How to Share Location with Family: Complete Guide 2026

Summary

What this article covers: A clear, friendly walkthrough of how location sharing works on Google Maps, including how to share your location, stop sharing, set a time limit, and keep your family members in the loop with real-time updates and estimated arrival times.

Who It's For

• Parents who want to stay connected with their kids without blowing up the group chat

• Families coordinating pickups, road trips, or just everyday life

• Anyone who has ever sent the I'm on my way text twelve times and still kept everyone guessing

• Android and iPhone users looking for a quick step-by-step guide

• People curious about how location sharing actually works and what others can see

Key Takeaways

• Location sharing on Google Maps lets you share your current location in real time with specific contacts.

• You can set a time limit for sharing, or keep it going until you tap stop sharing yourself.

• The person you share with can see your name, photo, device battery level, and estimated arrival time.

• You need a Gmail account and the Maps app to get started on Android or iPhone.

• For families who want something more robust than Google Maps alone, Life360 brings location sharing, place alerts, and safety features into one dedicated family app.

This guide walks you through exactly how to share your location, how to stop sharing when you're ready, and what your contacts actually see when you send that link. You’ll avoid any confusion or guessing.

How Location Sharing on Google Maps Actually Works

When you share your location through the Maps app, your current location broadcasts to whoever you've chosen in real time. They open the app on their end and see exactly where you are on the map.

The person receiving your location information can also see your name, your profile photo, your device's battery level, and your estimated time of arrival if they've set up a notification. That last one is genuinely useful. No more ten minutes away texts that turn into thirty-minute waits.

One thing worth knowing upfront: Location sharing works even when Location History is turned off on your account. Those are two separate settings, and turning one off does not affect the other.

What You Need Before You Start

Before you open the Maps app, a quick checklist:

• A Gmail account (you need to be signed in to share your location)

• The Google Maps app installed on your Android device or iPhone

• The Gmail address of the person you want to share with is saved in your contacts

That last part is more important than you might think. Google Maps shares location information through Gmail contacts. If the person's Gmail address is not in your contacts, you will need to add it first.

How to Share Your Location on Android or iPhone

The steps are nearly identical across both platforms, so follow along no matter what device you're on.

Step 1: Open the Maps App

Open the Google Maps app and make sure you are signed into the correct Gmail account. If you have multiple accounts on your phone, double-check which one is active before you start sharing.

Step 2: Tap Your Profile Picture

In the top right corner of the Maps app, tap your profile picture or initial. A menu will appear with several options.

Step 3: Tap Location Sharing

Select Location sharing from the menu. If you see a warning message here, it may mean location sharing is restricted by your account settings, your region, or your age. Google restricts users under 18 from sharing for more than 24 hours, and parents can manage those settings through Family Link.

Step 4: Tap New Share

Hit the New share button to begin. This is where you choose how long your location stays visible.

Step 5: Set Your Time Limit

You can choose a specific duration anywhere from 15 minutes to one full day. You can also select Until you turn this off, which keeps sharing active until you manually tap stop sharing. Choose whichever fits the situation.

Step 6: Select Who to Share With

A list of your contacts will appear. Scroll through or search to find the person you want. Tap their name and then tap Share to send it.

That's it. Your contact will get a notification and can open your live location in the Maps app on their end.

How to Stop Sharing Your Location

Stopping is just as simple as starting. Open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, and select Location sharing. You will see everyone you are currently sharing with listed there. Tap the name of the person you want to stop sharing with, then tap Stop or tap stop sharing to confirm.

Your location information disappears from their Maps view immediately.

If you set a time limit when you started, sharing will end automatically when that time runs out. You do not have to do anything extra.

How to Share Your Estimated Time of Arrival

If you're navigating somewhere and want someone to follow your progress, Maps has a built-in option for sharing your estimated time of arrival without giving ongoing access to your full location.

While actively navigating, tap the small arrow or the up arrow at the bottom of the screen. Look for the option that says something along the lines of Share trip progress. Tap it, choose your contact, and send. They will be able to see where you are along your route and your estimated arrival time without you sharing your full location history.

This is a great option for situations where you want a one-time update rather than ongoing access.

Sharing From a Computer

If you are on a desktop or laptop instead of your phone, you can still access location sharing through Google Maps in a browser.

Open and sign in to your Gmail account. Click the three horizontal lines in the top left corner to open the menu. Select Location sharing, choose your duration and contact, and click Share. The process is essentially the same, just on a bigger screen.

Keep in mind that sharing from a computer uses that computer's location, not your phone's. If you want someone to track your movement while you're traveling, sharing from your phone is the better option.

What the Other Person Can See

This comes up a lot, and it's a fair thing to wonder about. When you share your location with someone, here is what they can see:

• Your name and profile photo

• Your current location on the map, updating in real time

• Your device's battery level and whether it's charging

• Your estimated arrival time if they set up a notification for you

• How you're traveling, like walking or driving, when that data is available

They can see your location directly in the Maps app on their Android device, iPhone, tablet, or computer. They do not need a special account or any additional app to view it.

Keep in mind that in busy areas, the Maps app may occasionally show your location as a nearby business or point of interest rather than a precise address. That is normal behavior.

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

Your contact cannot see your location after you shared it. Make sure their Gmail address is correct in your contacts, and confirm that location services are enabled on your phone. On an Android device, you can check this in your settings under Location. On an iPhone, look under Privacy and Security, then Location Services, then Maps.

You're getting a warning message when you open Location sharing. This typically means one of a few things: location sharing is not available in your region, your Google Workspace account has restrictions in place, or your account has age-based limitations applied. Review your account settings or check with your account administrator if this is a work or school account.

Location sharing is draining your battery. Location apps use battery because they keep GPS active. Restarting the Maps app can help if something seems off. You can also choose a shorter sharing duration so your phone is not broadcasting continuously longer than needed.

You want to share your location but do not want to use the Maps app. Some people prefer to share location through Google Messages instead. You can send a static location pin through a text, though keep in mind that a pin shows where you are at that one moment, not an ongoing live location. For a live update, the Maps app is the tool for the job.

Location Sharing for Families and Where Google Maps Has Limits

Google Maps handles one-off location sharing pretty well. You're meeting someone at a crowded venue, you're running late, and you want to show your parents how close you are. It works.

Where it starts to feel limited is in the day-to-day family picture. Multiple family members, different schedules, and a need for something more proactive than hoping everyone remembers to tap share at the right moment.

Life360 fills that gap. Instead of manual, ad-hoc sharing, it keeps everyone visible on one shared map automatically: your family members, your pets, and your tracked belongings, all in one app. Place Alerts notify you when someone arrives at or leaves home or school. No Show Alerts fire if a family member doesn't show up where expected. Driving insights and Crash Detection are included on every plan, no extra taps required.

Google Maps is great for sharing your location in the moment. Life360 is built for the always-on awareness that busy families actually need.

Location Sharing Final Thoughts

Location sharing on Google Maps is genuinely useful for coordinating in real time, and the steps are simple once you know where to look. Open the Maps app, tap your profile picture, tap Location sharing, choose your duration and your contact, and tap Share. Stop anytime by going back to that same menu and tapping stop sharing.

For families looking for something that goes beyond a single shared location, Life360 brings everyone onto one map with automatic alerts, safety tools, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing where your people are without having to ask.

Learn more about how Life360 keeps families connected every day.