Whether you are meeting friends in a crowded city or simply want your family to know you are travelling safely, knowing how to share location on Google Maps is a crucial safety and convenience feature. Google Maps allows you to broadcast your live, real-time location directly from your smartphone, ensuring the people you trust always know exactly where you are.
How to Share Your Real-Time Location
Sharing your location is incredibly straightforward on both Android and iOS devices. You will need the Google Maps app installed and your device’s GPS location services turned on.
- Open the Google Maps app on your smartphone.
- Tap on your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner of the screen.
- From the menu, select Location sharing.
- Tap the Share location button.
- Choose how long you want to share your location. You can set a specific timer (e.g., “For 1 hour”) or select Until you turn this off.
- Select the contact you wish to share with. You can pick someone from your Google contacts, or copy a direct link to send via WhatsApp, SMS, or email.
Once activated, the recipient will receive a notification and a link. When they open it in their own Google Maps app, they will see your profile picture moving dynamically across the map.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop sharing my location?
If you selected a specific timer, the sharing will expire automatically. To end it manually, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, select Location sharing, tap the profile of the person you are sharing with, and press the Stop button at the bottom of the screen.
Can people see my location history?
No. When you use the location sharing feature, your contacts can only see your current, live location. They do not have access to your Google Maps Timeline or your past location history.
