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Freedom251 › Blog › Android

How to Manage Google Maps Notifications on Android and iPhone

By Freedom251 Team · · 14 min read

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Google Maps notifications have two control layers. On Android, start in Google Maps: tap your profile picture or initial, choose Settings, then Notifications, open a category, and switch individual alerts on or off. On iPhone and iPad, you can either silence the entire app in Settings > Notifications > Google Maps or fine-tune notification types inside Google Maps at profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications.

Use the narrowest control that solves the problem. Turning off every Maps notification removes interruptions, but disabling the specific Google Location Sharing (you) update alert can prevent your shared location from refreshing normally and leave it inaccurate. That alert is different from arrival and departure alerts about another person who shares their location with you.

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Choose the right notification control first

Before changing a switch, decide whether you want to remove all Google Maps alerts or only one kind. The operating system controls whether the app may notify you at all. Google Maps’ own Notifications screen controls categories and individual notification types within the app.

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What you want to do Use this control What it changes
Silence every Google Maps alert Android device notification controls, or iPhone/iPad Settings > Notifications > Google Maps Blocks the app’s notifications at the operating-system level.
Keep useful alerts but remove one category Google Maps > profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications Turns selected Maps notification categories on or off.
Reduce interruptions while continuing Location Sharing Change the relevant Maps notification type, not Location Sharing itself Can hide an alert, but the Google Location Sharing update warning says refreshes may stop and the shared location can become inaccurate.
Know when a person reaches or leaves a place Google Maps > profile > Location sharing > person’s profile > Notifications > Add Creates an arrival or departure alert for that person.

Menu names can change as Google updates Maps. Android’s device-level settings also vary by manufacturer and Android version, so the in-app route is the most consistent starting point.

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Turn off or tune Google Maps notifications on Android

Change individual notification types in Google Maps

  1. Open Google Maps.
  2. Tap your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner.
  3. Tap Settings.
  4. Tap Notifications.
  5. Open the notification category that contains the alert you no longer want.
  6. Use the switch beside the notification to turn it off. Leave other switches on if you still want their alerts.

This approach is best when one alert is annoying but you still need navigation, traffic, safety, or sharing updates. If the category contains several related choices, open it and change only the specific type that is causing the interruption.

If you are unsure which switch controls an alert, note the wording shown on the notification before changing settings. A traffic message, a prompt about your own shared-location refresh, and an arrival alert for a contact can appear similar in the notification shade but are controlled separately. Return to the category screen and change one switch at a time so you can identify the result.

Silence all Maps alerts from Android’s system controls

Android’s exact path differs between phone makers and software versions. Look for Google Maps in the phone’s app-notification or notification-permission settings, then disable its notifications or the categories you do not want. If your phone presents notification channels, you may be able to lower the importance of one channel instead of blocking the entire app. Use the Google Maps in-app screen first when you need a category-specific change.

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Some Android phones expose a single permission for the app, while others show separate channels or categories. A system-level block can hide every Maps alert even when the corresponding switches inside Maps still look enabled. Conversely, allowing the app at the system level does not force every category on; the in-app switches still determine which types Maps requests. This two-layer behavior explains why changing one menu may not produce the result you expect.

Handle the “Google Location Sharing (you)” update alert carefully

Google documents a location-sharing update alert under Google > Google Location Sharing (you). It is an update about your device refreshing the location you share; it is not the same as an alert telling you that another person arrived somewhere.

Turning off this update notification does not itself end Location Sharing. However, Google warns that the shared location may stop refreshing as before and become inaccurate. If people rely on your location, treat this as a reliability trade-off rather than a simple nuisance setting.

When this alert appears often, Google’s guidance is to keep Maps active in the background and check the Location sharing screen for a warning. Older Android releases may offer a way to minimize the notification or lower its importance, but those legacy options are not universal and should not be expected on every current phone.

