How to Share Location on Google Maps: Full Guide & Lifehacks

Sharing your location on Google Maps is straightforward: select the Location Sharing option under your profile within the app and follow the suggested steps.

However, to use this feature effectively, certain settings must be enabled, and there are limitations to consider. To understand these nuances and ensure you make the most of Google Maps’ location sharing opportunities, we prepared this article.

For what purposes is Google Maps location sharing useful?

• coordinating meetups;
• ensuring safety during travel;
• monitoring family members;
• controlling business logistics;
• taking action in emergency situations;
• assisting visitors.

Thus, this function can come in handy for various occasions, and it is essential to know how to use all of its capabilities.

Sharing Live Location Step-By-Step

Sharing your live location in Google Maps is a similar process on iOS and Android. However, this feature is not available on any type of desktop.

1. Open the Google Maps app. Make sure you’re signed in to your Google account.
   
   Note: after I pressed the icon of the app, I saw the Send my location option, I tapped it, and it took me to Step 3. However, this shortcut is only available for iPhones.
   
2. Tap on your profile picture located in the top-right corner of the screen and access Location Sharing.
3. Tap Share location and pick the contacts you wish to share your location with.
   

Note: your location will be updated even when the app is not in use

You can share your location for specific durations such as 15 minutes, 1 hour, or up to 24 hours. Additionally, you can select the Until you turn this off option to share your location continuously until you manually stop it.

Sharing your live location is possible directly with Google contacts or after generating a shareable link to send via messaging apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, or email.

And you’re good to go!

When you share your live location, recipients will see:

• your name and photo;
• real-time location: an approximate location represented by a map pin;
• battery status: your device’s battery level and charging status;
• EAT sharing: if you’re navigating to a destination, you can share your estimated arrival time (EAT).

Note: The accuracy of your shared location may vary based on factors like GPS signal strength and device settings.

How to Stop Location Sharing

You can check who sees your location anytime and stop this whenever you want. There you go:

Open Google Maps > Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner > Select Location sharing from the menu > You’ll see a list of people or apps that currently have access to your location.

If you want to stop sharing there can be several cases:

With a specific person:

1. From the Location sharing screen, find the contact.
2. Tap their name.
3. Tap Stop next to their profile.

Stop Sharing With Everyone:

1. Tap Location sharing.
2. If you’re sharing with multiple people, tap “Stop sharing” at the bottom of the screen.
3. Confirm to turn off all location sharing.

Revoke a Shareable Link:

1. Go to the Location sharing screen.
2. Find the section with Shared via link.
3. Tap Stop to disable the link.

Note: opening Google Maps in Incognito mode or turning off location permissions for Google apps won’t stop Location Sharing.

! On Androids, you can pause your location sharing. To do so, open Settings on your device. Then, tap Location, go to Location Services, choose Google Location sharing and turn off Use location sharing. Now, any of your shares won’t be stopped, however, they won’t be updated according to your real-time location, until you have this setting on. Unfortunately, this feature is not available on iOS.

Who’s Sharing Location With You? Here’s Where to Look

To see who shared their location with you in Google Maps, you need to check the same Location sharing feature. You’ll see a list of contacts currently sharing their location, including all the regular data (how long they’re sharing it for and, if enabled, their battery status).

How to Share a Selected Location

In case you don’t need to share your live location, but rather a specific place like an airport, restaurant, or meeting point, Google Maps also makes it easy! The process is the same for iOS and Android.

1. Open the App. In the search bar, type the name of the place (e.g., “Heathrow Airport” or “Blue Bottle Coffee”).
2. Select the correct result from the suggestions and tap the Share icon.
   
   Choose how you want to share:
   • messaging apps (e.g., WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram);
   • copy link (paste it anywhere);
   • email or social media.
     
3. Done! The recipient will receive a clickable Google Maps link. They can open it in their browser or app and see:
   • the exact place or coordinates;
   • ratings, business hours, and directions (if available).

Note: You don’t need to be physically at the location to share it, you can send a place from anywhere in the world.

! When you take a screenshot of Google Maps, you will get a notification in the bottom-right corner, suggesting sharing your location. Press the notification, and it will take you directly to the Location sharing option.

Having Problems? Manage Location Settings

If you tried to share your location on Google Maps, and it didn’t work, it’s likely that your location settings are either disabled or misconfigured. Before you can share your live or selected location, you must ensure that both device-level and app-level permissions are turned on.

Android Location Settings

Go to Settings > Location > Make sure the Location toggle is turned on.

Then, tap App permissions, find Maps, and allow location access (Allow all the time/Allow only while using the app). You can also turn on Use precise location.

iOS Location Settings

Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location services.

Make sure these locations are turned on. In the same Location Services menu, scroll down and tap Google Maps.

Select:

• “Always” (recommended for live sharing);
• or “While Using the App.”

Toggle on “Precise Location” to improve accuracy.

Limitations and Restrictions

If you’ve turned on all necessary location settings and still can’t share your location on Google Maps, there might be other limitations. Here are some common restrictions to be aware of:

1. Age Restrictions
   Google accounts registered as being for users under 18 have a maximum live location sharing limit of 24 hours. This is part of Google’s efforts to protect minors’ privacy.
   (You won’t see the “Until you turn this off” option if your account is marked as underage)
2. Regional Restrictions
   In some countries, location sharing features in Google Maps may be restricted or unavailable due to local laws or regulations. While Google doesn’t publish a full list, affected regions may include places with strict data privacy laws or limited access to Google services.
   (If you’re traveling internationally and encounter issues, regional limits might be the cause)
3. Google Workspace & School Accounts
   If you’re using a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) or school account, the administrator can disable location sharing for security or compliance reasons.
   (In this case, even with correct settings, the feature may be grayed out or missing entirely)
4. Outdated App or OS Version
   Occasionally, an outdated Google Maps or your operating system can prevent location sharing from functioning properly.
   (Make sure your Google Maps app is up-to-date, and your device runs a supported Android or iOS version)
5. Parental Controls or Digital Wellbeing Tools
   On shared or family-managed devices, tools like Google Family Link, Screen Time, or Digital Wellbeing may restrict location access or limit app permissions.

Conclusion

To sum up, sharing your location using Google Maps is a convenient tool, whether you want to send someone your live location while being on a journey, share a selected place, or coordinate with friends and family in real time.

It works seamlessly on both Android and iOS, though not on desktop, and offers multiple options for how long to share and through which platforms. Moreover, you can even track a cell phone number on Google Maps!

If your settings are properly configured and your account is eligible, Google Maps becomes a reliable and irreplaceable friend to keep people connected, safe, and informed.