How to Change the Mapping Service used by Outlook's Map Link

Applies to Microsoft Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, Outlook 2002, Outlook 2000

This does not work with Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007. I have a macro at Use VBA to Map a Contact’s Address that works with Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007, or for anyone who wants to add a second mapping service to Outlook.

When you need a map of a contact’s address, open a contact and press the Display Map button or MapIt button in Outlook 2010 and up to connect to a web-based mapping service.

Outlook is currently directing to Bing Maps. If you don't want to use Bing, you can edit the registry to enable another web-based mapping service. I currently include the url formats for Bing, Google Maps, MapQuest, Expedia, Yahoo Maps, and Zillow. Note that the registry edit does not work in Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007.

If MapPoint is installed, the yellow road sign icon is replaced with a map icon and it uses MapPoint to map the contact's location. You can use web-based maps by disabling the MapPoint Com addin in opening Tools, Options, Other, Advanced Options, Com Add-ins and remove the check from the MapPoint Addin.

To edit the registry, open the Run command (either from the Start menu or by Pressing Windows key + R) and typing regedit then press Ok. Navigate to the registry key for your version of Outlook.

Before making any changes, right-click on the key and choose Export. This way you can easily restore it if you change your mind.

Outlook 2013

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\Options\General

Outlook 2010

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Options\General

Outlook 2002:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Options\General

Outlook 2000:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\Options\General

Right click in the right pane and choose New, String Value. Enter

MapScriptURL

To paste the urls below into the registry, click in the text field and press Ctrl+A to select all, Ctrl+C to copy, then paste in the Value Data field in the registry editor.

Bing Maps

http://www.bing.com/maps/?where1=<0s>,<1s>,<2s>,<3s>,<4s>

Google Maps

http://maps.google.com/?q=<0s>,<1s>,<2s>,<3s>,<4s>

Expedia

Requires the country code. For US, it needs to be USA. Outlook defaults to United States of America, but you can enter USA and Outlook uses it. If you are only mapping US addresses, replace <4s> with USA. Or replace it with the correct code for your country.

http://www.expedia.com/City-Map?action=findAMap@results&findAMap_addressPlace_country=<4s>&findAMap_addressPlace_street=<0s>&findAMap_addressPlace_city=<1s>&findAMap_addressPlace_state=<2s>&findAMap_addressPlace_zip=<3s>

MapQuest

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=<0s>&city=<1s>&state=<2s>&zip=<3s>

Yahoo Maps

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps?newFL=&addr=<0s>&csz=<1s>+<2s>+<3s>&srchtype=a&getmap=Get+Map

This URL also works for Yahoo:

http://maps.yahoo.com/map?q1=<0s> <1s> <2s> <3s> <4s>

Zillow

http://www.zillow.com/homes/<0s>-<1s>-<2s>-<3s>

Now when you select the map button, Outlook brings up the internet map of your choice.

To use other web-based mapping services, you’ll need to know the URL that is sent back to the server. Once you have that, replace the address fields with the codes Outlook uses:

Do It For Me

If you don't want to edit the registry yourself, you can download a zip file containing the registry entries for the map addresses listed above, except Zillow. After downloading the file, double click on the *.reg file for the mapping service you want to use.

Outlook 2013Outlook 2010Outlook 20022000