Google Maps Embed Not Working? 10 Fixes That Actually Work

Published on January 15, 2025 • 12 min read

You've generated your map embed code, pasted it into your website, hit publish... and nothing shows up. Or maybe you see a blank gray box. Or the map works on desktop but breaks on mobile. Sound familiar?

Don't worry - you're not alone. Google Maps embedding issues are incredibly common, and 95% of them have simple fixes. This guide covers every common problem and how to solve it.

Jump to Your Problem:

Map Not Showing (Blank/Empty Space)
Wrong Location Displayed
Map Too Small on Mobile
Map Shows "This Page Can't Load Google Maps Correctly"
Map Broken After Updating Website/Theme
Map Overlaps Other Content
Map Showing in Editor But Not Live Site
Security/Content Policy Error
Map Won't Load on Specific Browsers
Map Loads Slowly or Times Out

Problem 1: Map Not Showing At All (Blank/Empty Space)

Symptoms: You see nothing, a blank space, or a thin line where your map should be.

Solution A: Check Your Embed Code

The most common cause - you didn't copy the complete code.

Make sure your code starts with <iframe and ends with </iframe>
Don't have any extra characters before or after
Re-copy the code from the generator and paste again

Solution B: Use HTML/Code Mode (Not Visual Editor)

If you pasted in a visual/WYSIWYG editor, it may have stripped out the code.

WordPress: Use "Custom HTML" block or switch to "Text" mode in Classic Editor
Wix: Use "Embed Code" element, not regular text
Squarespace: Use a "Code" block
Shopify: Click "Show HTML" before pasting

Solution C: Clear Your Cache

Cached versions of your page may not show the new map.

Clear your browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+Delete / Cmd+Shift+Delete)
If using a caching plugin (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache), clear it
Clear any CDN cache (Cloudflare, etc.)
Try viewing in incognito/private mode

Solution D: Check for iframe Blocking

Some security settings block iframes.

Temporarily disable security plugins to test
Check Content Security Policy (CSP) headers
Verify your host allows iframe embeds
Test on a different page to isolate the issue

Problem 2: Wrong Location Displayed

Symptoms: Map shows but points to the wrong address, city, or even country.

Solution: Provide More Specific Address Information

Go back to the Maps Generator
Enter your COMPLETE address including:
- Street number and name
- City name (spelled correctly)
- State/Province
- ZIP/Postal code
- Country (if outside US)
Example: "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043" NOT just "Google"
Generate a new map with the complete address
Replace the old embed code with the new one

Pro Tip: For new buildings or addresses not well-indexed by Google, search for your location on Google Maps first, copy the exact address Google shows, then use that in the generator.

Problem 3: Map Too Small on Mobile

Symptoms: Map looks fine on desktop but appears tiny, cut off, or broken on phones/tablets.

Solution A: Add Responsive CSS

Make your map automatically adjust to screen size:

<style>
iframe {
    max-width: 100%;
    width: 100%;
    height: auto;
    min-height: 300px;
}

@media (max-width: 768px) {
    iframe {
        height: 300px;
    }
}
</style>

Add this to your page CSS or theme's custom CSS section.

Solution B: Generate a Mobile-Specific Map

Create two versions: desktop (800x500px) and mobile (100% x 300px)
Use CSS media queries to show/hide based on screen size
Or generate one map at a medium size (600x400px) that works on both

Problem 4: "This Page Can't Load Google Maps Correctly"

Symptoms: Gray map with error message overlay.

Solution: Use Free Embed Method (No API Key Needed)

This error appears when using the Google Maps JavaScript API without a valid API key. The good news? Our free embed method doesn't require an API key at all.

Generate your map using our Maps Generator tool
Use the embed code we provide (uses output=embed parameter)
This method has generous free usage limits for most sites

Note: If you're using the Maps JavaScript API for advanced features and getting this error, you need to enable billing in Google Cloud Console. However, for basic embedded maps, our free method works perfectly.

Problem 5: Map Broken After Updating Website/Theme

Symptoms: Map was working fine, then disappeared after a WordPress update, theme change, or plugin update.

Solution A: Re-Add the Embed Code

Theme updates sometimes reset custom content.

