Sharing your location on your Android phone is a simple and effective way to keep your friends and family informed about your whereabouts. This tutorial shares the step-by-step process of sharing your location on an Android device. Whether you want to share your real-time location with another Google user or send a link to someone who isn’t using Google services, we have you covered.
Share Location Using Google Maps
While there are quite a few location-sharing apps, the easiest way to share your location on an Android is by using Google Maps. It allows you to share with both Google and non-Google users.
Share With Another Google User
Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the quick settings menu, and tap on the Location icon to enable it.
Open Google Maps, and tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner. Choose Location sharing -> Share Location.
Choose the length of time for which you want to share your location. You can choose to share it for a specific amount of time or until you manually turn it off.
Head to the Suggestions section, and select the Google contact(s) you’d like to share your location with by tapping on them or clicking on the More icon (three dots) at the end of the suggestions, selecting their name, and choosing Share.
The contacts will receive a notification or email with a link to view your location on Google Maps.
Share With a Non-Google User
If the person you want to share your location with doesn’t have a Google account, you can still share your location.
Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the quick settings menu and enable location permissions, as shown above. Open Google Maps, and tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner. Choose Location Sharing -> Share Location.
After choosing the length of time for which you want to share your location as shown above, tap on Copy to clipboard or swipe through the available sharing options to select a preferred messaging app, email, or social media platform. Once you’ve chosen your preferred method, share the link with the person or people you want to send your location to.
How to Stop Sharing Location on Android
If you no longer want to share your location, open Google Maps, and tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Select Location sharing from the menu.
You will see a list of people with whom you are currently sharing your location. To stop sharing with any individual, tap on their name, and choose Stop.
Alternatively, if you shared the location through a social media app like WhatsApp, you can stop sharing the location by managing the shared link within that app. Open the messaging app where you shared your location, and tap on the link.
Select the arrow to the right of Sharing via link, and choose Stop.
This should help you stay connected with your friends and family while you are on the go. If you prefer using social media apps, you may also want to discover how to share your current location on WhatsApp. Additionally, make use of location-based reminders to make your trips more efficient.
Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Zainab Falak.
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
