How to Share Location on Android

Sometimes you may need to ask for the location from other people where you have to go (such as your friend, relative, or family member) on your Android phone. Or it also needs to share your current location or active location with those who are continuing. In such a situation, an active location tracker can become helpful for you.

In this article, we will share some information that lets you know how to share location on Android or other devices. One of the exciting things about location sharing is that you are the only person who gives others to access and track your location. Also, you can cancel any time to get track from your location.

There are many active location sharing and tracking apps/tools you will found over the Internet (Google Play Store).

Share Location on Android using Google Maps:

Google Maps provide an option to share your Android device's location to your contacts list. Using its location sharing feature, people can quickly meet together even at an unfamiliar place. Google Maps facilitate sharing location to other contacts who have Google account and people who have not. You can also set the time duration to keep active your share location on another device.

There are two different ways to share location to Android: the first method to share location to those who have Google account, and another method to share location to those contacts that don't have Google account.

Sharing Location using Google Maps to contacts having Google account

1. Open the Google Maps app on your Android smartphone. If you don't previously login, then login with your Google account.
2. Click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) present at the top-left of the screen to access menu options.
3. Now, click on the Location sharing. It will pop-up a screen showing information "Let friends know where you are" and allows sharing your real-time location with friends & family.
4. Look for the GET STARTED option and click on it.
5. Now, set the time for which you want to share your location. There are the options to choose for 1 hour, customize time by clicking the + and - button or set time "Until you turn this off."
6. After setting the time, select the contact whom you wish to share your location and click on Share

Now, your contact person with whom you share your location will open their Google Map app and see your location on the map. On the other side, the person opposite to you can also share their location with you from the same screen by enabling the toggle button "Share your location."

If you wish to stop sharing your location, go to the Location sharing screen again and click on the X (stop icon) icon appears on the side of person you shared location.

Once you stop sharing your location, a notification will send to the person whom you shared your location as "<your name> isn't sharing with you."

Sharing location using Google Maps to contacts doesn't have Google account:

If you want to share your Android phone's location with contacts that do not have a Google Account, their contact icon will not show the Google Maps icon attached with them. You can share location to such contacts with the help of links using the Google Map app. To share your location with such contacts follow the below steps.

The above five steps are the same as we discuss in sharing location to contacts having Google account. These are:

1. Open your Google Maps app on your Android smartphone. If you don't previously login to your Google account then login it.
2. Click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) present at the top-left of the screen to access menu options.
3. Now, click on the Location sharing.
4. Look for the GET STARTED option and click on it.
5. Now, you have to set the time for which you want to share your location. There are options to choose from 1 hour, customize time by clicking the + and - button or set time "Until you turn this off."
6. Now, swipe the contacts list to the right until you see the "More" Click on the More.
7. Choose the contact person(s) from your contact list whom your wish to share your location. A pop-up screen appears that shows the location will be shared via the link. Accept it by clicking OK and tap on Share. These steps may be varies based on the Android phone model and its version.
8. Google Maps share a link to your default text message app to send it to your selected person(s).
9. Now, share the location link via your text messaging app. You can also share the location link using email, copy the location link, paste it to email, WhatsApp, etc. and send it to your contact(s). When your contact person(s) open the link, they will navigate to Google Maps and see your location.

If you wish to stop sharing your location, go to the Location sharing screen again and click on the X (stop icon) icon appears on the side of person you shared location.

Share location on Android or iPhone using WhatsApp.

WhatsApp is a mobile communication app designed for sending messages or calling people (audio and video). Along with these features, WhatsApp also facilitates you to share your location with your contacts. Using its location sharing feature, users can share their live location or nearby location to other WhatsApp users.

Share your current or nearby location using WhatsApp on an Android phone.

1. Launch WhatsApp app on your Android smartphone.
2. Tap on the CHATS
3. Tap on the person or group chat to whom you wish to share your location.
4. Now, click on the attached icon available in the message field.
5. Tap on the "Location" option.
6. Here, you will see two different location sharing options: 1) Share live location, and 2) Nearby places.
7. Choose the location from the above two options and click on CONTINUE.
8. Now, select the time to keep active and track your shared location.
9. If you also want to send any message with location, add it in the Add comment section (optional) and click on the Send

Share your current or nearby location using WhatsApp on iPhone:

1. Launch your WhatsApp app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the CHATS
3. Tap on the person or group chat to whom you wish to share your location.
4. Now, click on the "+" (plus sign) available at the bottom-left of the screen.
5. Tap on the "Location" option.
6. Allow WhatsApp to access your location either only while you are using an app or always.
7. Select the location type either you want to Share Live Location or Send Your Current Location.
8. Now, click on the Send

To stop sharing your location in a particular chat or group chat, reopen the individual or group chat and click on the Stop sharing and then STOP.

How to share location over Facebook Messenger on Android, iOS

Facebook Messenger is a social media communicating app that allows us to stay connected with our friends and family members. Using this app, users can communicate (through message and phone calls) with people worldwide. User only needs an internet connection to use it.

While chatting or making a call to your friends and family, this app also lets you share your location with them. If someone wants to come to your place of residence (or even other place), then you can send the location via Messenger by marking it.

Below we have mentioned the steps to send pinned location on Messenger over Android and iPhone:

1. Open the Messenger app on your Android smartphone.
2. Now, select a person's chat with whom you want to share the location.
3. Tap on the four dots sign available at the bottom-left of your conversation screen.
4. Click on the Location icon appears as an arrow sign inside a blue circle.
5. Search for the location that you want to share inside search bar. When you find your desired location in a search result, click on it.
6. Click on the blue arrow to open the map location.
7. Drag your selected map so that a red pin is at the location you wish to share with your contact person.
8. Finally, click on the Send Pin icon to send your location.