How to Share Your Location on Android (Step by Step)

How to share your location on Android using Google Maps

Google Maps comes pre-installed on almost every Android device. It gives you the cleanest way to send real-time coordinates to someone without downloading extra tracking software.

1. Open Google MapsTap the Google Maps app on your Android phone, make sure you are signed in to your primary Google Account, and confirm that your phone’s cellular data connection is active.
2. Tap your profile iconLook at the top right corner of the search bar and tap your profile photo or initial.
3. Select Location sharingTap Location sharing in the menu, then tap the blue New share button.
4. Set your duration and contactChoose how long you want to share, pick a contact from your list, and tap Send.

Pick any duration from 15 minutes up to 24 hours. If you select Until you turn this off, your phone broadcasts coordinates continuously until you manually stop it.

How to share your location from Android to an iPhone

Cross-platform sharing usually feels clumsy because Apple locks its native location tools inside the Find My ecosystem. Fortunately, your friends on iOS never need an Android phone to view your real-time coordinates.

Google Maps creates a direct web link that opens inside any standard mobile browser on iOS. We also covered the reverse setup in our guide on how to share location between iPhone and Android.

1. Tap New share in Google MapsOpen Location sharing from your Google Maps profile menu and tap New share.
2. Swipe to Copy to clipboardScroll past your recent Google contacts to the apps row and tap Copy to clipboard.
3. Send the link in chatPaste the private link into your text thread, WhatsApp, or group chat with your friend.
4. Let your friend open the mapYour friend taps the link to view your live pin in Google Maps or in their mobile browser.

Anyone holding that link can track your movements until the timer runs out. Only share it with trusted contacts.

What your friends actually see on their screen

Starting a share triggers an immediate notification or sends a direct text link to your friend. Opening that link focuses the camera directly on your current spot.

Here is what appears on your friend’s screen:

• Your exact location pin: A small icon showing your Google profile photo moves across their map as you walk or drive.
• Your device battery level: Google Maps displays your phone’s battery percentage so friends know if your phone is about to die.
• Your arrival status: If you share your trip progress toward a destination, they see your estimated arrival time.
• Timestamp of last update: If your connection drops, they see a note showing how many minutes ago your phone last sent a signal.

They cannot see your search history, private chats, or other open apps. Your map pin is all they get.

How to turn off location sharing on Android

You can end a sharing session at any point before the timer runs out. It takes two taps.

1. Open Google MapsTap your profile photo in the top right corner of the search bar.
2. Tap Location sharingFind the person you are currently sharing with under the active list.
3. Tap StopTap the contact’s name and tap the Stop button at the bottom of the card.

If you shared via a web link, select the link entry in your Location sharing list and tap Stop. The link deactivates immediately. Anyone clicking it afterward sees a blank expired page.

You can also shut off your phone’s GPS antenna completely with a single swipe by pulling down the quick settings shade from the top of your screen and tapping the Location tile to kill all active tracking at once.

Troubleshooting location sharing when it stops working

If your friends say your pin froze three hours ago, your Android phone is probably restricting background data or battery usage. Android puts idle apps to sleep to save power, which pauses real-time GPS pings.

• Set permission to Allow all the time: Long-press the Google Maps icon, tap the info icon, tap Permissions, tap Location, and select Allow all the time instead of Allow only while using the app.
• Turn off battery optimization for Maps: In the same App info menu, tap App battery usage and select Unrestricted so Android does not pause Maps in your pocket.
• Turn on Precise location: Make sure the Precise location toggle inside the Location permission menu is turned on so your pin does not jump around.
• Check your Google Location Accuracy: Go to phone Settings, tap Location, tap Location services, and turn on Google Location Accuracy to combine Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and GPS.

If you switch between devices often, our tutorial on how to share location on iPhone with friends walks through the iOS steps.

A lighter option for friend groups: sharing what you are up to

Staring at a live GPS dot all day gets old fast. Most of the time, your close friends do not need your exact street address. They just want to know if you are free, stuck at work, or sleeping.

Constant tracking drains your battery and feels heavy. That is why people searching for Zenly alternatives often look for ways to stay connected without broadcasting coordinates 24/7.

Bobble offers a lighter alternative for friend groups. Instead of placing a pin on a satellite map, your close friends become 3D bobbleheads made from a single selfie. Your bobbleheads show live statuses like gym, asleep, work, school, coffee, or vibing to music. When you want to disappear, Ghost mode freezes your figure under a sheet.

Make your Bobble →

You can make your own 3D figure right now in your browser at getbobble.com/pack without downloading an app. While the Android app is currently in Google Play for Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand with US access coming soon, your pack is ready for your crew the second it drops.