0:46How to make your first map animation
Make your first map animation in about a minute: search for two destinations, preview the animated route, and export it as an MP4 video. Video guide.
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Mappi Help Center
Short video guides and quick answers for making animated map videos with Mappi, the map animation maker, from your first destination to a 4K export.
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Popular:Drop a custom pinExport your map animationChange the aspect ratioCreate a custom map themeUpload your own boundaryCancel or manage your subscription
29 video guides · 22 articles · Updated
New to Mappi? Start here
Watch one short video to learn the whole loop: add destinations, preview the animation, and export a finished map video.
0:46Video guide · Getting startedHow to make your first map animationMake your first map animation in about a minute: search for two destinations, preview the animated route, and export it as an MP4 video. Video guide.Watch the guideBrowse help by topic
Every guide belongs to one topic. Open a topic to see all of its videos and articles.
- 6 guides
Getting started
Your first map animation, the editor, and saving your work.
- 6 guides
Destinations & routes
Add stops, drop pins, and choose how each route travels.
- 6 guides
Pins, labels & icons
Markers, moving route icons, labels and fonts.
- 8 guides
Map styles & themes
Themes, satellite, map labels and boundary shapes.
- 3 guides
Animation & camera
Route timing, camera framing and what stays on the map.
- 5 guides
Export & formats
Aspect ratios, resolution, 4K, frame rate and watermarks.
- 8 guides
Rendering & troubleshooting
Fix stuck exports, blurry video and route errors.
- 9 guides
Account & billing
Plans, subscriptions, invoices and your account.
Video guides
Each video shows one task in the real editor, step by step, in about a minute. The written steps sit under every video.
Getting started
All getting started guides- 0:46
0:41How to add, reorder and remove destinations
Add destinations to your map animation, drag stops into a new order, and delete the ones you don’t need. The routes between them update automatically.
0:36How to save a map and open it later
Save your map animation from the menu at the top of the editor, then reopen it anytime. Learn where saved maps are stored and how to update them.
0:39How to preview your map animation
Play, pause and scrub your map animation in the editor preview, use keyboard shortcuts, and check the details in fullscreen before you export it.
Destinations & routes
All destinations & routes guides
0:41How to drop a custom pin on your map
Add a destination search can’t find: drop a custom pin anywhere on the map, set the exact spot and zoom, name it, and add it to your animated route.
0:41How to move or rename a dropped pin
Edit a custom pin after you add it: move it to a new spot, rename its label, or swap it for a place from search. Moves and swaps can be undone in one click.
0:40How to add a place by GPS coordinates
Paste latitude and longitude, or a map link, into the Mappi pin picker to add a destination at an exact GPS position. Supported coordinate formats inside.
0:38How to swap a destination for another place
Replace a stop with a different place without deleting it: the new destination keeps its colors, icon and position in the route. Undo is one click away.
0:37How to choose how each route travels: fly, drive, walk, sail or transit
Make a route follow real roads, walking paths, shipping lanes or public transit instead of a flight arc. Mix travel modes in one map animation.
Pins, labels & icons
All pins, labels & icons guides
0:33How to change a destination’s pin or icon
Replace a destination’s classic map pin with an icon, resize it, recolor it, flip it, or hide the marker. Works for every stop on your map animation.
0:40ProHow to upload your own icon
Upload a logo, vehicle or mascot and use it as a destination pin or a moving route icon. Supported files, size limits and how to delete uploads.
0:33How to add a moving icon to a route
Send a car, plane, ship or your own icon along a route line in your map animation, and choose whether it turns with the path or faces the way it moves.
0:41How to rename or hide a destination label
Change the text a destination shows on your animated map, shorten long place names, or hide a label completely without removing the stop.
0:42How to change label fonts, size and colors
Style every destination label on your map animation: choose from 25 fonts, set the font size, text and halo colors, bold, italic and font effects.
0:33How to style a route line
Make a route line solid, dashed or dotted, change its color and width, and add a glow. Style one route, or set the default for every route at once.
Map styles & themes
All map styles & themes guides
0:34How to change the map theme
Restyle your whole map animation in one click: switch between Light, Dark, Retro, Ocean Sunset, Pastel Dream and the other built-in Mappi map themes.
0:51ProHow to create a custom map theme
Design your own map theme: pick colors for land, water, parks, roads, borders and labels, shuffle new palettes, set the detail level, and save it.
0:39ProHow to show or hide map labels
Turn the country, ocean and road names on the base map on or off with a custom map theme. Your own destination labels always stay on the map.
0:32ProHow to use the satellite map theme
Swap the drawn map for real satellite imagery in your map animation. Routes, pins and labels stay on top. The Satellite theme is a Mappi Pro feature.
0:39How to highlight a boundary and change its colors
Outline a country, state or city on your map animation and style it: pick a preset color, set border and fill colors, fill opacity and border width.