Check if your embed code is still in the page source (View Page Source, Ctrl+U)
If missing, re-add it using a Custom HTML block
Consider adding it to a template file or theme customizer for persistence

Solution B: Check New Theme Compatibility

New themes may have different iframe handling
Try adding the map to a different section/widget area
Contact theme support if iframes aren't working
Test with a default theme (Twenty Twenty-Four) to isolate the issue

Solution C: Plugin Conflicts

Deactivate plugins one by one to find the culprit
Common conflicting plugins: lazy loaders, security plugins, optimization plugins
Whitelist iframe embeds in security plugin settings

Problem 6: Map Overlaps Other Content

Symptoms: Map appears on top of text, images, or navigation elements.

Solution: Add Proper Spacing

Wrap your map in a container with margin/padding:

<div style="margin: 30px 0; padding: 20px;">
    <iframe ...your map code...></iframe>
</div>

Alternative: Adjust Z-Index

If overlap persists, adjust stacking order:

<div style="position: relative; z-index: 1;">
    <iframe ...your map code...></iframe>
</div>

Problem 7: Map Showing in Editor But Not Live Site

Symptoms: Map preview works in WordPress editor, Wix editor, etc., but doesn't show on published site.

Solution: Check Publish Settings

Ensure you clicked "Publish" or "Update" (not just "Preview")
Hard refresh your browser on the live site (Ctrl+F5 / Cmd+Shift+R)
Check if the page is actually published (not draft/private)
Clear site cache and try again

Problem 8: Security or Content Policy Error

Symptoms: Browser console shows errors about CSP, X-Frame-Options, or refused connections.

Solution: Adjust Content Security Policy

If you have strict CSP headers, allow Google Maps:

Content-Security-Policy: frame-src 'self' https://maps.google.com https://www.google.com;

Add this to your .htaccess, server config, or security plugin settings.

Alternative: Check Mixed Content

If your site uses HTTPS, ensure map URL also uses HTTPS
Change http://maps.google.com to https://maps.google.com
Modern browsers block mixed HTTP/HTTPS content

Problem 9: Map Won't Load on Specific Browsers

Symptoms: Works in Chrome but not Safari, or vice versa.

Solution: Browser-Specific Fixes

Safari: Clear cache, disable Intelligent Tracking Prevention temporarily
Firefox: Check Enhanced Tracking Protection settings
Edge: Try Compatibility Mode
All browsers: Update to latest version

Test Embed Code Validity

Paste your embed code into an HTML validator
Ensure no special characters are breaking the code
Regenerate fresh code if issues persist

Problem 10: Map Loads Slowly or Times Out

Symptoms: Page loads but map takes 10+ seconds to appear or never loads.

Solution A: Enable Lazy Loading

Modern iframes lazy load by default, but ensure you have:

<iframe loading="lazy" ...other attributes...></iframe>

Solution B: Check Page Speed Issues

Too many heavy scripts slowing down entire page
Large unoptimized images loading first
Slow web hosting
Consider upgrading hosting or using a CDN

Solution C: Reduce Map Size

Smaller maps (400x300px) load faster than large ones (1200x800px)
Balance between visual appeal and performance
600x450px is a good compromise

Prevention: Best Practices to Avoid Issues

1. Always Use HTML/Code Mode

Never paste embed codes in visual editors. They'll strip out the code or modify it incorrectly.

2. Test Before Publishing

Preview on desktop and mobile
Test in multiple browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)
Check incognito mode to avoid cache issues

3. Keep Your Address Format Consistent

Use the same address format across your website, Google My Business, and embedded maps.

4. Document Your Embed Code

Save a copy of your working embed code. If something breaks after an update, you can quickly restore it.

5. Regular Maintenance

Check maps monthly to ensure they still work
Test after major updates (WordPress, theme, plugins)
Update addresses if you move locations

Still Not Working? Try This

If none of the above solutions work:

Generate a completely new map from scratch
Test on a simple HTML page (no CMS) to rule out platform issues
Contact your web host to ensure iframes aren't blocked server-side
Try a different address to see if it's location-specific
Check Google's service status for outages

Pro Tip: 90% of embed issues are fixed by regenerating fresh code and pasting in HTML mode. When in doubt, start from scratch.

Quick Diagnostic Checklist

Work through this checklist in order:

☐ Copied complete <iframe>...</iframe> code
☐ Pasted in HTML/Code mode (not visual editor)
☐ Cleared browser cache
☐ Tested in incognito/private mode
☐ Viewed page source - code actually there?
☐ Tested on mobile device
☐ Checked browser console for errors (F12)
☐ Tried a different browser
☐ Disabled plugins/extensions temporarily
☐ Generated fresh embed code

Most issues will be resolved by step 3 or earlier.

Generate a New Map (Start Fresh)