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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesGoogle Maps Location Sharing sends your device’s recent location to people you choose for a period you choose. You can share with a Google Account holder through your contacts, or send a link that works for someone without a Google Account. Recipients can normally see your name, profile photo, recent location and battery status; you can stop sharing for an individual at any time.
What Google Maps real-time location sharing actually does
Location Sharing is a permission-controlled feed from a device to selected recipients. It is separate from Google Maps Timeline: you can share your live location while Timeline is turned off. The recipient sees the device’s latest available position, which can update even when you are not actively using a Google app.
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Google describes the feature as a choice of who can find you and how long you share. The setting belongs to both your Google Account and the device, so changing it on one phone does not automatically mean every device associated with the account is configured the same way.
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Information that is normally visible
- Your Google Account name and profile photo.
- Your device’s recent location.
- Your device’s battery level and whether it is charging.
Depending on the sharing method and settings, Google Maps can also expose recent places or how you are traveling. Those additional details are contextual, not a promise that every recipient always receives every item. If a recipient creates an arrival or departure alert, the alert can reveal when you reach or leave a selected place.
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What you need before sharing
- A mobile device with Google Maps installed and signed in to the Google Account you intend to use.
- Location services and the permissions required by Maps enabled on that device.
- A recipient selected through Google Contacts, or a messaging method such as email or text for a share link.
Google’s current documentation says a mobile device is required to start real-time Location Sharing. A computer can manage existing shares and find or hide someone’s location, but it is not the initiation device for this feature.
Availability can vary by country or region, Google Workspace domain policy and account age. Supervised accounts may be managed by a parent or guardian through Family Link rather than by the child directly.
How to share your real-time location from a phone
- Sign in to the Google Account that should share the location.
- Open Google Maps.
- Tap your profile picture or initial.
- Choose Location Sharing, then tap New share.
- Choose how long the share should remain active.
- Select a person or choose the option to copy or send a link.
- Tap Share, then confirm the recipient and duration shown on screen.
For the named-recipient flow, Google’s Android instructions say to add the person’s Gmail address to Google Contacts so the contact-selection screen can find it. The recipient needs a Gmail account for this account-based method. Menu wording and eligibility can change with Maps updates, so follow the labels currently displayed on your phone.
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Selecting a contact ties the share to that person’s Google Account. You choose the duration during setup and can later stop the share for that person without affecting other recipients. This is the better route when you want an identifiable recipient and ongoing control over a specific contact.
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Sharing with someone who does not have a Google Account
Choose the link option and send it through email, text or another messaging app. Google documents access through that link for up to 24 hours. Treat the URL as a credential: anyone who obtains it may be able to view the location during its active window, so send it only to the intended person and avoid posting it in a public channel.
Recipient and duration choices at a glance
| Sharing path | Account requirement | Duration behavior | Control and exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named contact | Recipient’s Gmail account; Android setup uses Google Contacts | You select an available duration; an ongoing option may be offered to eligible accounts | Manage or stop that person individually; standard profile, recent-location and battery details are visible |
| Share link | No Google Account required for the recipient | Access is capped at 24 hours according to Google’s documentation | Anyone who gets the link may access the active location; link sharing does not support Location Sharing arrival/departure notifications |
| Trip progress | Uses the navigation sharing controls | Ends when you reach the destination or stop navigation | Shares destination, estimated arrival time and current location during that navigation session |
What the person you shared with can see
The recipient can open the shared location in Google Maps and see your name, profile photo, recent device position and battery state. The position may continue updating when Google apps are not open, subject to the phone’s connectivity, permissions and battery conditions. A displayed position is therefore the device’s recent known location, not a guarantee of a perfect, second-by-second GPS fix.
Trip-progress sharing adds the destination and estimated arrival time to the current-location view. It is designed for a journey rather than an open-ended relationship: Google says it ends automatically when you arrive or stop navigation.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteLocation Sharing is not the same as giving someone access to your entire Google Account. The recipient receives the information associated with the active share, while other account data remains protected by your account credentials. Nevertheless, a live position and battery state can disclose routines, so choose recipients and durations deliberately.
