Upload Video to Google Maps Listing: A Step-by-Step Guide

James Crawford

Published September 21, 202610 min readUpdated September 21, 2026

You paid for a good explainer video. It sits on your website, and maybe on Facebook. But the place most local buyers meet you first is your Google Maps listing, and right now it may show a few old photos and a star rating.

If you want to upload video to Google Maps listing pages, the job is short. You do it once, it takes a few minutes, and your video then sits where people pick who to call. This guide shows you the exact steps, which cut of your video to use, what to do when it won't show up, and what the video should say for your trade. Here is the quick version first.

To put your explainer on Google Maps, sign in to the Google account that manages your Business Profile, open the profile, choose to add a photo or video, and pick your video file. Google checks new uploads before they show to the public. Read Google's help page for the current file limits before you start.

Why put your explainer on your Google Maps listing?

Your Google Maps listing is where a local buyer compares you with the shop down the road, so a short video there answers "what do they do and can I trust them" before the person calls anyone. A Google Business Profile is the free listing Google shows on Maps and in search when someone looks up a local business. It is the same thing people call a "Maps listing".

Most of that listing is text and photos. A video does a job the photos can't: it walks the buyer through your service in the order they need to hear it.

People like to learn that way. According to Wyzowl's 2026 State of Video Marketing survey, as reported by Vidico, 78% of consumers prefer to learn about a product through a short video, and only 9% prefer to read a text article. The same 2026 survey found 96% of consumers have watched an explainer video to learn about a product or service.

So the habit is already there. Your listing just needs to give people something to press play on.

Need an explainer video? Get a 30-second explainer for $297 → We write the script, record the voiceover and animate it, delivered in 7 days.

What do you need before you start?

Before you add a video to your Business Profile, you need three things: access to the Google account that owns or manages the profile, a finished video file saved on your computer or phone, and a quick look at Google's current rules for video files. With those ready, the upload itself takes a few minutes.

Here is a short checklist:

Account access. Use the Google account that is listed as an owner or manager of the profile. If a past employee or an old agency set it up, ask them to add you first.
The video file. Save the final version, not a draft link from your video maker.
Google's rules. Google sets the allowed file types, length and size, and those limits can change. Check Google's Business Profile Help page on photos and videos before you upload, so you don't trip over an old rule.
Sound-off check. Many people scroll with the sound off, so make sure the key point is readable on screen.

Quality matters here too. The Wyzowl 2026 survey found 87% of consumers say video quality affects how much they trust a brand. A shaky, dark clip on your listing can do more harm than no clip at all.

How to upload video to Google Maps listing pages in 6 steps

You upload a video to your Maps listing from inside your Google Business Profile, using the option to add photos and videos. Google changes its menu names from time to time, so the steps below describe what to look for rather than the exact button text.

Step 1: Sign in to the right Google account

Sign in to Google with the account that owns or manages your Business Profile. If you have more than one Google account, check the picture in the top corner so you know which one is active.

Step 2: Open your Business Profile

Search for your business name on Google or open the Google Maps app while signed in. When you manage the profile, Google shows your listing with editing options at the top.

Step 3: Find the photos and videos area

Look for the option to add a photo, or a section called photos and videos. Videos are added in the same place as photos on most versions of the profile.

Step 4: Choose your video file

Pick your explainer from your computer or phone and let it finish uploading. Keep the page open until the upload bar is done.

Step 5: Wait for Google's check

Google reviews new photos and videos before they show to the public. The video may look "pending" for a while, which is normal.

Step 6: Look at the listing as a customer would

Open Google Maps on a phone where you are not signed in, or ask a friend to search for you. Check that the video appears and plays, and that the first frame looks clean.

That's the whole job. If you run more than one location, repeat the steps for each profile, since each location has its own listing.

Which cut of your explainer works best on Maps?

For most local businesses, a 30-second or 60-second explainer is the right cut for a Maps listing, because people browsing Maps are on their phones and deciding fast. A longer version belongs on your website, where buyers have more time. So before you upload video to Google Maps listing pages, pick the cut that fits a phone screen and a short attention span.

The numbers back a short cut. According to HubSpot's 2026 marketing statistics, citing Wyzowl, 51% of people say 30 to 60 seconds is the best length for an effective video, and 91% said under two minutes. Wistia's guide to video length found videos under a minute average a 52% engagement rate, which means viewers typically watch about half.

That last point matters. If half the viewers stop halfway, your name and what you do need to show up in the first few seconds.

Cut	Best for	Watch out for
30-second explainer	Maps listings, quick "who are you" answers	Only room for one main message
60-second explainer	Maps plus your website and service pages	Put your name and service in the first seconds
Short clip (10 to 15 seconds)	A teaser taken from a longer video	Can feel cut off without a clear ending
Long video (2 minutes or more)	Website, sales calls, training	Many phone viewers stop early

Yum Yum Videos' 2026 guide to explainer length makes a similar split: 30 to 45 seconds suits awareness and ads, while 60 to 90 seconds suits website and sales use. A Maps listing sits closer to the awareness end.

