Because Android phones can’t locate friends and family like iPhones do through a “Find My Location” feature, checking someone’s location or ensuring they’ve arrived safely requires a phone call or message, which is inconvenient. Fortunately, Google Maps offers a “real-time location sharing” feature, allowing users to check their friends’ and family’s location anytime to ensure their safety. How do you use this useful feature? Let us tell you.
How do I use Google Maps’ “Instant Location Sharing” feature?
To achieve a location-based experience similar to that of an iPhone on an Android phone, the only current method is through Google Maps’ “Live Location Sharing” feature. Google Maps’ “Live Location Sharing” feature has two versions: time-limited and unlimited. The complete steps are as follows:
▲ Open Google Maps and tap the blue dot on the map to bring up the “Your Location” page.
▲ Tap “Share Live Location,” which will display the duration of the sharing and the recipients.
▲ Select “Until you turn this off,” and then select the recipients to share with before tapping “Share.”
▲ Send a live sharing invitation via SMS. Once the recipient clicks the link, they can start using the feature.
How can I view someone’s real-time location on Google Maps?
Once you accept the other person’s real-time location sharing invitation, you can view their current location on Google Maps. Here’s how:
▲ Open Google Maps, click on their profile picture in the upper right corner, and select “Location Sharing”.
▲Then you can see which friends and family members have shared their real-time location with you. Click on the person you want to view to quickly see their current location.
Although Android phones don’t have a built-in location function in the Find My app like iPhones, you can still achieve this effect through Google Maps’ “Real-time Location Sharing” feature. Highly recommended for those who need to know the current location of friends and family or care about whether they have arrived at their destination safely.
