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How to Share a Location With a Google Maps Pin or Plus Code

Send a fixed Google Maps location by sharing a dropped pin or copying its Plus Code. Follow platform-specific steps for Android, iPhone, iPad, and desktop, plus guidance on locality names, troubleshooting, and live-location privacy.
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The fastest way to send a precise Google Maps location is to drop or select a pin, open its details, tap Share, and choose your messaging app. When a street address is vague, missing, or does not identify the correct entrance, copy the location’s Plus Code and paste it as text. The recipient can search that code in Google Maps.

A pin or Plus Code is a fixed place. It is not the same as Google Maps Location Sharing, which can show a device’s changing location for a selected period. Choose the fixed-location method unless the other person needs to follow your movement.

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Choose what you need to send

“Share my location on Google Maps” can describe several different actions. Selecting the right format avoids sending a useful-looking message that does not solve the recipient’s problem.

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What you send Best for What the recipient receives
Pin or named-place link A recognizable business, address, landmark, or meeting point A Google Maps link that opens the selected place or dropped pin
Plus Code An exact point, an entrance, an outdoor meeting spot, or a place without a dependable street address Text such as JJXX+HR8, Seattle that can be searched in Maps
Map link from a computer Sharing a view of a map or a selected location from the desktop site A copied Maps URL; the map menu also offers an embed option
Live Location Sharing Letting someone follow your changing position while you travel Recent device-location information for the period and audience you choose

A Plus Code is not a special kind of tracking link. It identifies a geographic point. Google describes its use this way: “Define a specific location for a conventional address. For example, you can identify different entrances to the same building.”

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Pin, Plus Code, or link: a quick decision

Use a named-place link when the recipient already knows the destination by name, such as a restaurant, hotel, or public landmark. The place card gives the recipient recognizable context and route options. A dropped pin is better when you want to indicate a point that is not represented by a separate Maps listing, or when the meeting point is somewhere on a large property.

Choose a Plus Code when the exact map point matters more than the property name. It can identify a particular gate, trailhead, loading entrance, roadside pull-off, or open-air meeting spot. Because it is text, it can be copied into a message even when the recipient cannot conveniently open a link at that moment. Add the city or town when the recipient is searching from another area.

Use live Location Sharing only when the destination is changing because you are moving. A static pin will remain at the selected point; it will not follow a phone, vehicle, or person.

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Share a dropped pin on Android

These steps are for sending a fixed point from the Google Maps Android app. The exact wording or position of a control can change as the app is updated, but the sequence is the same: select the map point, open its information panel, and share it.

  1. Open Google Maps and move the map to the area you need.
  2. Search for the destination if it has a name or address. For an unlisted point, touch and hold the map until a red pin appears.
  3. Tap the information panel at the bottom of the screen to expand the selected location.
  4. Tap Share.
  5. Choose Messages, email, or another installed messaging app, select the recipient, and send the generated map link.

A dropped pin is useful when the recipient needs to arrive at a particular point rather than merely find the general property. Before sending, check the pin’s position against nearby roads, entrances, parking areas, or trails. A few metres can matter at a large campus or a venue with separate public and service entrances.

If you searched for a named place, make sure the selected result is the intended branch or building before tapping Share. Businesses can have similarly named locations, and a general search result may not be the entrance you mean. Expanding the bottom panel lets you verify the place name and surrounding map before the message goes out.

Copy and share a Plus Code on Android

Use a Plus Code when the pin’s exact coordinates matter or when an ordinary address does not describe the place well.

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  1. In Google Maps, search for the place or touch and hold the map to drop a pin.
  2. Open the location details by tapping the panel at the bottom.
  3. Find the Plus Code in the details and tap the code to copy it.
  4. Open your messaging app, paste the code into the message, and send it.

Send the code as text rather than trying to turn it into a made-up Maps URL. The recipient can paste or type the code into Google Maps’ search field. If the code is being used outside the town or city where the recipient is currently located, include the locality, for example JJXX+HR8, Seattle. Google says that, for the current locality, a six- or seven-digit code can be entered by itself.

Keep the plus sign and every character intact when copying. A short explanatory note makes the result easier to use: identify the entrance, gate, side of the building, or nearby landmark that the marker represents. The code supplies the point; the note supplies the practical arrival context.

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Share a precise location on iPhone or iPad

Google’s documented Plus Code flow on iPhone and iPad is designed for the same fixed-point use case.

  1. Open Google Maps and navigate to the required area.
  2. Tap the map to place a pin at the exact point.
  3. Open the bottom information panel.
  4. Tap the Plus Code shown in the panel.
  5. Paste the copied code into Messages, Mail, or another messaging service.

