Google Earth is a desktop application with which you can explore the Earth, viewing terrain from multiple angles, finding directions to and from any location, and even experiencing the world in a flight simulator. Unlike the Web-based Google Maps, which shows street names by default, you may have to change your settings to view road and street labels in Google Earth.

Click the Windows "Start" button, type "Google Earth" into the search box, and click "Google Earth" in the results to open the application.

Type a location in the "Fly to" box, and press "Enter."

Select the "Roads" box in the "Layers" tab of the sidebar. Street names are now visible.

Hover over the right side of the map with your mouse to bring up the zoom function, and click "+" or "-" to zoom in and out if you still can't see street names. If you are too close or too far away, street names may not appear.

  • Google Earth is a desktop application with which you can explore the Earth, viewing terrain from multiple angles, finding directions to and from any location, and even experiencing the world in a flight simulator.
  • Hover over the right side of the map with your mouse to bring up the zoom function, and click "+" or "-" to zoom in and out if you still can't see street names.

Click "Tools," then "Options" if you still can't see street names. Select "DirectX" under "Graphics Mode" in the "3D View" tab. Then click "OK," restart Google Earth, and follow the steps again to view street names.