Besttechindia is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

How to share location (2020)

Piyush

The location-sharing features provided by Google Maps are quite advanced, yet simple to use and is very useful for sharing your location with your loved ones.

You can control the time you want to share your location and also the people you want to share with. If they do not have a Google account, you can also share using a link.

This is how you can begin with location sharing on Google Maps:

Location

Android

If the sender uses google account

  1. 1
    Check that the sender's Gmail address is added in the Google Contacts.
  2. 2
    Open the Google Maps application and sign in on your Android phone or tablet (If this is the first time you are using Maps, it will ask permission to access your contacts).
  3. 3
    Click on the profile picture or initials and then search for ‘Location sharing’, then click on ‘Add people’.
  4. 4
    Choose the duration for which the location is to be shared.
  5. 5
    Click on ‘Select People’.
  6. 6
    If it prompts about giving Google Map access to your contact, do it. Choose the contact to share your location with.
  7. 7
    Now tap ‘Share,’ those people will be able to access your live location.

If the sender does not use google account

  1. 1
    Log in to Google Maps on your phone or tablet. 
  2. 2
    Click on your profile picture or initials and then search for ‘Location sharing’, then click on ‘Add people’.
  3. 3
    Click on ‘More’, then select the option ‘Copy to clipboard’, a link will be copied. Anyone who has this link will be able to know your location for 72 hours or till you decide.
Android

To share the location using a different app

The location can also be shared through various messaging applications. Click on ‘More’, Then select the option ‘Select an app’.

To end sharing the location

  1. 1
    Log into the Google Maps app 
  2. 2
    Click on your profile picture or initials and then search for ‘Location sharing’
  3. 3
    Click on ‘Remove’, beside the contact you want to end sharing the location

To exchange your ETA with another person

As you start your travel by car or any means, you will be able to share the information about the estimated arrival time (ETA), final station, and your current location on the journey with anyone.

Follow the below steps to achieve the same:

  1. 1
    Log into Google Maps 
  2. 2
    Set a destination you are travelling to.
  3. 3
    Tap on ‘More ’->‘Share trip progresses when you want to start sharing the trip details.
  4. 4
    Tap on ‘Share’ on the contact name you wish to share the trip details with.
  5. 5
    The sharing will continue until you arrive at your final stop or choose to stop the navigation.
  6. 6
    To stop the sharing before the final stop, click on ‘More’ -> ‘stop sharing’.

To share public transit info

  1. 1
    Open the Google Maps application and sign in on your phone or tablet.
  2. 2
    Select the route you are travelling to reach your destination.
  3. 3
    After the travel starts, click on the ‘Share trip’ option.
  4. 4
    Select the person you want to share the progress with.
  5. 5
    Click on ‘Share’.

Note: Location Sharing will stop as soon as you arrive at your destination

Location sharing availability

When the sharing of location starts, a warning might pop up. The common causes for this to happen is:

  1. 1
    You're in a country/region where sharing your location is not permitted.
  2. 2
    You are underage.
  3. 3
    Location Sharing is not an option for your G Suite domain. Your administrator can permit this feature.

Desktop

To share a location or map

  1. 1
    Open Google Maps on your browser.
  2. 2
    Search for the place you want to share with someone.
  3. 3
    Click on ‘Menu  button on the upper left corner.
  4. 4
    Tap on ‘Share or embed map’. If you don't have this option, click ‘Link to this map’.
  5. 5
    Just copy and paste the link to share the location or map. 

Adding a map or directions to a website

Note: The information about other maps or traffic is not available sometimes in the embedded map.

  1. 1
    Open Google Maps on the browser.
  2. 2
    Search for the place you want to add to your design.
  3. 3
    Click on the button ‘Menu’, on the upper left corner.
  4. 4
    Tap on ‘Share or embed map’.
  5. 5
    Tap on ‘Embed map’.
  6. 6
    On the left side of the box, select the size that the location or map will be displayed.
  7. 7
    Now, select the text displayed in the box, copy it and paste it into the HTML code of your website.
Desktop

Location sharing availability

When the sharing of location starts, a warning might pop up. The common causes for this to happen is:

  1. 1
    You're in a country/region where sharing your location is not permitted.
  2. 2
    You are underage to share your location.
  3. 3
    Location Sharing is not an option for your G Suite domain. Your administrator can permit this feature.

iPhone or iPad

To share a map or location

  1. 1
    Go to the application of Google Maps on your iPad or iPhone.
  2. 2
    Search for a place on the map you want to share, and touch and hold it.
  3. 3
    Now, click on the location or address at the bottom.
  4. 4
    Click on ‘Share’. If this icon is not visible, click on ‘More’-> ‘Share’.
  5. 5
    Select the application through which you want to share the link to the map.

If the sender uses google account

  1. 1
    Check that the sender's Gmail address is added in the Google Contacts.
  2. 2
    Log into the Google Maps app.
  3. 3
    Click on your profile picture or initials and then search for ‘Location sharing’, then click on ‘Add people’.
  4. 4
    Now mention for how long you want to exchange the information.
  5. 5
    Click on ‘Select People’.
  6. 6
    If pop up comes for giving Google Maps access to your contact, do it. Choose the contact to share your location with.
  7. 7
    Choose a contact.
  8. 8
    Tap on ‘Share’.
Apple

If the sender does not possess a google contact 

In this case, exchange the location using a link and follow below steps.

  1. 1
    Log into Google Maps application.
  2. 2
    Click on your profile picture or initials and then search for ‘Location sharing’, then click on ‘Add people’.
  3. 3
    Click on ‘Message’ if you wish to use Message, or else ‘More’, then select a different application from your phone.

Anyone who has this link will be able to know your location for 72 hours or till the time you decide.

To exchange your ETA with another person 

As you start travelling by car or any means, the details you can share with anyone are your destination, where you are on the route, and the estimated arrival time (ETA).

  1. 1
    Open the application of Google Maps.
  2. 2
    Set the destination. 
  3. 3
    Once you get the route on the screen, select ‘More’ -> Share trip progresses.
  4. 4
    From your contact, choose the person with whom you want to share.
  5. 5
    The sharing will continue until you arrive at your final stop or choose to stop the navigation.
  6. 6
    To stop the sharing before the final stop, click on ‘More’ -> ‘stop sharing’.

To stop sharing

  1. 1
    Log into the application.
  2. 2
    Click on your profile picture or initials and then search for ‘Location sharing’, then click on ‘Add people’. 

Location sharing availability

When the sharing of location starts, a warning might pop up. The common causes for this to happen is:

  1. 1
    You're in a country/region where sharing your location is not permitted.
  2. 2
    You are underage to share your location.
  3. 3
    Location Sharing is not an option for your G Suite domain. Your administrator can permit this feature.

Piyush

Author Image

Follow me here

Share0
Tweet0
Share0

About the Author

Piyush Kashyap is a Ph.D student at Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Sangrur. He is a budding editor/ writer and has been working as a part-time reviewer for online content. He loves to read tech-based articles and has a knack for reviewing such articles He likes to stay updated about the latest trends in technology. He has also been working as a reviewer for many scientific journals. He also writes articles based on science. Know More About Piyush

 Learn more 
{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
>