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Arrival and departure notifications
A recipient can create an alert for a selected place, such as your home, office or a meeting point. The alert reports an arrival or departure rather than merely showing the map.
- A recipient can add up to five Location Sharing notifications for each person.
- Google says you receive an email when an alert is added.
- You may also receive a push notification if Maps notifications are enabled on your device.
- Alerts stop when Location Sharing stops.
- Notifications are unavailable for some accounts and for link-based sharing.
Because an alert can reveal a predictable routine, review who has an active share and ask recipients to remove alerts they no longer need.
How to stop sharing, hide a person or end trip progress
Stop sharing with one person
- Open Google Maps on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture or initial, then open Location Sharing.
- Select the person whose access should end.
- Tap Stop and confirm if Maps asks.
On a computer, open Google Maps Location Sharing settings, find the person and select Stop beside that entry. Stopping is per recipient, so check the full list if you shared with several people.
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Hiding is a viewer-side map preference. It removes or conceals that person’s shared position from your map; it does not revoke the location you are sharing with them. Use Stop when you want to end another person’s access to your location.
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End trip-progress sharing
During car, walking or bicycle navigation, open the navigation card and stop sharing trip progress. If you do nothing, Google says the share ends when you reach the destination or stop navigation. This control is separate from an ongoing Location Sharing entry.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose the safest sharing method
Use a named recipient for a continuing relationship
Account-based sharing is easier to audit because the recipient is identified in your Location Sharing list. Choose a short duration for a one-time meeting, or an ongoing option only when the relationship and need justify it. Recheck the list after travel, events or emergencies.
Use a link for a short, account-free handoff
A link is practical when the other person cannot or does not want to use a Google Account. Keep the 24-hour ceiling in mind, send the link privately and delete or revoke the share when the purpose is over. Forwarding the message can give another person the same access until the link expires.
Use trip progress for a single journey
Trip progress minimizes lingering access because it is bound to active navigation. It is suitable when someone needs your destination and estimated arrival time while you travel, not when they need to monitor your location all day.
Troubleshooting common problems
The option is missing
Check that Maps is signed in, location permissions are enabled and the account is eligible. Country or region restrictions, a managed Google Workspace domain and age rules can all affect availability. For a supervised account, the parent or guardian may need to change the setting in Family Link.
The recipient cannot be selected
For named sharing, verify that the person has a Gmail address and, on Android, that the address is saved in Google Contacts. If that is not possible, use a link and send it through a private message.
A share expected to last longer than 24 hours ends or cannot be created
The 24-hour limit applies to link access. Google’s Android guidance also recommends checking age verification and then choosing Until you turn this off in the share flow when that option is available. Eligibility and exact labels can change, so use the current in-app instructions.
The map shows an old position
Location Sharing displays the device’s recent location. A phone with weak connectivity, disabled location services, restricted background activity or a depleted battery may not send a fresh fix. Have the sharer open Maps, verify permissions and connectivity, and check whether the phone is charging before assuming the share itself was revoked.
An alert was added without expectation
Review the email or push notice identifying the added Location Sharing notification. Ask the recipient to remove the alert, or stop the underlying share if the person should no longer have access. Link-based sharing does not support these arrival/departure notifications.
Quick Recap
Practical examples
| Situation | Recommended control | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting a friend once | Named share for a short duration or a private link | Limits access after the meeting; a link expires after 24 hours |
| Family member monitoring a long drive | Trip-progress sharing | Destination, ETA and current position end with navigation |
| Caregiver needs an identifiable, repeatable contact | Named-recipient sharing with a reviewed duration | The recipient is listed in Location Sharing and can be stopped individually |
| Someone without Gmail needs your position | Private link, never a public post | No account is required, but anyone with the link may view it during the active window |
Key limits to remember
- Starting real-time Location Sharing requires a mobile device; desktop controls are for management and viewing.
- Link-based access lasts up to 24 hours.
- Arrival and departure alerts can reveal when you reach or leave a place and are limited to five per person.
- Hiding a person changes your own map view; it does not stop that person from receiving your location.
- Interface labels, eligibility and regional availability can change, so confirm the current options in Google Maps before relying on a share for safety-critical travel.
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