Guides
How to share a map
Direct answer
How to share a map?
Choose Public, Unlisted, or Password access, then share the hosted map link or use a paid website embed. Saved changes keep the same map destination.
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Publish & Share
Map sharing workflow
1. Publish the map
2. Copy the public link
3. Choose link or embed
A public link opens a hosted map; an embed keeps the experience inside your website.
No code
Visual map building
CSV + Sheets
Spreadsheet workflows
Website-ready
Share links and embeds
01
Publish before you distribute the URL
Finish the map, save the current changes, choose an access mode, and publish it before sending a hosted share link or website embed.
Use the Share Link for email, messaging, documents, QR destinations, and Notion bookmarks
Use Share → Embed on Starter or higher when the map should remain inside an eligible website page
Do not share an editor URL; it is not the visitor-facing map
Open the shared result signed out before distributing it
02
Choose Public, Unlisted, or Password access
MapsMaker offers three published-map access modes. Search indexing is a separate choice and should not be inferred only from the word Public.
Public: anyone with the URL can open the map; enable search indexing separately only when the page is intended and ready for discovery
Unlisted: share by URL without presenting the map as an indexable public page
Password: viewers open the link and enter the configured password
Unpublished: use while editing; it is not a private-sharing substitute
03
Choose link or embed for the destination
The hosted /m/ URL is the canonical share experience and cannot be framed by another site. Website code uses the separate paid /embed/ route.
Link: best for email, chat, newsletters, documents, and Notion bookmarks
Embed: best for a directory, locator, event, or guide page where visitors should stay on the website
Business embed: optionally limit framing to an allowed root domain; that root includes its subdomains
Do not paste the /m/ share URL into an iframe; copy Share → Embed instead
04
Example sharing plan for an event
An event team can publish one map, send its Unlisted link to staff in email, place the same link in a Notion runbook as a bookmark, and use a paid embed on the attendee website.
Use a visitor-facing title and short description rather than an internal project code
Include venue entrances, accessible routes, first aid, transport, and contact details supported by the event plan
Test staff access, attendee access, and the website embed as separate journeys
When details change, save the map and re-test the same published destinations
05
Troubleshooting, privacy, and update limits
A saved change can flow to the current published map without generating a new URL, but an unsaved editor change is not a published update.
Viewer sees an unpublished message: publish the map and verify the exact URL signed out
Password is not requested: confirm Password is the active access mode and retest in a clean browser session
Embed is blocked: confirm Starter-or-higher access, the /embed/ source, and any Business domain allowlist
Map appears stale: save the current changes, refresh the visitor page, and distinguish browser caching from unsaved editor state
Sensitive content: remove it from broadly shared records; access controls do not replace careful data minimization
Choose a publishing destination
A public link and an iframe can show the same maintained map, but they solve different presentation needs.
| Destination | Use it when | Check before sending |
|---|---|---|
| Public MapsMaker link | The map can open as its own page | Publication and access mode |
| Website iframe | The map should stay in an eligible site page | Plan, domain rules, width, height, and signed-out behavior |
| Exported data | Someone needs records rather than the interactive experience | Format, privacy, and whether the export is current |
How it works
1
Review the visitor map
Check the title, description, records, sources, controls, and mobile layout.
2
Choose an access mode
Select Public, Unlisted, or Password and decide separately whether an eligible public map should be indexed.
3
Save and publish
Save the current map changes and turn Published on.
4
Copy the right destination
Use Share Link for a hosted page or Share → Embed on Starter or higher for website framing.
5
Test signed out
Open the result in a clean desktop and mobile session, including the password flow or allowed website domain.
6
Distribute and maintain
Share the verified URL, then save and re-test future map changes without replacing the link unnecessarily.
Frequently asked questions
Can I password-protect a published map?
Yes. Choose Password access, publish the map, and test the viewer flow signed out before sending the link.
Is every Public map automatically indexed by search engines?
No. Search indexing is a separate opt-in. Enable it only for a useful, complete public map intended for discovery.
Can I embed the Share Link in an iframe?
No. The hosted /m/ route blocks third-party framing. Website embedding uses the separate /embed/ source copied from Share → Embed on Starter or higher.
Do map updates require a new share link?
Normally no. Save changes to the same published map and re-test its existing link or embed. Unsaved editor changes are not a published update.
Can I limit an embed to my website?
Yes on Business. Allow the live root domain; its subdomains are covered. A separate builder-preview or staging domain is a different host.
What happens when I unpublish the map?
The visitor-facing published experience stops being available. Unpublishing is useful for withdrawal, not as a way to share privately.
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