Include the city or town when the recipient may search from somewhere else. A code without that context can be ambiguous to someone who is not currently in the same locality. If the destination is a well-known named place, a normal place link may be easier for the recipient to recognize; use the Plus Code when the exact point is the important part of the instruction.

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On iPhone or iPad, you can also share a recognizable place through the selected location’s sharing controls when a link is more convenient than copying text. Whichever format you use, inspect the marker first. A tap made slightly away from a doorway or path can select a nearby point, so zoom in when the entrance matters.

Find a Plus Code on a computer

The desktop website exposes the code through the coordinate information for the selected point.

  1. Open Google Maps in a desktop browser.
  2. Click the desired location. A small information box appears on the map.
  3. Click the coordinates in that information box.
  4. Use the left panel to locate the Plus Code.
  5. Copy the code and paste it into your message.

The coordinate click is an important part of the desktop process. If you only click the map and look at the first card, the Plus Code may not yet be visible in the left panel.

Desktop is useful when you need to inspect a larger area, compare entrances, or prepare a location for a calendar invitation. After copying, preserve the locality with the code if your recipient is not nearby. You can send the code as plain text and add a conventional map link as a second option.

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Copy a map link from the desktop site

When you want to send a conventional Maps link rather than Plus Code text, use the map’s sharing menu.

  1. Open the location or map view you want to share.
  2. Open the map menu.
  3. Select Share or embed map.
  4. Choose the link-sharing option and copy the displayed link.
  5. Paste the link into your message, calendar invitation, or email.

The same menu can provide embed code when you are placing a map on a web page. An embed is for a webpage; it is not usually the most convenient format for a one-to-one message. For a person who simply needs directions, the copied link is generally clearer than sending embed code.

What a recipient should do with a Plus Code

A Plus Code is ordinary text, so it works in SMS, chat, email, or a printed instruction. Tell the recipient to open Google Maps and enter the code in the search box. If you supplied the city or town, they should search the complete code and locality together.

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  • Use the entire code exactly as sent, including the plus sign.
  • Keep the locality name when the searcher is outside the area where the code was generated.
  • After Maps resolves the result, compare the marker with the intended entrance, road, building, or landmark.
  • If the result is not the intended point, ask the sender to resend the code with the city or a short description of the meeting point.

Do not describe a Plus Code as a person’s current position. It remains a reference to the selected geographic location unless you separately use Location Sharing.

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Why a Plus Code can be better than an address

Street addresses are optimized for postal delivery and navigation, not always for precise rendezvous points. A large building can have several entrances, a park may have no street number, and a construction site may be reached through a temporary access road. A Plus Code lets you point to the actual spot selected on the map.

For example, a building’s postal address may lead everyone to the front door while a delivery driver needs a loading entrance. Sending the Plus Code for that entrance removes the guesswork. The same approach works for trailheads, event gates, roadside pull-offs, temporary worksites, and meeting points in open areas.

The code’s context still matters. A short code can be interpreted relative to the user’s current locality; outside that area, add the city or town. The code is a location identifier, not a replacement for practical directions. Add a brief note such as “north parking entrance” when the recipient will face several nearby access points.

Static location versus live Location Sharing

A shared pin, named-place link, or Plus Code stays focused on one selected place. Google Maps Location Sharing is a separate feature that lets chosen people see a device’s recent location and other information according to the sharing setup.

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Use a static method when you are telling someone where to meet, where a package should be delivered, or which entrance to use. Use live sharing only when the person needs to follow your changing position, such as during a trip or when coordinating an arrival.

Google’s current help information says a real-time location link can be shared with someone who does not have a Google Account, and people with the link can see the shared location for up to 24 hours. That is a maximum period described for the link, not a promise that every sharing session or account has identical controls.

Location Sharing may be unavailable in some countries or regions, for certain Google Workspace domains, or because of age or account requirements. If the feature is missing, send a fixed pin or Plus Code instead. Do not assume that a recipient must have a Google Account to open every ordinary pin or map link; account requirements depend on the feature and access method.

Which format should you choose?

Situation Recommended format Reason
The destination is a business listed in Maps Named-place link The recipient can see the name, address, hours, and route options in one place.
You are meeting at a particular gate, entrance, or parking area Dropped pin plus a short note, or a Plus Code The exact point is more useful than the property’s postal address.
The place has no reliable street address Plus Code with the locality The code identifies a map point even when a conventional address is inadequate.
You are sending from a desktop browser Map link, or copy the Plus Code after opening the coordinates The desktop sharing menu is optimized for links; the coordinate view exposes the code.
The recipient must watch you move Location Sharing A fixed pin cannot show changing position.

