You're running late to a family dinner, going on a first date with someone you met on Tinder, or taking a cross-country road trip. Google Maps makes it easy to share your real-time location—on a temporary or continuous basis—with partners, parents, or protective pals.
Google Location sharing lets you share your real-time location with someone for as long as you want. Once you do, that person will be able to see your name, photo, your device's location, how much battery power it has and whether it's charging, and an arrival and departure time if they add a Location Sharing notification.
Location Sharing works even when Location History is turned off. But if you receive a warning upon opening Location Sharing, it could be due to one (or more) of the following: You're in a country or region that doesn't allow location sharing; your Google Workspace domain doesn't allow location sharing; or you're too young to share your location. (Google no longer allows users under the age of 18 to share location for more than 24 hours. Parents/guardians can manage Location Sharing from the Family Link app.)
Share Your Google Maps Location on Android or iOS
(Credit: PCMag/Google)Share with a person who has a Google account:
Sign into Google Maps, tap your profile picture/initial > Location sharing > New share.
Choose how long to share (from 15 minutes to one day, or "Until you turn this off").
Select the people you want to share your location with.
Tap Share.
Share with a person who doesn't have a Google account:
Tap your profile picture/initial > Location sharing > Add people
On Android, tap Copy to clipboard; paste the link in an email, text message, or other app.
On iOS, send your link via iMessage or another platform (tap More > Select a different app)
Anyone with this link can find your real-time location for as long as you choose up to 24 hours.
How to Stop Sharing Your Location on Google Maps
(Credit: PCMag/Google)Open Google Maps.
Tap your profile picture/initial > Location sharing.
Tap the profile of the person with whom you no longer want to share.
Tap Stop.
How to Share Your Estimated Time of Arrival
(Credit: PCMag/Google)Once you've set off—by car, foot, or bicycle—share your destination, estimated arrival time, and current location, allowing friends and family to track your ETA.
Open Google Maps and set a destination.
Tap the info box at the bottom of the screen > Share trip progress.
Tap the profile of the person with whom you want to share.
Tap Share.
When you reach your destination or stop navigating, location sharing automatically ends. To stop sharing before you arrive, tap info box > Stop sharing.