To share your live location in Google Maps, open the app, tap your profile picture or initial, choose Location sharing, start a new share, set how long it should last, choose a recipient, and tap Share. Google’s help pages may describe this as “real-time location.” Before sending, note that recipients can see your name and photo, recent device location, and battery and charging status.
Choose the right kind of location share
Google Maps offers two related options. Use Location sharing when you want a person to see your live location for a duration you choose. For a journey, trip progress sharing sends your destination, estimated arrival time, and current location; that share ends when you arrive or stop navigation.
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| Option | What the recipient gets | How it ends |
|---|---|---|
| Location sharing to a selected person | Your location for the duration you select. The recipient must have a Gmail account for Google’s documented direct-share flow. Google Maps Help for Android | At the selected time, or earlier if you stop sharing. |
| Location-sharing link | A link that anyone who has it can use to see your real-time location. Google documents link access for up to 24 hours. Google Maps Help for Android | Within the link’s maximum 24-hour period, or earlier if you stop the share. |
| Trip progress | Your destination, estimated arrival time, and current location while navigating. | When you reach the destination or stop navigation; you can also end it earlier. Google Maps Help for Android |
A link is convenient when the other person does not have a Google Account, but anyone who receives the link can access the share. Send it only to the intended person.
Share your live location on Android
- Open Google Maps and sign in to your Google Account.
- Tap your profile picture or initial, then tap Location sharing.
- Tap New share.
- Choose how long you want to share your location.
- Select a person and tap Share. For direct selection, Google’s instructions say to add the person’s Gmail address to Google Contacts. Allow Maps access to Contacts if prompted. Google Maps Help for Android
Share your live location on iPhone or iPad
- Open Google Maps and sign in.
- Tap your profile picture or initial, then tap Location Sharing.
- Tap New share.
- Choose a duration, select the person, and tap Share. Allow Contacts access if Maps asks. Google Maps Help for iPhone and iPad
Share with someone who does not have a Google Account
Start a new share in the Google Maps mobile app and choose the link-sharing option. Send the link by text, email, or another messaging app. Google says anyone with the link can see the live location for up to 24 hours. Because access is based on possession of the link rather than a selected Google contact, avoid forwarding it broadly. Google Maps Help for Android Google Maps Help for iPhone and iPad
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What recipients can see
Google says a recipient may see your name and photo, your recent device location even when you are not using Google apps, and your battery level and whether the device is charging. A recipient can also set arrival or departure notifications for a place; those notifications can show when you arrive or leave. Google Maps Help for Android
Google’s help states that “Location Sharing works even when Timeline is turned off.” Location Sharing and Timeline are separate features.
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Stop sharing your location
- Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initial.
- Choose Location sharing or Location Sharing.
- Select the person whose share you want to end and tap Stop. Google Maps Help for Android Google Maps Help for iPhone and iPad
To stop trip-progress sharing before you arrive, use the navigation information card. Desktop Google Maps can manage or view existing shares, but a mobile device is required to start a new real-time location share. Google Maps Help for desktop
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- Check account and regional availability. Google lists unsupported regions, applicable age requirements, and Google Workspace domain settings that disable the feature as possible reasons it may not be available. A parent or guardian can manage Location Sharing for a supervised account through Family Link. Google Maps Help for Android
- For a direct share, check the recipient account. Google’s documented direct-sharing flow requires the recipient to have a Gmail account; add the Gmail address to Google Contacts and allow Contacts access if requested.
- If you need a share lasting longer than 24 hours, check the duration control. Google’s help says troubleshooting can involve age verification and selecting Until you turn this off. The available choice can depend on account eligibility and settings. Google Maps Help for Android
- If the menus differ, consult current Google Maps Help. Labels and eligibility controls may change across app versions and accounts.
Optional: arrival and departure notifications
A person receiving your location can add notifications for when you arrive at or leave a chosen place. Google’s iPhone and iPad help says a recipient can add up to five notifications for each person sharing with them. Notifications require Maps notifications to be enabled and are unavailable for some accounts and link-based shares. Google Maps Help: Location Sharing notifications on iPhone and iPad
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- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
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