Add a Missing Location to Excel Map Charts and Geography Data Types
Question details
The user needs to add a location that appears in Bing Maps, such as Užice, Serbia, but is not recognized by Excel Geography data types or Map Charts.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel Geography data type and Map Chart
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is preparing location-based data for an Excel map visualization and wants Excel to identify the correct city.
- Observed behavior
- Excel does not recognize or map the location even though the place is available in Bing Maps.
Place each location in its own cell and use a consistent location format, such as City, Country. Check that your Excel version supports Geography data types and Map Charts, and that you are signed in if your version requires connected experiences.
Use a standardized city and country name in the Geography data type
Use this method when Excel needs more context to distinguish a city from similarly named places or administrative areas.
Excel map services may recognize a location only when the city is paired with its country or another higher-level administrative area. Enter the location as plain text first, then convert it to the Geography data type.
In a worksheet column, enter the location as Užice, Serbia. Avoid adding unrelated text, postal codes, or values in the same cell.
Select the location cells, then go to Data > Data Types > Geography. Wait for the Geography icon to appear in the selected cells.
If Excel displays a question mark or a Data Selector pane, select the cell and choose the result that identifies Užice as a city in Serbia.
Select the Geography cells and the related numeric values, then go to Insert > Maps > Filled Map. Use Chart Design options to adjust the map presentation if needed.
Add country or administrative-level fields for a clearer map match
Use this approach when Excel recognizes the place name ambiguously or maps it to the wrong geographic area.
Use latitude and longitude for locations Excel cannot identify
Use coordinates or a custom mapping tool when Excel still cannot resolve a city name through its built-in geographic data.
Create and Edit Excel Location Data in WPS Office
If Excel Map Charts or Geography data types cannot identify a location, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight spreadsheet alternative for organizing, cleaning, and sharing geographic datasets. Its familiar spreadsheet interface helps you prepare city, country, and coordinate columns before moving data to a specialized mapping service when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel recognize a place in Bing Maps but not in a Map Chart?
Excel Map Charts and Bing Maps search can use different location-matching rules and administrative boundaries. Enter the place as City, Country, such as Užice, Serbia, and make sure the selected result is the intended city.
How do I convert a city name to the Geography data type in Excel?
Enter the city and country in a cell, select the cell, then choose Data > Data Types > Geography. If Excel shows a question mark, select the cell and choose the correct location from the Data Selector.
Can I manually add a missing city to an Excel Filled Map?
You cannot directly add a new geographic entity to Excel's built-in Filled Map database. Try a standardized City, Country value first; if it remains unavailable, use coordinates in a point-mapping tool or a custom mapping solution.
Should I put city and country in separate columns for an Excel map?
Separate columns can improve data organization, but Excel often maps more reliably when you create a combined field such as Užice, Serbia. Use that combined field for Data > Geography or Insert > Maps > Filled Map.
Can latitude and longitude be used in an Excel map?
Latitude and longitude are useful for point-based mapping tools. In Excel versions that support it, use Insert > 3D Map > Open 3D Maps and assign your Latitude and Longitude columns to the location fields.