0:43How to upload your own boundary (GeoJSON polygon)
Draw any shape around a stop on your map animation: upload a GeoJSON polygon of a district, park, delivery zone or region and review it before applying.
Animation & camera
All animation & camera guides
0:37How to speed up or slow down a route
Control the camera speed of your map animation: set how many seconds each route takes on screen, from a quick 1 second hop to a slow 10 second journey.
0:34How to zoom the camera in or out on a destination
Frame each stop of your map animation: zoom the camera closer or wider and move the pin off-center with Adjust view, then save the framing for that stop.
0:41How to choose what stays on the map as the journey moves on
Keep the whole journey on screen, leave a trail, or spotlight only the current stop. Set how long route lines, markers, labels and boundaries stay visible.
Export & formats
All export & formats guides
0:34How to export your map animation as a video
Export your Mappi map animation as an MP4 video: open Export, choose the quality and frame rate, and click Download. It renders right in your browser.
0:35How to change the aspect ratio for TikTok, Reels or YouTube
Size your map animation for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts or YouTube: switch between vertical 9:16, portrait 4:5, landscape 16:9 and square 1:1.
0:33ProHow to export a map animation in 4K
Export your map animation in 4K (3840 × 2160 for landscape) with Mappi Pro: set Quality to 4K in the Export options and download an ultra-sharp MP4.
0:32ProHow to remove the Mappi watermark
Export map animations without the mappi.studio watermark: with Mappi Pro, turn on Hide watermark in the Export options before you download.
Rendering & troubleshooting
All rendering & troubleshooting guides
0:32How to make exports faster
Cut map video export time on slower computers: turn on Faster export, render at 30 fps, use 720p for drafts, and keep the editor tab in front.
Articles: plans, billing and troubleshooting
Written guides for the questions a video can’t answer as quickly, like billing, plan limits and fixing an export.
Where are my saved maps stored?
Mappi saves maps in your browser, not your account. Learn why a saved map can be missing on another device or after clearing browser data, and how to keep it.
Getting started
Keyboard shortcuts in the Mappi editor
Keyboard shortcuts in the Mappi editor: play and scrub the preview, shuffle theme colors, move a dropped pin, and frame the camera without the mouse.
Getting started
How many destinations can a map have?
Free and guest maps hold up to 5 destinations; Mappi Pro maps hold as many as you need. Learn what counts toward the limit and what to do when you reach it.
Destinations & routes
Where to find GeoJSON boundary files for your map
Get a GeoJSON polygon for any country, state, city, neighborhood or custom area: draw one free, download open boundary data, or convert KML and Shapefiles.
Map styles & themes
How to fix boundary upload errors
Every message Mappi shows when a GeoJSON boundary upload fails, what it means, and how to fix the file: wrong format, coordinates, size or geometry.
Map styles & themes
Export settings explained: quality, frame rate and file size
What every Mappi export option does: 720p, 1080p and 4K video sizes for each aspect ratio, 30 vs 60 fps, Faster export, the watermark and the MP4 format.
Export & formats
My export is stuck or taking too long
Map video export stuck at a percentage or taking forever? Why exports slow down, how long they should take, and what to do to get your MP4 faster.
Rendering & troubleshooting
Export failed: “Your device couldn’t handle this export”
Fix a failed Mappi export: why you see “Your device couldn’t handle this export”, and how lower quality, Faster export, 30 fps or a desktop browser help.
Rendering & troubleshooting
Why does my map video look blurry or choppy?
Fix a blurry, soft or choppy map animation: pick the right export quality and frame rate, turn off Faster export for the final cut, and avoid re-compression.
Rendering & troubleshooting
The map won’t load or says “WebGL is not supported”
Fix a blank map preview or the “WebGL is not supported” message in Mappi: turn on hardware acceleration, update your browser, or try another browser.
Rendering & troubleshooting
Route couldn’t be found: “No route found” or “Route failed”
Why a driving, walking, transit or sailing route can’t be found between two stops, what each message means, and how to fix it or switch travel mode.
Rendering & troubleshooting
Making and exporting map animations on a phone or tablet
Use Mappi on your phone or tablet: how the mobile editor works, why phone exports are lighter, and tips to export map videos without errors on mobile.
Rendering & troubleshooting
Which browsers and devices work with Mappi?
Mappi runs in up-to-date Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on computers, phones and tablets. Firefox on Android can’t export videos yet. What your browser needs.
Rendering & troubleshooting
Mappi Free vs Pro: what’s included in each plan?
Compare Mappi plans: Free includes unlimited 1080p map video exports with a watermark; Pro adds 4K, no watermark, satellite, custom themes and your own icons.
Account & billing
How to upgrade to Mappi Pro
Upgrade your Mappi account to Pro: sign in, open the pricing page, choose monthly or yearly billing, click Get Pro and pay securely with Stripe.
