arch-wiki-md-repo/wiki/_content/english/Google Earth.md

All arch-wiki articles in markdown format, updated every two days.

From the [project web page](http://support.google.com/earth/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=176145):

*"Google Earth allows you to travel the world through a virtual globe and view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, and much more. With Google Earth's rich, geographical content, you are able to experience a more realistic view of the world. You can fly to your favorite place, search for businesses and even navigate through directions."*

## Contents

*   [1 Installation](#Installation)
*   [2 Troubleshooting](#Troubleshooting)
    *   [2.1 Crash on startup](#Crash_on_startup)
        *   [2.1.1 Startup tips are enabled](#Startup_tips_are_enabled)
        *   [2.1.2 No new line at the end of ~/.drirc](#No_new_line_at_the_end_of_.7E.2F.drirc)
        *   [2.1.3 Corrupt settings](#Corrupt_settings)
        *   [2.1.4 Another crash happened while handling crash!](#Another_crash_happened_while_handling_crash.21)
    *   [2.2 Panoramio photos not working](#Panoramio_photos_not_working)
    *   [2.3 Graphical corruption](#Graphical_corruption)
    *   [2.4 Earth shows nothing but yellow borders](#Earth_shows_nothing_but_yellow_borders)
    *   [2.5 Excessive memory use](#Excessive_memory_use)

## Installation

As all versions depend on a 32-bit library, enable the [multilib](/index.php/Multilib "Multilib") repository first.

There are multiple Google Earth versions available in the [AUR](/index.php/AUR "AUR"):

*   [google-earth-pro](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/google-earth-pro/) - Latest version (still freeware)
*   [google-earth](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/google-earth/) - Semi-legacy version
*   [google-earth6](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/google-earth6/) - Legacy version (often more stable)

## Troubleshooting

**Tip:** See the [official support forum](https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!categories/earth/linux) for topics not covered here.

### Crash on startup

Google Earth can crash on startup for numerous reasons. Here are some of the most common ones.

#### Startup tips are enabled

While startup tips can be useful, they are also known to cause crashes. To disable them, add to `~/.config/Google/GoogleEarthPlus.conf`:

```
[General]
enableTips=false

```

#### No new line at the end of `~/.drirc`

This can cause a crash with *-dri* drivers:

```
$ echo >> ~/.drirc

```

#### Corrupt settings

In case the cache is corrupt and needs recreation, remove it:

```
$ rm -r ~/.googleearth/Cache/

```

If that didn't work, try removing the whole settings folder:

```
$ rm -r ~/.googleearth/

```

#### Another crash happened while handling crash!

You may try removing the following:

```
$ rm -f ~/.googleearth/Cache/cookies ~/.googleearth/instance-running-lock

```

### Panoramio photos not working

There have been numerous reports [[1]](http://productforums.google.com/d/msg/earth/548PQIT8bKI/rbpVsbMawwIJ) [[2]](http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!msg/earth/_h4t6SpY_II/6O_DTry49pgJ) [[3]](http://productforums.google.com/d/msg/earth/tZfKSs2AaZc/r_rBDl5djIMJ) on this in the [Google Earth forums](https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!categories/earth/linux) with varying solutions.

If setting the `_attempt_fix` variable on top of the [google-earth](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/google-earth/) [PKGBUILD](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/go/google-earth/PKGBUILD) does not help, fall back to [google-earth6](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/google-earth6/).

### Graphical corruption

Either refer to the [#Corrupt settings](#Corrupt_settings) section above or disable texture compression in *Tools > Options... > 3D View > Compress*.

### Earth shows nothing but yellow borders

Taken from the changelog of [7.0.3](https://support.google.com/earth/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=40901) this issue has improved to some extent but overall it's still there:

```
Imagery now displays for Linux users running specific families of Intel GPUs.

```

The solution is to use the legacy [google-earth6](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/google-earth6/).

### Excessive memory use

Memory use can be controlled by limiting the maximum cache size in *Tools > Options... > Cache*, or by lowering the graphics settings in the *3D View* tab.