How to Share Location on Snapchat: Guide for All Methods

Snapchat created a dedicated Snap Map for location sharing with friends and family through Snapchat Live, chats, and stories. The Map can help keep you safe, share the new places you’ve discovered, or learn about the world through the Snaps that others share.

You can send a location on Snap Map to a single friend or a group of friends, as well as see the whereabouts of the people to whom you send your location.

The duration of the location sharing can be for the time you’re using Snapchat or all the time, even when you close the app. Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to do it.

Settings for Live Location Sharing

The settings can already be set properly by default (or you just forgot you did that), but if not, and you don’t see your own avatar on the Snap Map, then it’s time to manage settings on Snapchat.

1. Open Snapchat > Snap Map tab.
2. Look at the gear ⚙️ icon in the top-right corner. Tap it.
   
3. Check the Snapchat app location permissions by clicking on Change in Settings. You’ll be redirected to the app’s settings on your phone.
4. On Android, you’ll see the App info tab. Select Permissions > Location and choose a suitable option.
   
   Similarly, on an iPhone, the Snapchat app settings will be opened. Tap Location.
   
   When you choose “While using the app” for both Android and iOS, your location will disappear from Snap Map in 24 hours. On the other hand, the Always option allows location sharing to continue even when you leave the app.
   To this end, it’s important to consider your privacy if you’re going to choose the Always option. Remember that people can use the app to follow your movements.
5. Back in Snapchat settings, check the Ghost Mode status. If its toggle is switched on (usually highlighted in green), then you’re invisible to your friends. Turn it off to use location sharing.
   
6. When Ghost Mode is off, your location becomes visible to a set group of friends automatically. Select who can see your live location: My Friends, My Friends Except, or Only These Friends.
   • If you choose My Friends, your location will be seen by all your friends and the friends you add in the future. However, Snapchat will not notify your friends that you have started sharing your location with them. They will only see your Bitmoji on the app.
   • If you’re sharing with some friends, use the My Friends Except option and choose the friends that you don’t want to see your location.
   • Alternatively, the Only These Friends option lets you pick only a few people to view your live location on Snap Map.

Live Location updates every few seconds, and can range from 15 minutes to 8 hours.

Note: Your Live Location can still be visible to the friends you’ve selected even in Ghost Mode.

Send Location in Snapchat Chat

If you’re already sharing your location using Snap Map, your friend can access it even through chats. You can pin your current location there, and it will update in real time.

To share location using Snapchat chat:

1. Go to Snapchat and swipe right to open the chat window. Click on the chat that you want to share your location with.
2. Tap on the location pin in the bottom right.
3. Click Send My location. Again, if you had turned on Ghost Mode, you will have to disable it to allow location sharing.

Add a Location Sticker in Snap Stories

Sharing location on stories is lowkey but one of the most fun ways of telling your friends where you are. Maybe you want it to be part of the vibe, like you’re not just showing up on a map, you’re someplace fun, or you’re doing a fun activity, and your friends can get a glimpse.

You will be adding context to your story without saying anything. It can even help your friends nearby if you want to link up.

You can share your location on stories by adding a location sticker. Here’s how to do it:

1. Take a video or a photo on Snapchat. Then click on the folded paper icon and tap on Location.
2. Enter your location in the search bar or choose a location from the suggestions.
3. Tap on the +Stories button below to start sharing your location on a story.

Why Can’t I Share My Location on Snapchat?

• If you encounter issues with location sharing on Snapchat, check the location permissions for the app on your device.
• If Snapchat can access your device’s location, check that Ghost Mode is off inside the app settings.
• If Snapchat is showing the wrong location or it’s not updating your whereabouts in real time, clear the Snapchat app’s cache and restart it.

Other ways to solve the problem include updating the app, checking your internet connection, and restarting your phone.

Conclusion

You’ve seen how easy it is to share your location on Snapchat. You can let friends see your movements on Snap Map or share that you have arrived safely.

Whether you want to share location with a select group of friends or privately through chats, this step-by-step guide will help you do it right the first time.

Meanwhile, you can also use Snap Map to see someone’s location on Snapchat even if they are not sharing their location with you.

And finally, one trick: if you would rather not give Snapchat access to your location, use Google Maps location sharing – you can send its link even through Snap chats.

ℹ️ Note: If you’re connected with your child through Family Center on Snapchat, you can view which friends they are sharing their location with on Snap Map. Learn more about Snapchat parental controls in our blog.