In a world that is increasingly connected, it is important to stay in touch with our loved ones. Sharing our GPS location with a spouse or family member can be convenient while traveling to help us find each other, signal that we are safe, or simply in case of an emergency. In this article, we will tell you how to give your loved ones access to your phone’s GPS location on Android or iPhone in a few simple steps.
Prerequisites for sharing your location on Android and iPhone
Before you start, make sure you have an account Google active for Android devices or ID Apple for iPhone. The person you share your location with must also have a similar account. Consider turning on the location feature on your phones to make it work properly.
Steps to Share GPS Location on Android and iOS
Sharing GPS location on Android with Google Maps
- Open the app Google Maps on your Android phone.
- Sign in to your Google account if you haven’t already.
- Click your profile picture in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Choose “Share your location“.
- Press “to move“, then select how long you want to share your location (you can also select the “until turned off” option).
- Select the Google contacts you want to share your location with. They will then receive an email notification that you have shared your location.
- Your loved ones will be able to click on the link in the email, open Google Maps and track your location in real time.
Note : You can stop sharing your location at any time by pressing the “Stop“.
Sharing GPS location on iPhone with Find My Friends
- Open the app Locate my friends on your iPhone.
- Sign in with your Apple ID if you haven’t already.
- Tap on “To add” in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Enter the email address of the person you want to share your location with, then tap “Send“.
- Choose how long you want to share your location: one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely.
- The person will then receive a notification that you have shared your location.
- Your contact will then be able to open the Find My Friends app on their iPhone and track your location in real time.
Note : You can stop sharing your location at any time by tapping a contact and then selecting “Stop sharing my location“.
Sharing options specific to Android or iPhone products
Sharing GPS location with WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app available on Android and iPhone. Here’s how to share your location through this app:
- Open a conversation with the person you want to send your location to.
- Press the button + (iOS) or to the paper clip (Android) located in the lower left corner of the screen.
- Choose “Place“.
- Select “Share your location in real time“.
- Set the sharing duration or choose “until disabled”.
- The person will receive a message with a link to your real-time location.
Sharing GPS location with Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is another very popular messaging app available on both mobile platforms. Here’s how to share your GPS location:
- Open a conversation with the person you want to send your location to.
- Tap the “+” icon located in the lower left corner of the screen.
- Choose “Place“.
- On the “Now” tab, tap “Share your location live“.
- Mark the sharing duration, then confirm by pressing “Share“.
- The person will receive a message with a link to your real-time location.
That’s it, now you know how to share your GPS location with your loved ones on Android and iPhone. All you have to do is choose the method that suits you best and enjoy the benefits of this feature.