Coordinating arrivals for meetings, dinners, or family gatherings often involves sending a barrage of “I’m 10 minutes away!” text messages. If you get stuck in traffic, you have to safely send another update. Apple Maps includes a brilliant feature designed to eliminate this hassle: the ability to share your real-time Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA).
When you share your ETA, Apple Maps automatically sends a notification to your chosen contact. The recipient receives a map showing your current location along your route, and most importantly, Apple Maps automatically updates them if traffic conditions change and you are going to be late. This guide explains how to use this safety and convenience feature on your iPhone.
How to Share Your ETA During Navigation
You can only share your ETA after you have actively started a navigation route.
- Open the Apple Maps app on your iPhone.
- Search for your destination and tap the green GO button to begin turn-by-turn navigation.
- Look at the route card at the bottom of the screen (the grey panel displaying your arrival time and remaining minutes).
- Swipe up on this grey route card to reveal more options.
- Tap the button labelled Share ETA.
- A row of your frequent contacts will appear. Tap the contact you are meeting. If they are not listed, tap Open Contacts to search your entire address book.
Once selected, the contact’s icon will appear on the route card with a blue ring around it, indicating that your location and arrival time are currently being broadcast to them.
What Does the Recipient See?
The experience varies depending on the device the recipient is using.
- If they have an iPhone (iOS 13.1 or later): They will receive a rich notification from Apple Maps. Tapping it opens their Maps app, showing your live position moving along the route and your exact, dynamically updating arrival time.
- If they have an Android device or older phone: Apple Maps will automatically send them a standard SMS text message stating, “I’m sharing my ETA. I should arrive at [Destination] at [Time].” If your arrival time changes significantly, Maps will automatically send them a follow-up text message with the revised time.
How to Stop Sharing Your ETA
Your iPhone will automatically stop sharing your location the moment you reach your destination. However, if you need to cancel the sharing prematurely for privacy reasons, it is very simple.
- Swipe up on the grey route card at the bottom of the navigation screen.
- Tap the contact’s icon (which currently has a blue ring around it).
The blue ring will disappear, and Apple Maps will instantly sever the live connection, meaning the recipient will no longer be able to track your route or see your updated arrival time.