How to share real-time location using Google Maps on Android or iOS

Real-time location sharing has a lot of uses and can be incredibly helpful. While many messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, allow you to share your live location, you can now do the same from Google Maps. Google has enabled the feature through Maps for Android and iOS. While you can’t share the location using the Maps website, you can use the web version to stop existing live location shares.

How to share your live location in Google Maps

1. Open the Maps app on your Android or iPhone to start location sharing.
2. Then, tap on your profile photo in the top-right corner to open the menu.
3. You can then select the “Location sharing” option. Alternatively, you can tap on your location dot on the map and then use the “Share location” option to get the same result.
4. Once you are on the “Share your real-time location” page, you will see a preview of your live location with your device battery percentage, and the app will allow you to choose the duration of location sharing. You can choose from as little as 15 minutes to indefinitely (until you turn location sharing off). 
5. After you have selected the time duration, you can choose the contact with which you want to share your location. Google suggests a few contacts, but you can tap “More” to get a complete list of your phone contacts. The selected contact will get a link to follow your live location, and if they actively use Google Maps, they should also get a notification in the Maps app.
6. You can also choose the “More options” button to get the device’s regular share menu to share the real-time location through other apps and more. 

Why is there no location-sharing option in the Maps app?

If you don’t see the location sharing option in Google Maps, there could be multiple reasons, including your county or region not allowing location sharing and you being too young to share location (your account is managed by a guardian or parent). 

How to share your ETA using Google Maps

You can use the Google Maps app to share your estimated time of arrival (ETA) with a contact. To do so, use Google’s turn-by-turn navigation to a destination and select “Share trip progress” by sliding up the bottom bar. Google will share your live location and arrival time until you reach your destination.