Why isn't my video showing on Google Maps?

A video usually doesn't show on Google Maps for one of four reasons: Google is still reviewing it, the file broke one of Google's rules, you uploaded it from the wrong account, or you are looking at a cached version of the page. Most of these are fixed by waiting a little or uploading again from the right account.

Problem	Likely cause	What to do
Video shows as pending	Google has not finished its check	Wait, then look again the next day
Upload fails or gets rejected	File type, length or size is outside Google's rules	Check Google's help page and export a new file
Video never appears	You uploaded from an account that doesn't manage the profile	Sign in with the owner or manager account and try again
You see it, customers don't	You are signed in and seeing your own view	Check from a phone that is signed out
Video was removed later	It may have broken Google's content rules	Read Google's content rules and upload a cleaner version

If none of these fit, go back to the Google Business Profile Help page for photos and videos. Google keeps its own rules there, and they change more often than any blog post.

Want something bigger? Book a free 30-minute video call → We plan your custom video with you and send a fixed quote within 24 hours.

What should a Maps video show for your trade?

A good Maps video shows the job a customer came to Google to get done, who does it, and how to book, all in plain words and in that order. It is not a brand film. It is a short answer to "can these people fix my problem?"

Here is what that looks like for a few common trades:

Plumber: a burst pipe or blocked drain, the van arriving, the fix, and "call us for same-day help". Show your area on screen.
Dentist: a nervous patient, a calm first visit, and how to book. Mention if you take new patients.
Lawyer: the problem in the client's words ("I was hurt at work"), what the first free talk looks like, and your phone number.
Gym: the first class, the friendly coach, and how to try it. Keep it welcoming, not intense.
Restaurant: two or three signature dishes, the room, and how to reserve or order.
Accountant: the stress of tax time, how you take it off their plate, and how to book a call.

Notice the pattern. Each one follows the simple shape of a script: a hook, the problem, your fix, and a call to action. A call to action (CTA) is the one thing you ask the viewer to do next, like "call us today".

If you don't have a video yet, you have two options. You can film a simple phone clip yourself, or have one made. Our 30-second explainer costs $297 (normally $497), with the script, a human voiceover and the animation done for you in 7 days. That file is short enough for your Maps listing and works on your website too.

For ideas on where else to place the same file, read our guide on where to put your explainer video on your website. If you run a trade business, our Google Business Profile guide for contractors covers the rest of the listing.

How can you tell if the video is helping?

You can tell if your Maps video is helping by watching the numbers Google already shows you in your Business Profile's performance area: calls, direction requests and website clicks. Compare the month before the video went up with the month after.

Keep the test simple. Change one thing at a time, so if calls go up you know what caused it.

Also ask new customers how they found you. If a few say "I saw your video on Google", that tells you more than any chart.

If the numbers don't move after a couple of months, look at the first few seconds of the video. That is where most viewers decide to keep watching or scroll on.

Frequently asked questions

Can customers add videos to my Business Profile?

Yes, customers can add their own photos and videos to your Business Profile. You can't stop them, but you can report a video that breaks Google's rules. Your best move is to upload your own good video, so buyers see yours first.

Can I delete a video I uploaded?

Yes, you can delete a video you uploaded yourself from the photos and videos area of your Business Profile. Videos posted by customers are different. You can report those to Google, but you can't delete them yourself.

Will a video help me rank higher on Google Maps?

Nobody outside Google can promise that a video will move your Maps ranking. Treat the video as a way to win the click once people find you. A complete, active listing with good reviews and a clear video gives buyers a reason to pick you.

Can I upload the video from my phone?

Yes, you can upload a video from your phone through the Google Maps app or by searching for your business on Google while signed in. The steps match the computer version. Use Wi-Fi, since video files are large.

Should the same video go on my website too?

Yes, the same explainer usually works on your website as well as your Maps listing. Put it on your homepage or main service page. Using one video in several places gets you more value from a single project.

The short version

Your Google Maps listing is often the first thing a local buyer sees, and most listings have no video at all. That is an easy gap to fill.

To upload video to Google Maps listing pages, sign in to the account that manages your Business Profile, open the profile, add your video in the photos and videos area, and wait for Google's check. Read Google's help page for file limits before you start.

Use a 30-second or 60-second cut, put your name and service in the first seconds, and make the point readable with the sound off. Then watch calls, direction requests and website clicks for a month. If you need a video built for this job, or want something bigger planned from scratch (custom videos start at $1,299), both options are below.

Ready to get your own video made? Order a 30-second explainer for $297 and have it in 7 days, or book a free call if you want a custom video from $1,299.

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