This is the simplest hack to get Google tiles into ArcGIS 10.8:
If you’re stuck on ArcGIS 10.8 for legacy reasons, ArcGoogle turns your desktop into a hybrid Google-Esri machine. Use it ethically, don’t redistribute tiles, and always credit Google’s data.
Enter an address like “10 Downing Street, London” → ArcGoogle creates a point feature in your edit session, populates address fields, and even pulls in place types (restaurant, park, transit station) from Google Places API. arcgoogle for arcgis 10.8
: View Google Street View and Bird's Eye imagery directly alongside your GIS vector data.
This was possible because Google offered URLs (e.g., http://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=s&x=x&y=y&z=z ) without strict API keys for desktop clients. This is the simplest hack to get Google tiles into ArcGIS 10
as a lightweight tool for adding base maps that often load faster than native options. Key Features for ArcGIS 10.8 Google Layers
Provides access to Google’s detailed satellite and street data. Stability Issues: : View Google Street View and Bird's Eye
: Some trial versions of ArcGoogle may automatically close ArcMap after a set period (e.g., 7 minutes), which is intended behavior for the trial rather than a bug. Using Google Maps with ArcMap 10 - Page 4 - Esri Community