphone audio.
Local MCP control
Local MCP starts enabled and remembers your preference. Open the network icon in the toolbar to switch it off or use Copy LLM Prompt for connection instructions. Only connect clients you trust: they can read supported app state and use the exposed map tools. Turn local control off to disconnect clients. The data_libraries tool exposes list, collections, search, layers and add_result, including capabilities, access notes, source dates and expiring result handles. Copy fresh connection instructions after restarting the app.
Your data and deletion
Places, overlays, preferences, and search history are stored locally. Delete places and overlays through the app and clear search history from the search-history menu. Remove a Google key through Google settings. Exported files and videos remain in the locations you chose until you delete them in Finder. See the privacy policy for network requests and storage details.
Reporting a problem
Include your macOS version, Earth Pro version, selected map provider, steps to reproduce, and what you expected. Do not send API keys, MCP tokens, or private geographic files. Share screenshots only after checking them for sensitive information.
Open-source code and commercial-use limits
The distributed app’s included data/service configuration is not cleared for commercial use as-is. Earth Pro’s original code and artwork remain open source under MIT, which permits commercial use of that code. MIT does not license third-party maps, datasets, imagery, APIs, or services.
The app’s online elevation feature uses Open-Meteo’s free API, which permits noncommercial use only. Commercial deployments must replace or properly license restricted services and verify every enabled data source and intended export, screenshot, or recording. The stock app does not offer a commercial Open-Meteo endpoint/key setting; a compliant alternative requires an adapted build or service configuration. An API key for another provider does not remove these obligations.
Some sources permit commercial use, including public-domain datasets; others carry service, attribution, redistribution, or other conditions. Public access or catalog inclusion is not permission for commercial reuse. This notice does not add restrictions to MIT-licensed code. See the full third-party notices and code license.