There is no need to force one format on every recipient. A useful message can include both a one-tap map link and a Plus Code, followed by a short physical description. The link helps with opening and navigation; the code provides a precise text reference if the link is inconvenient or the property has several access points.

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Troubleshooting common sharing problems

The pin is on the wrong side of the building

Zoom in before dropping the pin and verify nearby roads, driveways, and entrances. If the place is large, use a Plus Code for the actual doorway or access point and describe it in words.

The Plus Code does not resolve

Check that the plus sign and every character were copied. Add the city or town if the search is being performed outside the code’s locality. Searching only a short code from a different region can fail or return an unexpected place.

The recipient expects a clickable link

A Plus Code is normally sent as text. Explain that it must be entered in Google Maps. If the recipient needs one-tap navigation, send a pin or named-place link instead, while keeping the Plus Code as a precise backup.

The Share button is not where the instructions say

Google Maps changes labels and panel layouts across platforms and app versions. First select the location and expand its information panel; sharing controls are associated with that selected place rather than with the blank map.

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Live Location Sharing is unavailable

Country or region restrictions, Workspace administrator policies, age limits, or account conditions can prevent the feature from appearing. A static pin or Plus Code does not depend on a live-sharing session and is the appropriate fallback for a fixed destination.

The recipient sees a nearby result instead

Resend the full Plus Code with the locality and explain the intended entrance or landmark. A short code entered without geographic context can be interpreted incorrectly when the searcher is outside the originating area.

Privacy and safety checks before you send

  • Confirm that the pin does not reveal a private address or a place you did not intend to disclose.
  • For a public meeting, choose the entrance or waiting area rather than sharing a private room or home interior.
  • Review the recipient list before sending a live-location link; anyone who has the link may be able to see the shared location during its active period.
  • Stop or let a live session expire when the journey is over. A static pin or Plus Code does not automatically update if you move.
  • Add a landmark or entrance description when GPS accuracy alone could leave the recipient on the wrong side of a barrier.

A reliable message template

For a normal destination, send the Maps link and a short instruction: “Meet at the east entrance.” For an exact point without a dependable address, send: “Search this Plus Code in Google Maps: JJXX+HR8, Seattle. It marks the north parking entrance.” If the recipient is expected to follow your journey, say explicitly that you are sending a live location rather than a fixed pin.

That wording tells the recipient what they received, how to use it, and which physical point to look for. It also prevents the common mistake of treating a Plus Code as a live tracking link.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I share a dropped pin on Google Maps?

On Android, search for the place or touch and hold the map to drop a pin, open the bottom information panel, tap Share, and choose a messaging app. On iPhone or iPad, tap the map to place the pin, open its panel, and use the available sharing control or copy the Plus Code.

How do I share a Google Maps Plus Code?

Open the selected location’s details, tap the Plus Code to copy it, then paste it into a text, email, or chat message. Send the code as text; the recipient searches it in Google Maps.

Should I include a city with a Plus Code?

Yes when the recipient is outside the town or city where the code was generated. Google says a six- or seven-digit code can be entered alone for the user’s current locality; elsewhere, include the locality, such as “JJXX+HR8, Seattle.”

Can a Plus Code be a clickable Google Maps link?

A Plus Code is normally a text identifier, not a URL. If the recipient needs one-tap navigation, send a dropped-pin or named-place map link and include the Plus Code as a precise backup.

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How do I find a Plus Code on a computer?

Click the desired spot in Google Maps, click the coordinates in the information box, then copy the Plus Code from the left panel. For a regular map URL, use the menu option Share or embed map.

Is a Plus Code live location sharing?

No. A Plus Code identifies one selected geographic point. Live Location Sharing is a separate feature for showing a device’s recent, changing location to chosen people.

How long can a Google Maps live-location link work?

Google’s current help information says people with a real-time location link can see the shared location for up to 24 hours. Availability and controls can vary by country, account, age requirements, or Workspace policies.

What should I do if the pin marks the wrong entrance?

Zoom in, move the pin to the actual entrance or access point, and resend it. A Plus Code plus a note such as “north parking entrance” can remove ambiguity at a large building or venue.

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The Bottom Line

For a fixed destination, share a named-place link or dropped pin. When the exact point or entrance matters, copy and send the Plus Code with its city or town. Use live Location Sharing only when someone needs to follow your changing position.

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