Account & billing
How to cancel or manage your Mappi Pro subscription
Cancel your Mappi Pro subscription or change billing details: open your account menu, choose Settings, then Manage your payment preferences in Stripe.
Account & billing
How to download invoices and receipts
Find and download your Mappi Pro invoices and receipts: open Settings from your account menu, then Manage your payment preferences to see billing history.
Account & billing
How to update your payment method
Change the card or payment method for your Mappi Pro subscription in Stripe’s billing portal: Settings, then Manage your payment preferences.
Account & billing
Can I get a refund for Mappi Pro?
Mappi offers a 3-day money-back guarantee on Pro if you haven’t exported a video yet. Who qualifies, and how to request a refund by email.
Account & billing
Is there a student discount on Mappi Pro?
Students get 50% off Mappi Pro. Email us from your school address to get a discount code, then enter it at checkout when you upgrade.
Account & billing
How to create a Mappi account and sign in
Create a free Mappi account or sign in with Google, Apple, Facebook or email, right from the editor. Your current map stays put while you sign in.
Account & billing
How to contact Mappi support
Get help from the Mappi team: send feedback with screenshots from the editor, use the share feedback page, or email support. Typical reply in under 24 hours.
Account & billing
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most. Each one links to the full guide when there is more to show.
Is Mappi free to use?
Yes. You can make unlimited map animations and export them at up to 1080p for free, with a small mappi.studio watermark. Mappi Pro adds 4K exports, watermark-free videos, the Satellite theme, custom map themes, your own icons and as many destinations as you need.
Free vs ProDo I need an account to make a map animation?
No. Open the editor and start adding destinations right away; you can export without signing in. You need an account to upgrade to Pro and to save Pro items like custom themes and uploaded icons.
Create an account and sign inHow do I export my map animation as a video?
Click Export in the top-right corner of the editor, pick a quality and frame rate, and click Download. The video renders in your browser and downloads as an MP4 file.
Export your map animationCan I export map videos in 4K?
Yes, with Mappi Pro. Set Quality to 4K in the Export options; a landscape video renders at 3840 × 2160. Free and guest exports go up to 1080p.
Export in 4KHow many destinations can I add to one map?
Up to 5 on a free or guest map, and as many as you need with Mappi Pro. Only stops count, not the routes between them.
Destination limitCan I add a place that search can’t find?
Yes. Drop a custom pin: type a name, choose Can’t find it? Drop a pin under the results (or Drop a pin instead if nothing matches), and drag the map until the pin sits on the exact spot. You can also paste GPS coordinates in the pin picker.
Drop a custom pinHow do I make a route follow real roads?
Click the route’s travel mode (Fly by default) and choose Drive. Walk, Sail and Transit follow walking paths, shipping lanes and public transit the same way.
Choose a travel modeHow do I change the speed of the animation?
Each route has a travel duration from 1 to 10 seconds. Click the route’s duration chip (2.5 s for flights by default) and set a longer time to slow the camera down, or a shorter one to speed it up.
Speed up or slow down a routeWhere are my saved maps?
Saved maps are stored in the browser where you saved them, not in your account. Open the same browser on the same device to find them, and avoid clearing site data for mappi.studio.
Where saved maps are storedCan I highlight my own area or region?
Yes. Open a stop’s Boundary tab, open the Boundary options menu (the three-line button at the top-right of the boundary preview) and choose Upload your own boundary to use any GeoJSON polygon, such as a district, park or delivery zone. Draw one for free at geojson.io.
Upload your own boundaryWhy is my export slow?
Exports render on your device, so speed depends on your computer and the video’s size. Keep the tab in front, choose 30 fps and turn on Faster export for the quickest render. Phones, tablets and other touchscreen devices don’t show that switch: their exports are already lighter.
Make exports fasterCan I use Mappi videos commercially?
Yes. Videos you export can be used on monetized YouTube channels, social media, client work and ads. The map data in them keeps its own license, so credit “© OpenStreetMap contributors” in your video or its description, as our Terms explain. Pro removes the Mappi watermark, which most commercial projects prefer.
Remove the watermarkHow much does Mappi Pro cost?
$9 a month billed monthly, or $84 a year billed yearly, which works out to $7 a month. Both include every Pro feature.
Free vs ProHow do I cancel my Pro subscription?
Click your avatar in the editor, choose Settings, then Manage your payment preferences, and cancel your plan in Stripe’s billing portal. You keep Pro until the end of the period you paid for.
Cancel or manage your subscriptionCan I get a refund?
Yes, within 3 days of your first Pro charge if you haven’t exported a video yet. Renewals aren’t covered, and refunds are limited to one per account. Email support@mappi.studio with the subject “Refund request”.
Refund policyStill need help?
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