KML & KMZ Viewer for iPhone & iPad
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is the standard format for geographic data created in Google Earth, Google My Maps, and dozens of other mapping tools. KMZ is simply a compressed version of KML, bundled into a zip archive that can include icons, images, and other resources. If you work with geographic data, you have almost certainly received a KML or KMZ file at some point — from a colleague, a government agency, or a public data portal.
Viewing these files used to mean installing Google Earth on a desktop or relying on Google Earth's mobile app, which focuses on the globe experience rather than serious data inspection. GoGIS gives you a proper GIS viewer for KML and KMZ data on your iPhone or iPad, with full style support, attribute display, and the ability to overlay KML data with shapefiles, GeoJSON, and other layers.
Where KML and KMZ Files Come From
KML files show up everywhere in the GIS world. Government agencies publish zoning maps, flood zones, and infrastructure data in KML. Environmental organizations share habitat boundaries and monitoring sites. Colleagues create quick maps in Google My Maps and export them as KML. Field teams record GPS tracks and waypoints that end up in KMZ format. If you deal with spatial data, KML is one of the formats you will encounter regularly.
Opening KML and KMZ in GoGIS
Getting a KML or KMZ file into GoGIS works the same way as any other supported format. From the iOS Files app, tap the file and choose GoGIS from the share sheet. From an email attachment, tap it and select GoGIS. From AirDrop, accept the transfer and GoGIS opens automatically. The import takes a few seconds regardless of the source.
KMZ files are handled identically. GoGIS detects the compressed archive, extracts the KML document and any bundled resources, and creates the layer. You do not need to rename the file extension or extract anything manually.
KML Style Support
One of the strengths of KML is inline styling — colors, line widths, polygon fills, and icon specifications are embedded directly in the file. GoGIS preserves these styles when importing. Lines keep their colors and widths. Polygon fills render with the correct color and opacity. Point placemarks display with the styling defined in the original file.
This matters because KML files are often styled with specific meaning — red lines for boundaries, blue for waterways, green for vegetation. Losing that styling strips away information. GoGIS keeps it intact so the data looks the way its creator intended.
Viewing Placemarks and Descriptions
KML placemarks often contain rich descriptions — HTML-formatted text, links, embedded images, and structured data. Tap any placemark in GoGIS to view its full description and attributes. This is especially useful for KML files from Google My Maps, where users attach notes, photos, and custom fields to each placemark.
Overlaying KML with Other Data
KML data rarely exists in isolation. You might need to overlay a KML boundary file on top of a shapefile, compare a colleague's Google My Maps export with your own field data, or add a KML layer to an existing project with GeoJSON and GPS tracks. GoGIS handles all of this seamlessly. Each imported file becomes a separate layer that you can toggle, reorder, and style independently.
Exporting to Other Formats
If you need to convert KML data to a format your desktop GIS expects, GoGIS can export any layer to GeoJSON, Shapefile, CSV, or KML. This makes it easy to receive a KML file in the field, inspect it on your phone, and then export it as a shapefile for your QGIS or ArcGIS workflow back at the office.
Whether you receive KML files from government sources, colleagues using Google Earth, or your own field data collection, GoGIS provides a complete KML and KMZ viewer on your iPhone and iPad with the features GIS professionals expect.