In today’s fast-moving world, staying connected and sharing your whereabouts in real time has become more important than ever. Whether you’re traveling alone, meeting friends in a crowded area, coordinating with colleagues, or simply reassuring your family about your safety, live location sharing can be incredibly useful. One of the most reliable and widely used tools for this purpose is Google Maps.

Beyond turn-by-turn navigation and traffic updates, Google Maps also offers a built-in feature that allows users to share their real-time location with selected contacts. The process is quick, secure, and works seamlessly on both Android and iOS devices. Below is a detailed, easy-to-follow guide that explains how to share your live location using Google Maps, along with tips to manage and stop sharing whenever you want.

Why Use Live Location Sharing on Google Maps?

Live location sharing helps others see where you are in real time, including your movement and estimated arrival time. This feature is especially helpful when:

• You’re running late and want others to track your progress
• You’re traveling at night or in unfamiliar places
• You want family members to know you’ve reached safely
• You’re coordinating meetups or pickups

The best part is that you remain in full control of who can see your location and for how long.

Step-by-Step Guide to Share Live Location on Google Maps 1. Open Google Maps on Your Phone

Start by launching the Google Maps app on your smartphone. Make sure you have the latest version installed to avoid missing features or facing glitches.

2. Sign In to Your Google Account

Ensure you’re logged into your Google account. Live location sharing works only when you’re signed in, as the feature is linked to your account for security and tracking purposes.

3. Access the Location Sharing Option

Tap on your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner of the screen. From the menu that appears, select the “Location sharing” option. This will open the live location sharing dashboard.

4. Choose to Share Your Live Location

Tap on “Share location”. Google Maps will now prompt you to choose how long you want to share your real-time location.

5. Select the Sharing Duration

You can decide how long your location will remain visible. Options usually include:

• Sharing for a fixed duration (for example, 15 minutes, 1 hour, or several hours)
• Sharing until you manually turn it off

Choose the option that best fits your needs.

6. Select Contacts to Share With

Next, choose the people you want to share your live location with. You can select contacts directly from your Google account or share a link through messaging apps like WhatsApp, SMS, or email.

7. Send the Location

Once the contact is selected, tap “Share”. The recipient will receive a notification or link that allows them to view your real-time location on their device.

How to Monitor Your Shared Location

While sharing is active, Google Maps displays a small indicator showing that your location is visible to others. You can return to the “Location sharing” section at any time to see:

• Who can view your location
• How much sharing time is left

This transparency ensures you’re always aware of your privacy settings.

How to Stop Live Location Sharing

If you no longer want someone to track your location, stopping the feature is just as easy:

Open Google Maps

Go to Location sharing

Select the person you’re sharing with

Tap “Stop”

Your location will immediately stop updating for that contact.

Final Thoughts

Sharing your live location using Google Maps is a practical and user-friendly way to stay connected and safe. With full control over duration and recipients, the feature balances convenience with privacy. Whether for daily commuting, travel coordination, or personal safety, knowing how to use live location sharing effectively can make a real difference.

By following these simple steps, you can confidently share your whereabouts and ensure better communication with the people who matter most.