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Do not confuse hiding the message with fixing the underlying refresh condition. If the Location sharing screen reports a warning, review that screen first. Re-enabling the update alert can make the status visible again, but it does not replace the need to let Maps remain active in the background.

Traffic updates while Maps is closed

Google says traffic updates delivered while you are not using Maps are available only in certain countries and regions. If you cannot find that alert or switch, availability may depend on where your account and device are being used rather than a problem with the phone.

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Stop or customize Google Maps notifications on iPhone and iPad

Block every Google Maps notification in iOS

  1. Open the iPhone or iPad Settings app.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Tap Google Maps.
  4. Turn Allow Notifications off.

This is an app-wide permission. Google Maps will no longer deliver its notifications through iOS until you turn the permission back on. Use it when you want complete silence, and remember that it does not delete saved places, navigation history, or Location Sharing.

If Google Maps is not listed under Notifications, open the app and allow a notification request if iOS presents one, then return to the system list. The wording and placement of options can differ slightly between iOS releases, but the Google Maps entry remains the system-level place to permit or block delivery.

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Turn off only one Maps notification type

  1. Open Google Maps.
  2. Tap your profile picture or initial.
  3. Tap Settings, then Notifications.
  4. Find the notification type you want to change.
  5. Use its switch to turn that type off while leaving other Maps notifications enabled.

Both layers must permit notifications for an alert to appear: iOS must allow Google Maps notifications, and the corresponding switch inside Maps must be on. If either layer is off, that notification will not be delivered.

For a narrowly targeted change, leave Allow Notifications enabled and use the in-app switch. That preserves the possibility of other Maps alerts while removing only the category that is distracting. Use the iOS switch when you want a definitive, app-wide block regardless of which Maps categories are enabled.

Location-sharing refresh alerts on iPhone

Google’s iPhone and iPad guidance also warns about a notification concerning Maps refreshing a shared location. Turning off Google Location Sharing (you) can stop the shared location from refreshing and make it inaccurate, even though Location Sharing itself has not necessarily been stopped.

If the message is frequent, Google advises not force-closing Maps and checking the Location sharing screen for warnings. Force-closing removes Maps from the background, which can interfere with the refresh behavior that people viewing your location depend on.

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Understand the two Location Sharing notification scenarios

Your own location update notification

The Google Location Sharing (you) update notification concerns your device’s ability to refresh the location you share. Silencing it may make the shared position stale or inaccurate. This is why it should not be treated like an ordinary promotional or traffic alert when someone needs your current position.

Arrival and departure alerts for someone else

When another person shares their location with you, Maps can notify you when that person arrives at or leaves a place you choose. To add one:

  1. Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initial.
  2. Tap Location sharing.
  3. Select the person who shares their location with you.
  4. Tap Notifications, then Add.
  5. Choose a place.
  6. Choose Arrival or Departure.
  7. Save the notification.

Google allows up to five arrival or departure notifications for each person. The person sharing their location receives an email and, when Maps notifications are enabled, a push notification that this type of notification was added.

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These alerts stop when Location Sharing stops. Google also says some accounts are not eligible, and the feature does not work for a location shared by link. A person can turn off notifications added to learn when they arrive or leave while continuing to share their location; Google’s guidance says the sharer is not notified of that change.

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The five-notification limit applies per person, so adding a sixth place for the same contact is not an alternative way to monitor more destinations. Choose the places and event types that matter most. If the person stops sharing, all related arrival and departure alerts stop with that sharing relationship; they do not continue as independent reminders.

Which setting should you change?

Situation Recommended action Important consequence
You want no Maps interruptions at all Disable Google Maps notifications at the operating-system level. Every Maps alert is blocked until permission is restored.
Only one category is distracting Turn off that category or notification type inside Maps. Other enabled Maps alerts continue.
The Google Location Sharing (you) message is frequent Keep Maps active in the background and inspect the Location sharing screen for warnings before silencing it. Turning it off may leave your shared location stale or inaccurate.
You need an alert when a contact reaches a place Add an arrival notification for that person under Location sharing. Eligibility, link-based sharing, and the five-notification-per-person limit apply.
You need an alert when a contact leaves a place Add a departure notification for that person under Location sharing. The alert ends if Location Sharing ends.

