Google Maps Location Sharing: A Complete Guide to Sharing Your Live Location

December 9, 2025 Olajide

In a world where staying connected matters, knowing the whereabouts of loved ones or coordinating meet-ups has become seamless thanks to technology. Google Maps location sharing is a powerful, built-in feature that allows you to share your real-time location with friends, family, or colleagues directly from the app. Whether you’re ensuring a family member gets home safely, letting friends know your ETA, or simply coordinating a group outing, this tool offers peace of mind and convenience. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Google Maps location sharing—from setup and privacy to troubleshooting—so you can use it confidently and effectively.

Table of Contents

Why Use Google Maps Location Sharing?

Sharing your live location isn’t just about convenience; it serves practical, real-world needs:

Safety & Peace of Mind: Let family know you’ve arrived home safely from a late shift or a long trip.
Easy Meet-ups: Share your live location and ETA when heading to a restaurant, event, or unfamiliar location.
Family Coordination: Keep track of family members during a busy day, like when kids are traveling to and from school.
Travel Updates: Inform pick-up parties of your exact location and estimated arrival time during a journey.
Emergency Preparedness: In uncertain situations, quickly sharing your precise location can be invaluable.

How to Share Your Location in Google Maps

The process is straightforward and works similarly on both Android and iOS devices. Before you start, ensure you’re signed into your Google Account in the Maps app and that you have an internet connection.

On Android (Phone or Tablet)

Open the Google Maps app.
Tap your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner.
Select “Location sharing.”
Tap “New share.”
Choose how long you want to share your location (e.g., 24 hours, until you turn it off).
Select a contact from the list or tap “More” to enter a name, phone number, or email. The recipient must have a Google Account.
Tap “Share.”

On iPhone or iPad

Open the Google Maps app.
Tap your profile picture or initial at the top right.
Choose “Location sharing.”
Tap “New share.”
Select a duration for sharing.
Pick the person you want to share with from your contacts.
Tap “Share.”

Tip for Sharing with Non-Google Users: You can generate a shareable link. In the “New share” menu, tap “Copy to clipboard” (Android) or use the sharing options (iOS) to send a link via message or email. Anyone with this link can view your real-time location for up to 24 hours .

How to Request Someone Else’s Location

You can also ask a contact to share their location with you, provided they have shared it with you before.

In the Maps app, go to your profile picture > “Location sharing.”
Tap the profile of a contact who has shared with you in the past.
Tap “Request.”
They will receive a notification with your request and can choose to share, ignore, or block it.

Choosing Your Sharing Duration

You have full control over how long your location is visible:

For a Set Period: Choose a specific time, like 1 hour or 24 hours. The share will automatically stop when the time expires.
Until You Turn It Off: Select “Until you turn this off” for ongoing sharing, perfect for close family members.
Share Trip Progress (ETA): While navigating, swipe up on the directions card and tap “Share trip progress.” This shares your live location and ETA until you arrive or stop navigation.

How to Stop Sharing Your Location

You can stop sharing at any moment.

To stop sharing with a specific person: Go to Profile picture > Location sharing. Tap the person’s profile and select “Stop.”
To stop sharing your trip progress: During navigation, swipe up on the info card and tap “Stop sharing.”

Privacy Considerations and Safe Sharing

Understanding what you’re sharing is crucial for your privacy. When you share your location, the recipient can see:

Your name and photo.
Your device’s recent location, even when Google apps aren’t in use.
Your device’s battery level and charging status.
Your arrival and departure times, if they set a notification.

Tips for Safe Sharing:

Share Selectively: Only share with trusted individuals.
Use Limited Durations: For one-time meet-ups, use the timer instead of indefinite sharing.
Review Active Shares: Periodically check your “Location sharing” menu to see who currently has access.
Understand Permissions: Location sharing works independently of your Timeline (Location History). You can have sharing on while Timeline is off.
You Are in Control: You can deny or block any location request. If you receive an unwanted request, tap “No” or “Block.”

Also Read, 10 Gigabit Internet: The Ultimate Guide to Speed, Hardware, and Cost

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Location Not Updating: Ensure your device has location services (GPS) enabled and a stable internet connection. The recipient can try tapping your icon on their map and selecting “Refresh.”
Sharing Option Unavailable: The feature might not be available in your country/region, for your Google Workspace domain, or if your account doesn’t meet age requirements.
Can’t Share with a Contact: The recipient must have a Google Account. For non-Google users, use the shareable link method.
Sharing Stopped After 24 Hours: If you selected a custom time, it will auto-stop. For ongoing sharing, ensure you selected “Until you turn this off.”

Conclusion

Google Maps location sharing is an incredibly useful tool for everyday safety, coordination, and connection. By following this guide, you can confidently share your live location, request someone else’s, manage your privacy, and troubleshoot common problems. Remember, the power lies in your hands—you control who sees your location, for how long and can change it at any time. Use this feature wisely to stay connected with the people who matter most.