How to Share Your Location: 4 Life360 Options
Summary
What this article covers: How to share your location temporarily or with fewer details on Life360, using Bubbles, temporary location sharing, Temporary Circles, and Light Circles, and when to use each one.
Who it's for
Anyone who wants to share their live location for a few hours without a permanent commitment
Friends, roommates, and coworkers who want to stay connected without sharing location history or driving data
Travelers and event-goers coordinating with a group for a weekend or a week
Families who want to give someone a little more privacy while keeping safety features on
Key Takeaways
Temporary location sharing sends a secure link that works without the Life360 app, for 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, or until the end of the day.
Temporary Circles let everyone in the group see each other's live location and history in the app for 1 day to 2 weeks, then expire on their own.
Light Circles share live location only, with no location history or driving data. SOS and Crash Detection stay on.
Bubbles share your approximate area, up to 25 miles for up to 6 hours, and burst automatically if a crash is detected.
A simple rule: use temporary options for events, and Light Circles for relationships.
How to Share Your Location: 4 Life360 Options
Sharing your location is an act of trust, and not everyone in your life needs the same amount of it. Sometimes you only want to share your location temporarily, or share just your live location.
Your kid on a first solo drive? Sure, you want the full picture. Your roommate? Your coworker on a work trip? Your cousin who's meeting you at the festival? They just need to know where you are, right now. Not where you were last Tuesday. Not how fast you took that on-ramp.
Good news: Life360 now has four ways to share your location temporarily or with fewer details, from a quick link that expires in an hour to a live-location-only Circle for the people you like but don't need to log your every move. Here's how each one works, and when to use it.
Life360 Bubbles: share your approximate location, not the pin
Sometimes you want your Circle to know you're fine without handing over your exact spot. That's a Bubble. It shares your approximate area instead of a precise location, for a size and time you choose (up to 25 miles and up to 6 hours).
Your Circle sees that you're in a Bubble, and every safety feature stays on. If a crash or emergency is detected, the Bubble bursts automatically and your location is revealed. You can tap Check-In anytime to give your Circle a quick update, and pop the Bubble yourself whenever you're ready. Any Circle member can also burst it if they're worried about you.
Best for: a surprise party shopping trip, a gift run, or a few hours of breathing room with your family Circle.
Temporary Location Sharing: share your live location with anyone, no app needed
Want to share your real-time location for just an hour? Temporary location sharing lets you send a secure link to anyone, even if they've never heard of Life360. They open it in their browser and see your live location, battery status, and most recent activity until the time you set runs out.
To start sharing:
Tap your avatar on the map.
Tap the Share icon.
Choose how long: 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, or until the end of the day.
Tap Start Sharing and pick who gets the link.
Changed your mind? Tap your avatar, then Stop Sharing. Done.
The link is one-way. The person who gets it sees where you are, but you don't see them. And it opens in a web browser, so it's easiest for quick, low-commitment situations.
Best for: a rideshare home, meeting a friend at a busy spot, a babysitter or delivery pickup, or a ride with someone who doesn't have the app.
Temporary Circles: group location sharing that expires on its own
Temporary Circles take the Life360 Circle you know and give it an end date. Everyone who joins sees everyone else's real-time location in the app, and sharing stops automatically when the Circle expires. No awkward hey, can you leave the Circle?
conversation required.
Here's how to create one:
Open Life360 and tap the + icon on the right of the main map.
Name your Circle.
Pick a duration: 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 1 week, or 2 weeks.
Tap Create a temporary Circle and share the invite link.
When the time's up, you'll get a notification with the option to keep sharing or start a new Circle. Because it's many-to-many, everyone can see where everyone is, and everyone needs the Life360 app to join.
Best for: weekend trips, festivals and concerts, work retreats, group vacations, or any plan with a clear start and finish.
Light Circles: live location only, no history or driving data
Some people just don't need all the details. You love them, but where you went yesterday, last week, or last month? That's a lot to share. Same goes for how you drive.
Light Circles keep it simple. Share your live location and that's it. No location history. No driving stats. Just simplified location sharing for the people who don't need the full picture.
Safety stays on: SOS and Crash Detection still work, and Quick Notes keep you connected.
Light Circles are for ongoing sharing, which makes them a great fit for the people just outside your inner circle.
They don't replace your family Circle. Your closest, most permanent relationships can keep sharing everything. Light Circles are for the next ring out.
Best for: friends, roommates and housemates, coworkers (especially on work trips), and extended family like in-laws.
Which way to share your location is right for you?
A simple rule: Temporary options are about the event (I need this for the next few hours or days
). Light Circles are about the relationship (I'm happy for this person to see where I am, just not everything
).
Bubbles | Temporary Location Sharing | Temporary Circles | Light Circles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
What's shared | Approximate area | Live location | Temporary live location | Live location only |
How long does it last? | Up to 6 hours | 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, or end of day | 1 day to 2 weeks | Ongoing |
Who sees it | Your Circle | Anyone with the link | Everyone in the Circle | Everyone in the Circle |
Needs the app? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Who sees whose location | Circle sees your approximate bubbled location | They see you | Everyone sees everyone | Everyone sees everyone |
Best for | A little privacy from your own Circle | A quick, one-off share | Trips, events, retreats | Friends, roommates, coworkers |
Share your location, your way.
From one-hour links to live-location-only Circles, Life360 lets you choose how much to share and for how long. No pressure, no oversharing.
Share location on your terms
Location sharing works best when it fits the relationship and the moment. Keep your family Circle for the people you want to see 24/7, and reach for a Bubble, a temporary link, a Temporary Circle, or a Light Circle when you want to share a little less, or for a little while.
Ready to try it? Open the Life360 app and tap your avatar to start sharing, or tap + to create a Circle. Download Life360 and share your location your way.
Your location, your rules.
Start a Bubble, send a link, or set up a Light Circle in a few taps. Life360 gives you the right level of visibility for every relationship, so you get peace of mind without sharing more than you want to.
Frequently asked questions
Can I share my location temporarily without the Life360 app?
Yes. With temporary location sharing, you send a secure link to anyone, and they can view your live location, battery status, and recent activity in their browser. They don't need to download Life360.
How long does temporary location sharing last?
You choose: 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, or until the end of the day. You can also tap your avatar and select Stop Sharing to end it early.
What's the difference between temporary location sharing and a Temporary Circle?
Temporary location sharing is a one-way link: the person you send it to sees you via a browser link, but you don't see them. A Temporary Circle is in-app, many-to-many sharing where everyone in the Circle sees everyone else, and it lasts from 1 day to 2 weeks. Everyone needs the Life360 app to join a Temporary Circle.
What happens when a Temporary Circle expires?
Location sharing stops automatically. Life360 sends you a notification with the option to keep sharing or create a new Circle.
What is a Light Circle on Life360?
A Light Circle is a Circle that shares live location only. It doesn't include location history or driving data. SOS and Crash Detection stay on for safety, and Quick Notes keep members connected.
Who should I add to a Light Circle?
Light Circles work well for friends, roommates, coworkers, and extended family, meaning people you're comfortable sharing your live location with but who don't need to see where you've been or how you drive.
Can people see my exact location in a Life360 Bubble?
A Bubble shares your approximate area, up to 25 miles, for up to 6 hours. No one can see your exact location unless: (i) a crash or emergency is detected, then the Bubble bursts automatically and your location is shared, or (ii) A Circle member bursts a Bubble if they're worried about your safety, which you will be notified about.
Can I share my location with someone for just one night or one trip?
Yes. For a few hours, use temporary location sharing. For a trip, festival, or event with a group, create a Temporary Circle with a duration from 1 day to 2 weeks.