How to get GPS coordinates of a point from Microsoft Maps app

Sometime it useful to get the GPS coordinates of a point on a map or to find a place knowing them.

In this post we will see how to do using the Maps app available for free in all Windows 10 devices (PC/tablet/smartphones …):

Find a place knowing its GPS coordinates
Get GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map
Get your current position GPS coordinates

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Find a place knowing its GPS coordinates

The second issue it is very easy: you only need to write latitude, longitude directly in the search place input. In the following you can see the screenshots taken from a Windows 10 PC/tablet and from Windows 10 Mobile smartphone. I have to stress that Maps app is an UWP app (Universal Windows app) that is it is the same for all Windows 10 devices and so it dynamically changes its interface depending on the windows size/device type: so you can get a user interface very similar to the smartphone one, simply reducing the dimension of the app running on your PC!

Note that you have to search o point writing the GPS coordinate (latitude, longitude) comma separated and using the point for decimals (UK notation), for example 45.105911, 7.674172 as done in the following screenshots:.

Find a place knowing its GPS coordinates – PC/tablet (1)

Once got the pushpin in that location, you can then delete it simply clicking on X in the associated upper tab:

Find a place knowing its GPS coordinates – PC/tablet (2)

If you are using a Windows 10 Mobile smartphone (or set the Maps app window sufficiently small on you PC), here is the user interface you get:

Find a place knowing its GPS coordinates – smartphone (1)

Find a place knowing its GPS coordinates – smartphone (2)

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Get GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map

You can get GPS coordinates of whatever point on the map, simply adding a (temporary) pushpin on the map and then looking into its detail.

So, right click on the desired point, choosing “Add a pushpin” from the popup menu. A pushpin will be shown in that position and in a window will be available all details, including the GPS coordinates that you want to know!

GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map (1) – PC/tablet (big window size)

GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map (2) – PC/tablet (big window size)

Again, if you don’t need anymore that pushpin, you can delete it clicking on X in the upper bar.

GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map (3) – PC/tablet (big window size)

If you have Maps app in a window sufficiently small, being a UWM app, its interface will adapt to better shows information on the available size: you have to click on the bottom bar associate with the created pushpin to get a full detail page on that position:

GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map (1) – PC/tablet (small window size)

GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map (2) – PC/tablet (small window size)

Maps on a Windows 10 Mobile smartphone looks similarly:

GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map (1) – Smartphone

GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map (2) – Smartphone

GPS coordinates of a chosen point on the map (3) – Smartphone

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Get your current position GPS coordinates

We see how to get GPS coordinates of whatever point on the map but, how to get your current position GPS coordinates?

If the localization feature is set to ON in the settings, there is already on the map a circle showing your current position but, strangely, if you click on it to see its details, those do not shows neither the GPS coordinates nor the accuracy of that detection!! 😦

The only way I found to let the current GPS coordinates be shown (other than creating a new pushpin nearby the already available circular icon!) is to share my current position and then look at the link provided in the shared text:

So, on the My current position details window, click on Share icon and choose, for example the Mail sharing. A new email will be created that include a text with a link to your current position: right-clicking on that link you can see an URL that shows both your current GPS coordinates and the precision of that detection (e.g. 272 ft; 457 m)