How to share your location on Android (2024)

Have you ever felt like your friends are lost in the sauce trying to find that new, hidden gem of a restaurant? Maps are great, but sometimes they don't cut it, especially if you're parked far away or nothing's familiar. That's where sharing your real-time location comes in handy. It guides your friends to you like a digital compass.

If you're not sure which app to use, we cover two popular options: Google Maps, your go-to navigation buddy, and messaging apps like WhatsApp or Google Messages. The best part is that this works on any Android phone, whether it's the latest Samsung phone or a budget-friendly option. This guide shows you how to share your location on any Android device.

Sharing location with Google Maps​​​​

Google Maps has the most comprehensive location-sharing functionality. You can share your live location with someone for a preset time or permanently. You can also share your current trip so that the recipient sees your location and how much time is left on your trip. Both are simple to set up but require a different process.

This option allows you to share your live location with someone through Google Maps. The person sees your location on a map in real time and your remaining battery percentage, which might explain why you aren't picking up their calls.

The people you share your location with can set up notifications so that Google Maps automatically notifies them when you enter or exit a specific area. Here's how to share your live location:

1. Open Google Maps on your phone.
2. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap Location sharing.
4. Tap the blue Share location button.

   

5. Select the duration of your location sharing.
6. Select who you want to share your location with. By default, Google Maps recommends your most frequent contacts.
7. The recipient can see your location in real time using Google Maps.

   

   

8. After sharing your location with someone, the list of people you granted access to appears in the Location Sharing section. Tap Stop to revoke access and stop sharing your location with them.

   

Another way to share your live location with Google Maps is by sharing your trip progress. This is a convenient way to share your location and ETA when you don't want to send updates or stop sharing your location when you arrive. You'll use Google Maps for driving directions to do this. If you stop the guidance during the trip, for a meal break, for instance, it automatically stops sharing your progress. It's primarily useful for shorter trips and commutes. Here's how it works:

1. Open Google Maps on your phone.
2. Select your destination and start Driving guidance.
3. On your phone, tap the Remaining driving time.
4. Tap Share trip progress.

   

5. Select who you want to share your trip progress with. By default, Google Maps recommends your most frequent contacts.

An advanced way to share your location with people is to use a common messaging app. You can use WhatsApp to share your current location and share your live one for a while. Both options are easily accessible and work across platforms.

Sharing your location only takes a few taps:

1. Open WhatsApp and start a conversation with the person you want to share your location with.
2. Tap the paperclip icon in the lower-left corner and select Location.
3. Send your current or live location or pick from a list of nearby points of interest.

   

   

4. When sharing your live location, decide how long the recipient can track you. Tap the red button to stop sharing it before the countdown ends.
5. Wait while WhatsApp's live location refreshes. Tap the person's location in the conversation feed to access their live location.

The simplest way to send your location is to use your traditional messaging app or Google Messages. Your location can be sent to anybody. It doesn't require specific software on their phone. Your text message contains only your current location and doesn't allow the recipient to track you in real time.

Here's how to send your location details on Google Messages:

1. Open Google Messages and start a conversation with the person you want to share your location with.
2. Tap the + button in the lower-left corner and select Location.

   

3. Send your current location or pick from a list of nearby points of interest.
4. Tap the one you want to share and send it using the arrow on the right.
5. The recipient receives a Google Maps link with your current coordinates. This makes it easy for them to open it on the device they're using, as they only need a web browser on the device.

Be safe with just a tap

Whether you're on a road trip, a hike, or a city break, sending your location to friends and family can be a lifesaver. It lets them know exactly when you'll arrive, and you'll feel safer as you travel. Using apps to share your whereabouts is easy, but double-check to make sure you sent it to the right people. If you're a Google Maps whiz, check out these cool tricks to make your Maps even smoother.