Troubleshoot notifications that will not stop or will not appear

An alert still appears after you turned it off

  • Check whether you changed a Maps notification type or only a different category.
  • On iPhone or iPad, verify Settings > Notifications > Google Maps > Allow Notifications; a system permission can override what you expect from the app screen.
  • On Android, revisit Google Maps > profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications and inspect the category containing the alert. Manufacturer-specific system menus may have separate category switches.
  • Look at the wording of the alert. A Location Sharing update, a traffic update, and an arrival/departure notification are separate notification types.
  • Check whether the alert is being generated by a different Google app or device. Only switches that belong to Google Maps affect Maps notifications.

A shared location looks old or inaccurate

  • Check whether Google Location Sharing (you) was disabled.
  • Open Maps’ Location sharing screen and look for a warning.
  • Do not force-close Maps if you need regular background refreshes.
  • On Android, consider whether the phone’s battery or background-activity controls are preventing Maps from remaining active. Google’s documented guidance specifically emphasizes keeping Maps active in the background.

These checks address refresh reliability; they do not turn a stale location into a precise live position instantly. The person viewing your location may need to wait for the next refresh after Maps is allowed to run normally.

An arrival or departure notification cannot be added

  • Confirm that the person is actively sharing their location with you.
  • Check that the share was not created only through a link, which Google excludes for this feature.
  • Check how many notifications already exist for that person; Google limits the total to five.
  • Remember that the notification is tied to the selected person and place, not to every person in your Location sharing list.
  • Verify that you selected the person’s profile before opening Notifications; the control is person-specific rather than a global Location sharing setting.

A traffic notification option is missing

Traffic updates while Maps is not in use are limited to certain countries and regions. Their absence can therefore reflect regional availability rather than an error in your notification permissions.

You cannot tell whether sharing stopped

Notification silence and sharing status are different questions. Turning off a notification does not by itself cancel Location Sharing, while stopping Location Sharing does stop the related arrival and departure alerts. Open the Location sharing screen to check the actual sharing relationship instead of inferring it from whether a banner appears.

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How to restore notifications later

Android

Return to Google Maps > profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications, open the relevant category, and switch the notification back on. If you blocked Maps at the phone level, re-enable its notifications in your device’s app-notification settings as well.

iPhone and iPad

For all-app permission, open Settings > Notifications > Google Maps and turn Allow Notifications on. For one notification type, open Google Maps > profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications and enable its switch.

If you previously disabled both layers on iPhone or iPad, restore the iOS permission first and then check the individual Maps category. On Android, restore the system permission or channel first if the phone had blocked Maps globally, then confirm the in-app category switch.

Practical examples

You want navigation but not routine alerts

Keep iOS or Android permission enabled, then disable only the unwanted category inside Maps. This preserves the app’s ability to notify you while avoiding an all-or-nothing block.

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You share your location with family and dislike the persistent update message

Do not immediately disable the Google Location Sharing (you) update. First leave Maps able to run in the background and inspect the Location sharing screen for a warning. If you silence the update anyway, tell the people relying on your location that refreshes may become less reliable.

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You want to know when a child or colleague reaches a destination

Use the person-specific Location sharing path and add an arrival notification for the destination. If you also need to know when they leave, add a departure notification, staying within the five-notification limit for that person.

You want to stop receiving alerts from one shared contact without ending the share

Remove or disable the person-specific arrival/departure notification rather than ending Location Sharing altogether. Google says the sharer can continue sharing their location and is not notified when those added arrival/departure notifications are turned off.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off Google Maps notifications completely?

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Notifications > Google Maps and turn off Allow Notifications. On Android, use the phone’s app-notification controls to block Google Maps, noting that the exact system path varies by device. If you only want to remove one alert, use Maps’ own profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications screen instead.

