How to Share Location on Android in 4 Easy Steps

You can easily share your location or directions using your Android device, making it easier to keep tabs on people. Additionally, if you are a parent, this feature is invaluable, especially when your children go out, allowing you to keep track of their location. Whether you are sharing your location for directions or security reasons, learning how to share location is paramount.

Below is a vivid explanation of how you can share your location on your Android device. Let’s look at each method. 

Method 1: Using Google Maps

Google Maps is the most reliable and recommendable method of sharing your location. It provides a quick and easy way to share your location, either permanently or temporarily. Here are the steps to share your location on Google Maps. 

Step 1: Open the Maps App 

On your Android, open your list of apps, and scroll through them until you come across one named Maps. Its icon is multicolored, similar to other Google apps. You can also search for the app on the search apps bar. 

Step 2: Open Google Maps Options 

Tap your profile picture or profile icon at the top right corner of the screen to open the options for managing your Google Maps account. 

Step 3: Go to the Location-Sharing Option

Go to the third option after clicking your profile icon: location sharing. Click that to open the sharing settings. 

Step 4: Share Your Location 

Under location sharing, click the New Share icon at the bottom right corner of the screen. This will display your name, photo, location, and phone battery percentage for those you have previously shared your location with. 

Step 5: Enter Your Sharing Time 

Under the new share screen, select how long you want to share your location. You can either turn off the option or select for a specified time. To share your location for an hour, check the box next to For one hour.

If you want to share for a shorter or longer time, use the plus sign to add the time and the minus sign to reduce it. 

Step 6: Select the Person to Share Your Location with and Share

Below the sharing time options are contacts from which you can select who to share your location. Select the contact by clicking their profile icon, which will be replaced by a tick.

Once you have selected all the people you need to share your location with, click Share below these names to send your location details.

After hitting share, the selected contacts will receive a link with information on your location. Through this, they can also see your Google Maps history and places that you have saved as your home, workplace, or favorite places. Therefore, ensure that you trust those you share your location with to avoid security havoc. 

Here is a step-by-step video for further reference:

Method 2: Using Google Maps Location Link

The above method is ideal when the recipient has a Google Account enabled on their device. However, you may need to share your location with people who do not have an account, or who don’t prefer logging in to their accounts. 

This also applies to those whose addresses are not saved in your Google Account. Here is how you go about that. 

Step 1: Open Google Maps and Navigate to Sharing 

Open the Google Maps app, click on your profile icon, then select Location Sharing. 

Step 2: Copy the Location Link 

On the share location screen, then click on New Share and scroll through the list of sharing options until you get to Copy to clipboard. Click this to copy the link to your clipboard. 

Step 3: Share the Link You Copied 

With the link copied to your clipboard, you can paste it and send it elsewhere. For instance, you can paste it on your messaging app. When the person receiving the link clicks on it, it will open and display your location details. 

Method 3: Using Whatsapp

Besides Google Maps, Whatsapp can be used to share locations, provided both you and your recipient have the app on your phone. You can also share your location with a group chat on Whatsapp. 

Here are the steps for sharing location on Whatsapp. 

Step 1: Open the App and Select a Contact

Search for Whatsapp among your list of apps. Later, open the chats of the person with whom you want to share your location. 

Step 2: Go to Location

Tap the pin-like icon next to the typing field to open a list of options that you can attach to your message. Under that, select Location.

Step 3: Share Your Location

On the share location screen, click Send your current location to show the recipient(s) your current location at the time of sharing.

Alternatively, select the Share Live Location option. This option will share your real-time location even when you are moving around. This will continue sharing your live location for the number of minutes or hours that you set.

After selecting your option, the app automatically shares your location with the selected person. The person will continue seeing your location for as long as you allow the app to share it. You can confirm that you have shared your location by going to settings. Here, you will see the contacts with whom you are currently sharing your location. 

Method 4: Using Facebook Messenger

If you or the person you want to share your location with prefers using Facebook, you can take advantage of its location-sharing capabilities. For you to use this app, you will need to allow it to access your device location. Here is how to share location via Facebook Messenger. 

Step 1: Open Facebook Messenger 

Open the Play Store and download the Facebook Messenger app. If you already have the app on your device, locate it by scrolling through your apps or searching in the search apps bar.

Once you open the Messenger app, open the conversation with the person you want to share the location with.

Step 2: Open Location Sharing 

While in the conversation field, click on the four dots located at the bottom left corner, next to the attachment options. Later, select Location.

Step 3: Allow Location Sharing 

Click Allow Location Access to permit the app to access your location. 

Step 4: Share your Location

Click Start sharing live location for 60 minutes and this will share your location with the person or group you selected. The app will share your location in real-time, meaning that it will show your changing location.

To stop sharing the location, select the Stop sharing option at the bottom of the screen. 

Wrapping Up 

The sharing feature on your Android is great, especially if you need to give your precise location. In addition to helping ensure that you or your loved ones are safe, it can help you to find directions. Use the most reliable method for you and your receiver among those given above, and share the location either temporarily or permanently. 

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The image featured at the top of this post is ©Haelen Haagen/Shutterstock.com.