Are you wondering how to share your location on Android?
Whether you want to let your friends know where you are or you need to navigate
to a new location, sharing your location on Android is a quick and easy
process. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to share your
location on Android.
Google Maps
The most complete location-sharing feature is available in
Google Maps. It enables you to temporarily or permanently share your current
location with another person. Additionally, you can share a trip that you are
currently on so that the other person can see where you are and how much time
is left on it. Both are straightforward to set up, but the procedures are
different.
On Google Maps, you can either permanently or momentarily
share your current location.
With the help of Google Maps, you can share your current
location with someone using this option. They can figure out why you aren't
returning their calls if they can see where you are in real time on a map and
how much battery life you still have. More recently, Google has made it
possible for those with whom you share your location to set up notifications so
that Google Maps will alert them whenever you arrive or leave a particular
area.
Here's how to share your live location:
1. Open Google Maps on your phone.
2. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap Location sharing.
4. Tap the blue Share location button.
5. Select the duration of your location sharing. You can go
as low as 15 minutes and as high as 24 hours. Otherwise, you can share your
location permanently until you turn it off, which can be useful when sharing
your location with your family.
6. Select who you want to share your location with. By
default, Google Maps recommends your most frequent contacts. Tap More on the
right of your contacts to select someone from your list. There is another More
button in the lower-right corner of the screen, which you can use to generate a
sharing link. Avoid this option, especially when sharing permanently, as anyone
with the link can see your live location.
7. The recipient can see your location in real time using
Google Maps. They can use the Location Sharing section to see your current
location and remaining battery percentage. They can also set up notifications
so that they're automatically alerted when you enter or exit an area they
define.
8. After you share your location with someone, you'll see
the list of people you granted access to in the Location Sharing section. Tap
Stop to revoke access and stop sharing your location with them.
Share your trip progress
Sharing your trip's progress using Google Maps is another
option to communicate your current position. When you don't want to send
updates or stop sharing your location once you arrive, this is a convenient way
to share your location and ETA. To do this, you must use Google Maps for
driving instructions. Additionally, if you pause the guidance while travelling,
say for a meal break, it automatically stops updating your progress. It's most
useful for shorter commutes and trips.
Here's how it works:
1. Open Google Maps on your phone.
2. Select your destination and start driving guidance.
3. On your phone, tap the remaining driving time.
4. Tap Share trip progress.
5. Select who you want to share your trip progress with. By
default, Google Maps recommends your most frequent contacts. Tap More on the
right of your contacts to select someone from your list. Alternatively, the
icons at the bottom of the screen let you share a link using your favorite
messaging app. The recipient doesn't need the Google Maps app on their phone,
as the link works with a web browser, even on a desktop.
Share your location on WhatsApp
Using a common messaging app is a more sophisticated
technique to let people know where you are. WhatsApp gives you the choice to
share your live location for a while as well as your current location. Both
options are simple to use and cross-platform compatible. The recipient must
install and enable WhatsApp on their phone, which is the sole drawback.
Additionally, WhatsApp Desktop does not support live location, so the recipient
must open the app on their phone to view your location.
In any case, sharing your location only takes a few taps:
1. Open WhatsApp and start a conversation with the person
you want to share your location with.
2. Tap the paperclip icon in the lower-left corner and
select Location.
3. Send your current or live location or pick from a list of
nearby points of interest. When sharing your live location, decide how long the
recipient can track you. Choose 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours. Tap the red
button to stop sharing it before the countdown ends.
4. Wait while WhatsApp's live location refreshes. You must
tap the person's location in the conversation feed to access their live
location.
Share your location in Google Messages
Use Google Messages or your regular messaging software to
send your location the easiest manner possible. Anyone can receive your
location, and they don't need any special app on their phone to do so. The
disadvantage is that your current location is all that is included in the text
message you send, so the recipient cannot follow you in real time.
Here's how to send your location details on Google Messages:
1. Open
Google Messages and start a conversation with the person you want to share your
location with.
2. Tap the +
button in the lower-left corner and select Location.
3. Send your
current location or pick from a list of nearby points of interest.
4. Tap the
one you want to share and send it using the arrow on the right.
5. The
recipient receives a Google Maps link with your current coordinates. This makes
it easy for them to open it on the device they're using, as they only need a
web browser on the device.
Although it is simple to send your location, it is not a
live one because the recipient won't receive updates if you move or change
locations.
Conclusion
Sharing your location on Android devices can be a useful
feature in many scenarios. Whether you want to keep in touch with friends and
family, take advantage of location-based services in apps, or keep track of
your device's whereabouts, Android devices have you covered. With the tips and
tricks we've provided in this article, you'll be able to make the most of this
feature and get the most out of your Android device.
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