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Where are Google Maps notification settings on Android?

Open Google Maps, tap your profile picture or initial, choose Settings, and tap Notifications. Select a category and switch the individual notification on or off. Phone-maker menus may offer additional system-level controls, but the in-app route is Google’s documented starting point.

How do I stop Google Maps alerts on my iPhone?

For a complete block, use iOS Settings > Notifications > Google Maps and turn off Allow Notifications. For a single type, open Google Maps and go to profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications, then turn off that type while leaving the other categories enabled.

Will turning off location-sharing notifications stop sharing my location?

Not automatically. Turning off a notification is different from ending Location Sharing. However, Google warns that disabling the Google Location Sharing (you) update alert can stop the shared location from refreshing normally and make it inaccurate. Keep Maps active in the background and check the Location sharing screen for warnings before silencing that alert.

What is the difference between Google Location Sharing (you) and an arrival alert?

The Google Location Sharing (you) message concerns your device refreshing the location you share with other people. An arrival or departure alert is a separate, person-specific notification that tells you when someone who shares their location with you reaches or leaves a selected place.

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How many arrival or departure alerts can I add?

Google allows up to five such notifications for each person. The limit is per person, and the alerts stop when that person’s Location Sharing stops.

Does the person know when I add an arrival or departure alert?

Yes. Google says the person sharing their location receives an email and, when Maps notifications are enabled, a push notification that the alert was added. If they later turn off these added arrival or departure notifications while continuing to share their location, Google says they are not notified of that change.

Why can’t I add an arrival notification for a shared location?

The feature is unavailable for some accounts and does not work when the location was shared by link. Confirm that the person is actively sharing with your account and that you have not reached the five-notification limit for that person.

Why is a traffic notification setting missing?

Google states that traffic updates delivered while Maps is not in use are available only in certain countries and regions. The missing option can therefore reflect regional availability rather than a fault with your phone.

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Key distinctions to remember

  • App permission versus app setting: iOS has an explicit system permission path; both platforms also provide in-app Maps notification switches.
  • Silencing an alert versus ending sharing: disabling a notification does not automatically stop Location Sharing, but disabling the location-refresh update can reduce accuracy.
  • Your location versus another person’s location: Google Location Sharing (you) concerns refreshes for your shared position; arrival and departure alerts concern a person who shares with you.
  • Current menus versus older device behavior: Android system labels vary, and older Android releases may expose notification-importance controls that newer devices do not.
  • Global versus selective control: use the operating-system permission for complete silence and the Maps notification categories when you want to preserve selected alerts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn off Google Maps notifications completely?

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Notifications > Google Maps and turn off Allow Notifications. On Android, use the phone’s app-notification controls to block Google Maps; the exact path varies by device. For one alert only, use Google Maps > profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications.

Will turning off location-sharing notifications stop sharing my location?

It does not automatically end Location Sharing, but disabling Google Location Sharing (you) can stop normal refreshes and make the shared location inaccurate. Keep Maps active in the background and check the Location sharing screen for warnings.

How many arrival or departure alerts can I add?

Up to five for each person. They stop when that person’s Location Sharing stops.

Why can’t I add an arrival notification?

Some accounts are not eligible, and the feature does not work for a location shared by link. Also check that the person is actively sharing and that you have not reached five notifications for that person.

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Does the person know when I add an arrival alert?

Yes. Google says the person receives an email and, when Maps notifications are enabled, a push notification. Turning off those added alerts later while continuing to share does not notify the sharer, according to Google’s guidance.

Why is a traffic notification option missing?

Traffic updates while Maps is not in use are available only in certain countries and regions, so the option may not be offered where you are.

The Bottom Line

Use Google Maps’ in-app Notifications screen for precise control and your phone’s notification permission for a complete block. On either platform, treat Google Location Sharing (you) as a special case: silencing it can leave a shared location stale or inaccurate. Arrival and departure alerts are separate, person-specific controls with account, link-sharing, and five-per-person limits.

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