How to share location on Google Maps

2025-04-27 17:12:44admin

If you're meeting up with friends, sharing your location is a hell of a handy way to save you screeching into your phone, "Wait, what can you SEEEEEE?" Switching on Find My has become a staple of Gen Z friendship and location sharing through various apps has long functioned as all-ages safety method, though Taylor Swift's continued location sharing with her ex had us perplexed — you can (and probably should) turn that off.

As of January 2024, Google Maps now allows you to share your location right there in the app on Android or iOS.

As Google notes, when sharing your location on Google Maps you may get a warning for a few reasons, including your age (if you're under 13 you can't set up a Google account, and if you're under 18 you can't share your location for longer than 24 hours), or whether your account is managed by a parent or guardian in the Family Link app.

SEE ALSO: Does your partner really need to know your location all the time?

You should also be aware that when you share your location on Google Maps, the person you're sharing with will be able to see details beyond your location including your name, photo, how much battery you have left, and (if you've chosen to share it) your estimated arrival time. So just keep that in mind.

Of course, there's a darker side to sharing your location, so it's completely up to you who you choose to share your location with and how long for. And never, ever share your location on a dating app.

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So, now you've got all the info, there are two ways to share your location on Google Maps: One when your friend has a Google account and one when they don't.

How to share location on Google Maps (if your friend has a Google account)

Total Time

5 min

What You Need

iPhone or Android
Google Maps app
Google account

Step 1: Add your friend's Gmail address to Contacts (if you haven't already).

Step 2: Open Google Maps.

Make sure you're signed into your Google account.

Step 3: Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.

Step 4: Tap "Location sharing".

You'll be sent to a screen that introduces the location sharing function, where Google notably says, "Your location is updated even when the app is not in use." Be aware of that.

A screenshot of Google showing "Location sharing".

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Google Maps

Step 5: Tap "Share location".

Step 6: Tap the person you'd like to share your location with.

You can scroll through the contacts that appear and pick one of them, or tap "more" to see more options. Here, you can also decide how long you'd like to share your location, whether one hour or "Until you turn this off".

Step 7: To request this person to share their location with you (only fair), tap on their name and tap "Request".

The person will receive a notification in their Gmail asking them to share their location — they need to do this within the Google Maps app. Your email will be shared with that person to help them identify you. The request will be greyed out until they accept. Once they do, you can tap their profile pic and Google Maps will show you their location.

A screenshot showing the "request" button on Google Maps.

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Google Maps

Step 8: To stop sharing, simply tap "Stop" within Google Maps under their name.

You can also block another person’s account if you need to.

And now for those who don't have Gmail...

How to share location on Google Maps (if your friend doesn't have a Google account)

Total Time

5 min

What You Need

iPhone or Android
Google Maps app

Step 1: Open Google Maps.

Make sure you're signed into your Google account (your friend doesn't have to be).

Step 2: Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.

Step 3: Tap "Location sharing".

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Google Maps

Step 4: Tap "More options" under your contacts.

Step 5: Tap "Copy" to add the link to your clipboard.

Step 6: Drop the link in whichever messaging app you use.

A screenshot of a Google Maps link in a messaging app.

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Google Maps

Step 7: To stop sharing, simply tap "Stop" within Google Maps under "Sharing via link".

In a neat feature for punctual folks, but a terrible idea for those who like to send the ol' "just leaving" text as you're getting in the shower, you can also share your estimated time of arrivalwithin Google Maps.