Adding geotags to Yandex Maps on a smartphone Android is a useful skill for travelers, drivers and anyone who wants to quickly save important places. A geotouch (or tag) helps you mark your favorite cafes, parking lots, bus stops, or any other locations on the map so you can easily find them later. Unlike standard bookmarks, geotags in Yandex Maps can customize: change color, name and even add photos.

In this article you will learn not only how to set a geotag, but also how to manage it: edit, delete or share with friends. We will analyze all the methods - from the simplest (through a long press on the map) to the advanced (importing coordinates from other applications). We’ll also tell you why sometimes tags are not saved and how to fix it.

Why geotags are needed in Yandex Maps

Geotags solve several problems at once:

  • 📍 Quick access to frequently visited places —you no longer need to enter the address manually.
  • 🚗 Marking parking lots or gas stations in unfamiliar terrain.
  • 🏠 Saving time points, for example, where you parked your car in a shopping center.
  • 📱 Synchronization between devices —marks will be available on both your phone and your computer.

Unlike Google Maps, where tags are tied to the account Google, in Yandex Maps they are saved in the profile Yandex. This means that even if you change your phone, all your geopoints will remain in place - just log in to the same account. In addition, in Yandex Maps you can create folders for tags (for example, "Restaurants", "Hotels", "Work"), which simplifies their sorting.

Another plus is the possibility share tags via instant messengers or social networks. For example, you can send your friends a meeting point for a picnic or mark on the map the place where you found cheap gasoline.

📊 How often do you use geotags in navigation applications?
Every day
Several times a week
Rarely, only when traveling
Never used

Preparation: what is needed to add a geopoint

Before placing a tag, make sure that:

  1. The application is installed on your phone Yandex Maps (you can download in Google Play).
  2. You are logged into your account Yandex - without this, the tags will not be saved.
  3. The application has access to geolocation (in the phone settings).
  4. The Internet (mobile or Wi-Fi) is turned on - for data synchronization.

If you are not authorized, tags will only be saved locally on the device and will disappear after you reinstall the application. To check if you are logged into your account, open Yandex Maps and tap on the profile icon in the upper right corner. Your email or phone number should be displayed there.

Yandex Maps are installed|You have a Yandex account|Geolocation is enabled|You have access to the Internet->

⚠️ Attention: If you use Android Go or a stripped-down version of the application (for example, Yandex Maps Lite), some functions may be missing. In this case, try installing the full version.

Method 1: Adding a geopoint via a long press

This is the fastest and most intuitive method. Follow the instructions:

  1. Open the application Yandex Maps.
  2. Find the place you want to mark on the map. You can zoom in for accuracy.
  3. Press with your finger the desired point for 1-2 seconds until a red marker appears.
  4. A panel with information about the location will open at the bottom of the screen. Tap the button Save (bookmark icon).
  5. Select a folder to save (for example, "Favorites" or create a new one) and click Done.

Done! The pin will now appear in your list of saved places. To find it, tap on the profile icon → My places → select the desired folder.

If you want Change tag name, after clicking Save select Change title and enter any text (for example, “The best coffee shop in the center”). You can also add a photo by clicking on the camera icon.

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To quickly find a saved placemark, use the search in the application: tap on the magnifying glass at the top and enter the name of the point.

Method 2: Adding a placemark by searching for an address

If you know the exact address or name of the place, you can place a geopoint without manual search on map:

  1. Open Yandex Maps and tap on the search bar at the top.
  2. Enter the address, name of the establishment or coordinates (for example, 55.7539, 37.6208 for Red Square).
  3. Select the desired result from the drop-down list.
  4. On the location information screen, click Save (bookmark icon).
  5. Select a folder and confirm saving.

This method is convenient if you want to mark popular places (restaurants, museums, train stations) that are already in the Yandex database. At the same time, you can edit the name of the tag, even if it was automatically pulled up from the search. For example, instead of "Cozy Cafe" you can write "Meeting place with friends."

⚠️ Attention: If you enter coordinates manually, make sure you use the correct format: latitude first, then longitude, separated by commas. Example: 59.9343, 30.3351 (St. Petersburg, Palace Square).

Method 3: Import coordinates from other applications

Sometimes the coordinates of a place come in messages or are saved in other services (for example Google Maps or 2GIS). To add such a point to Yandex Maps:

  1. Copy the coordinates to the clipboard (for example, 55.751244, 37.618423).
  2. Open Yandex Maps and paste the coordinates into the search bar.
  3. Click on the found point → Save.

