---
title: "How to create a map"
description: "Create a new private map from the portal with the Create a map button. It opens in the editor as Untitled Map. You need the Owner or Admin role."
sidebar:
  label: "Create a map"
---

Creating a map from the portal creates an `Untitled Map` and opens the editor. You can then add data and style it. Your account owns the map, and it starts private. Only you and permitted account members can see it until you publish it.

## Before you start

- You need to be signed in with the `Create map` permission. This is available to the Owner and Admin roles. Editor and Viewer roles do not see the button. See [Account roles reference](/docs/account-roles/account-roles-reference).
- You need to be under your account's map limit. The portal shows a dialog explaining your upgrade options if you've reached it — see [What happens at the map limit](#what-happens-at-the-map-limit) below.

## Click Create a map

The `Create a map` button is at the right end of the portal header (a plus icon).

Clicking it:

1. Creates a new map titled `Untitled Map` in your account.
2. Opens the new map in the map editor.

<img src="/_assets/portals/create-a-map--creating.png" alt="Maps portal with the pointer on the Create a map button at the right of the header, and a Processing your request... toast at the bottom of the page" width="1600" height="960" />

## Set up your new map

Once you're in the editor, the typical first steps are:

1. Open `Map settings` and replace `Untitled Map` with a real title. See [How to set the map title and description](/docs/map-settings/set-map-title-and-description).
2. Add your first layer. See [How to add a layer from your data library](/docs/managing-layers/add-layer-from-library) or [How to add a layer by import](/docs/managing-layers/add-layer-by-import).
3. Style the layer. See [Styling layers](/docs/styling-layers).
4. Publish the map when you're ready. See [How to publish a map to the web](/docs/map-access/publish-map-to-web).

The full new-map walkthrough is in [Quickstart: build your first map](/docs/getting-started/quickstart).

## What happens at the map limit

If your account has reached its map limit when you click `Create a map`, the portal opens a dialog instead of creating the map. The dialog explains your account's plan limit and offers the upgrade or add-on path appropriate to your plan:

- **Business plan** — the dialog offers an upgrade to Enterprise.
- **Enterprise or Agency plan** — the dialog offers an `Additional maps` add-on, or an upgrade to a higher plan if applicable.

<img src="/_assets/portals/create-a-map--map-limit.png" alt="Unlock Additional Maps dialog over the Maps portal, with Upgrade recommended from Enterprise (Current) to Agency (Recommended), a See all plans link, and the Not now and Upgrade Now buttons" width="1600" height="960" />

Click `Upgrade` (or the equivalent action in the dialog) to go to subscription settings. Close the dialog to stay on the portal — no map is created.

## Related

- [Quickstart: build your first map](/docs/getting-started/quickstart) — five-minute end-to-end walkthrough.
- [Maps portal reference](/docs/portals/maps-portal-reference) — every control on the page.
- [How portals work in MangoMap](/docs/portals/concepts-portals) — what the portal is.
- [How to publish a map to the web](/docs/map-access/publish-map-to-web) — the next step once your map is ready.
- [Account roles reference](/docs/account-roles/account-roles-reference) — which roles can create maps.