Where Google stores your address and why it matters

Google stores your address in several places depending on what you use Google for. If you have a Google Account, your address lives in your account settings. If you run a business listing on Google Maps or Google Business Profile, your business address is separate. If you use Gmail, Google Photos, or Google Drive, those services pull from your account address. Changing your address in one place does not automatically change it everywhere—you need to update each location where Google has stored it.

Your address on Google affects what appears when someone searches for you, what shows up on your Google Maps profile, where Google sends account recovery codes, and what location data is tied to your photos and documents. Getting it right matters because outdated information can cause mail delivery problems, make it harder for people to find you, and create security gaps if Google tries to verify your identity.

Key Takeaways

  • Your personal address lives in your Google Account settings under "Personal info," separate from any business listing you may have.
  • Google Business Profile (for business addresses) and your personal Google Account are two different systems that do not sync with each other.
  • You can change your address on any device where you are signed into your Google Account, and the change takes effect when ready.
  • If you have a business listing, you will need to update that address separately through Google Business Profile, and Google may send a postcard to verify the new address.

Updating your personal address in your Google Account

Open your Google Account by going to myaccount.google.com in any web browser. Sign in with your email and password if you are not already signed in. On the left side of the page, click Personal info. You will see a section labeled Basic info with your name, email, phone number, and address.

Click on the address field. You can now type in your new street address, city, state, and zip code. Google will show you suggestions as you type—select the correct one from the dropdown to make sure the address format is recognized. Click Save when you are done. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few hours to sync across all Google services.

If you do not see an address field, it means you have not entered one yet. Click Add address in the Basic info section and enter your information the same way.

Changing your address on a phone or tablet

On an Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app and scroll down to find Google. Tap Manage your Google Account, then tap the Personal info tab at the top. Tap Address and enter your new address. Tap Save.

On an iPhone or iPad, you cannot change your Google Account address directly in the Google app. Instead, open a web browser, go to myaccount.google.com, and follow the same steps as you would on a computer. The process is identical.

Updating a business address on Google Maps or Google Business Profile

If you own or manage a business listing, your business address is stored separately from your personal Google Account address. Go to business.google.com and sign in. Click on the business name you want to update. On the left menu, click Info. You will see your business address listed under Address.

Click the address field to edit it. Type your new address and select it from the suggestions that appear. Click Save. Google may send a postcard to your new address to verify that you actually operate there—this is a security step to prevent fake business listings. The postcard usually arrives within one to two weeks and contains a verification code you will need to enter in your Business Profile to confirm the change.

Until Google verifies your new address, your old address may still appear on Google Maps to customers. Once verified, the new address takes over.

What happens if Google cannot find your address

If you type an address and Google does not suggest it, it means the address is not in Google's database yet or the format is not recognized. Try typing just the street number and name first, then add the city. If that still does not work, try entering the zip code alone and see if Google recognizes your area.

If your address is very new (a newly built house or apartment complex), Google may not have it yet. In that case, enter the closest recognized address or use your zip code plus a cross street. You can also contact Google support to report a missing address, though this process is slow. For now, entering what you can will let you move forward.

Syncing your address across Google services

Once you update your address in your Google Account, it will eventually appear in Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive, and other services that use your account information. This usually happens within a few hours, but can take up to 24 hours in some cases.

Google Maps and Google Search may take longer to reflect the change because they pull from multiple sources. If you have a business listing, your personal address and business address remain separate—changing one does not affect the other.

Removing your address from Google entirely

If you do not want to store an address in your Google Account, you can delete it. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info, find the address field, and click the trash icon next to it. Confirm the deletion. Your address will be removed from your account.

Note that this does not remove your address from Google Maps if you have a business listing—you would need to delete that separately through Google Business Profile. It also does not remove your address from search results if it has been published elsewhere on the internet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my new address to show up on Google Maps?

For a personal address in your Google Account, the change is when ready in your account settings. For a business listing, Google sends a postcard to verify the new address, which takes one to two weeks. Your old address may still appear to customers until verification is complete.

Can I change my address on Google without a phone number?

Yes. Your phone number and address are separate fields in your Google Account. You can update one without the other. You only need a phone number if you want to use it for account recovery or two-factor authentication.

What if I moved but Google keeps showing my old address?

Clear your browser cache and cookies, then sign out and back into your Google Account. If you are on a phone, try signing out of your Google Account in Settings and signing back in. If the old address still appears on Google Maps, it may be from a business listing or a third-party source, not your personal account.

Do I need to change my address on Google if I only use Gmail?

No, unless you want to. Your Gmail address (your email) is different from your physical address. Google stores your physical address separately in your account settings, and you only need to update it if you want Google to have your current location on file.

What happens to my old address after I change it?

Google replaces it with your new address in your account. The old address is not stored anywhere else unless you saved it in a contact, a document, or another service. If your old address was published on a website or in a directory, that information remains there until the website owner updates it.