How to Find Photos by Location on Your Phone (And Why It Might Not Be Working)
If you’ve ever wasted time scrolling endlessly trying to find that one perfect photo from your trip to Paris or a hike in Yosemite, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: your phone might already be organizing your memories by location, if you know where to look.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to find photos by location using Apple Photos and Google Photos, and what to do if it doesn’t seem to be working.
Apple Photos: How to Find Photos by Location
Apple has built a powerful photo mapping feature right into the Photos app:
Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
Scroll down to the "Utilities" section.
Tap on "Map" to explore a visual view of where all your photos were taken.
You’ll see tiny photo thumbnails placed on a map, letting you zoom in to specific places and moments.
Tip: This is a great way to relive a vacation or track down a photo when you remember the place more than the date.
Google Photos: Search by Place
For Android users (or anyone using the Google Photos app), it’s just as easy:
Open Google Photos.
Tap Search at the bottom.
Scroll down to the Places section.
You’ll see a list and a map view of where photos were taken. Just tap a location, and voilà—instant memory lane.
But Wait… Why Don’t I See Any Locations?
If the map is empty or missing key locations, it’s probably because Location Services were turned off.
To fix that:
On iPhone:
Go to Settings.
Tap Privacy & Security > Location Services.
Make sure it's turned on for Camera.
On Android:
Go to Settings > Location.
Make sure it's on.
Check that Camera or Photos apps have permission to use location.
Without these settings turned on, your photos won’t record where they were taken.
Why This Matters for Photo Organization
When it comes to organizing thousands of digital photos, searchable metadata is everything. Dates, faces, and locations help you track down photos fast. That’s why enabling location data—and knowing how to use it—is one of the best-kept secrets for smarter photo management.
If you’re overwhelmed with years of unorganized photos, we can help. At Picturli, we specialize in:
Organizing digital photo libraries
Adding missing metadata like dates and locations
Designing travel photo books and keepsakes
Ready to Find the Memories That Matter Most?
We help families, professionals, and institutions organize their photo collections so they can enjoy them again—not just store them.
Book a free consultation or send us a message to get started.
Your memories deserve to be seen, shared, and preserved.