Even the most powerful internet giant in the world can’t guarantee that their software will work flawlessly on every computer or device. Google Earth Pro is no exception, and sometimes it may exhibit issues such as freezing, crashing, not responding, running slowly, locking up, not opening, or displaying a black screen upon launching on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
This article outlines solutions for common issues encountered while using Google Earth Pro on Windows 11/10 and how to resolve them.
Solutions to fix Google Earth Pro not working issues on Windows 11/10
Before diving into the solutions for fixing the Google Earth Pro not responding or slow opening issue on your Windows PC, it is important to note that your computer’s performance and internet connection speed can contribute to these problems. The loading of data and images is done on-demand, which means that a slow internet connection can cause Google Earth Pro to appear sluggish when loading views or even unexpectedly stop responding.
If you have ruled out any issues with your computer’s performance and internet connection, you can now proceed to try the following solutions.
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Use the repair tool in Google Earth Pro
In most cases, when Google Earth Pro freezes, crashes, or doesn’t respond, it can be resolved by running the repair tool within Google Earth Pro.
To access the repair tool, click on “Help” from the menu in Google Earth Pro before it freezes or crashes, and then select “Launch Repair Tool“.
In the “Repair Google Earth” window, try each option from the list until you find one that fixes your Google Earth Pro not working issue.
- Clear disk cache
- Switch between openGL and DirectX
- Turn on Safe Mode
- Turn off the atmosphere
- Restore default settings
- Delete My Places
Generally, running the first repair option to clear the disk cache of Google Earth Pro should fix the problem.
Update or reinstall Google Earth Pro
If there is a bug or compatibility issue between Google Earth Pro and your Windows PC, try to update or reinstall the Google Earth Pro.
Download older version of Google Earth Pro
If the Google Earth Pro not working issue started after updating or installing a new version of Google Earth, try downloading and using an older version of Google Earth Pro.
Visit this page for a list of latest and old versions of Google Earth Pro free download for Windows 10/11.
Update graphic card’s driver
Google Earth Pro uses your graphics processing unit, meaning it relies on your graphics card to run. If your graphics driver is outdated, has a bug, or is incompatible with the latest version of Google Earth Pro, update your graphics card’s driver to see if it fixes the Google Earth Pro not working or responding issue on Windows 10 or 11.
You can download the latest driver from your graphics card manufacturer’s website, such as Nvidia.com or Amd.com. Alternatively, you can run Windows Update or use the Device Manager in Windows to update your graphics driver.
Adjust the memory or disk cache size
Adjusting the memory and disk cache size for Google Earth Pro can also help to fix the not responding, freezing, or crashing issue. Doing so can also improve the overall performance of Google Earth Pro on your Windows PC.
To increase the allowable memory and disk cache, open Google Earth Pro, click on “Tools” from the menu, select “Options,” and then go to the “Cache” tab. From there, you can change the memory cache size and disk cache size that Google Earth Pro is allowed to use. You can also click on “Clear memory cache” and “Clear disk cache” to see if it fixes the issue.
Google Earth Pro Windows 11/10 error 1603
The Google Earth error 1603 in Windows 11/10 indicates that Google Earth is already installed and cannot be installed again unless it is removed.
This typically happens when users accidentally delete the desktop shortcut for Google Earth Pro and believe that it has been removed or does not exist on their Windows PC. If this is the case, simply go to the Google Earth Pro directory and create a shortcut for the Exe launcher on your desktop again. The folder is usually located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google Earth Pro\client.
Alternatively, you can uninstall Google Earth Pro via the “Add or Remove Programs” feature, then relaunch the Google Earth Pro installer to see if the issue is resolved.
Google Earth keeps spinning
If Google Earth keeps spinning when your mouse is idle, check if you have the “Enable Controller” option enabled. Click on “Tools” from the menu, select “Options,” and go to the “Navigation” tab. Make sure the “Enable Controller” option is disabled.
This often occurs when you have input devices such as a gaming controller currently plugged in and active on your Windows 10/11 computer. Google Earth will attempt to use the controller as well when spinning the Earth for you. If you don’t want to use any non-mouse controller in Google Earth Pro, make sure to disable the “Enable Controller” option.
Google Earth keeps showing blurry images
Not all satellite images are in high resolution. In most cases, high-resolution imagery is only available when you view large cities with high population density. Rural or less populated areas will generally have lower quality images.
If you’re viewing a city and the images are still blurry in Google Earth, try clearing the disk cache to allow Google Earth Pro to reload the images from scratch. Also, try turning off Anisotropic Filtering in Google Earth Pro by clicking on “Tools” from the menu, selecting “Options,” going to the “3D View” tab, and selecting “Off” for “Anisotropic Filtering.”