You can also use links with coordinates. For example, if you were sent a link like: 

https://yandex.ru/maps/?ll=37.618423%2C55.751244&z=17

just open it in your browser - Yandex Maps with the desired point will open. Then save it as a geotag.

If the coordinates are in a different format (for example, degrees with minutes), use online converters or manually convert them to decimal form. For example, 55°45'04.5"N, 37°37'06.3"E → 55.75125, 37.61842.

How to convert coordinates from degrees to decimal format

1. The degrees remain unchanged.

2. Minutes are divided by 60 and added to degrees.

3. Seconds are divided by 3600 and also added.

Example: 37°37'06.3" = 37 + (37/60) + (6.3/3600) ≈ 37.61842.

How to manage geotags: editing, deleting, sorting

A saved label is not a static point. You can:

  • ✏️ Change title or description — tap on the label → Edit.
  • 🎨 Change color — edit menu, select a different shade (useful for visual grouping).
  • 🗑️ Remove label - swipe left on the name in the list My places.
  • 📁 Move to another folder - to edit menu select Move.

To create a new folder for marks:

  1. Open My places.
  2. Tap on the icon + in the upper right corner.
  3. Select Create folder.
  4. Set a name (for example, "Travel to Sochi 2026") and click Finish.

Folders are useful for organizing tags by topic. For example, you can create separate folders for work, leisure, shopping or routes. In this case, the same label can be in several folders at the same time.

Action How to perform Usage example
Change label color Tap on the label → Edit → select color Red - important places, green - parks
Add photo Tap on the label → Edit → camera icon Photo of the entrance to a restaurant or parking lot
Share tag Tap on tag → Share → select messenger Send collection point to friends
Delete tag Swipe left in the list My places or tap Delete in the edit menu Remove outdated points
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Folders for places are synchronized between devices, but only if you are logged into the same Yandex account.

Problems with geotags and their solutions

Sometimes tags are not saved or disappear. Here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

1. Tags are not saved

  • 🔹 Reason: no authorization in the account Yandex.
  • 🔹 Solution: log in to your profile or check your Internet connection.

2. Tags disappeared after updating the application

  • 🔹 Cause: sync failed.
  • 🔹 Solution: Restart the application or reinstall it.

3. You cannot edit a label

  • 🔹 Reason: The label was added from a public map (for example, from a community).
  • 🔹 Solution: save it again as your own.

4. The marker coordinates are inaccurate

  • 🔹 Reason: the automatically selected address does not match the real location.
  • 🔹 Solution: manually drag the marker on the map or clarify the coordinates.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using root access or modified versions of Android, tag synchronization may not work correctly. In this case, try clearing the application cache in the phone settings.

If the problem cannot be solved, check application permissions:

  1. Open Android Settings → Applications → Yandex Maps.
  2. Make sure permissions for Geolocation, Storage (for photos) and Internet.

Additional features: routes, layers and sharing

Geotags in Yandex Maps can be used not only to save points, but also for:

  • 🚶 Building routes — tap on the label → Build a route.
  • 📡 Adds to custom layers —useful for creating thematic maps (for example, "Moscow bicycle paths").
  • 👥 Sharing —you can create a shared folder with tags for a family or team.

To create a shared folder:

  1. Open My places → select a folder.
  2. Tap on the icon ⋯ (three dots) → Folder settings.
  3. Enable the option Sharing and select users.

Shared folders are convenient for planning trips or coordinating work. For example, you can create a “Weekend Itinerary” folder and give access to all participants so that they can also add tags there.

Another useful feature is export and import tags. To save a backup:

  1. Open My Places → ⋯ → Export.
  2. Select format (KML or GPX) and save the file.

Exported placemarks can later be imported back or opened in other services (for example, Google Earth).

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If you travel frequently, create a separate folder for placemarks in each city. This will make it easier to navigate on the spot.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about geotags in Yandex Maps

Is it possible to set a geotag without the Internet?

Yes, but it will only be saved locally on the device. To synchronize with your account, you need the Internet. Also, searching for addresses and some editing functions will not work without a connection.

How. transfer placemarks from Google Maps to Yandex Maps?

Export placemarks from Google Maps in format KML (via Your places → Maps → Export), then import this file into Yandex Maps via My places → ⋯ → Import.

Why is the label displayed in the wrong place?

This may be due to inaccurate coordinates or map shift. Try manually dragging the label to the correct place or specify the address through the search.

Is it possible to add a reminder to the label?

There is no such function directly in Yandex Maps, but you can save the label in Yandex Calendar as an event with a location or use third-party applications for reminders.

How to delete all tags at once?

There is no mass deletion function, but you can delete the entire folder: open My places → swipe the folder to the left → Delete.