DeviceLocatorLocation sharing
Real-time location: how sharing works, and how to stop it
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What you can do depends on your phone, your account access and the settings you turned on earlier.
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in short
A live location is something a person shares, not something you can take: in Google Maps they choose who can find their location and for how long, and on iPhone they can stop sharing at any time. Share your own location; if you want to see someone else's, ask them to share it.
Below: the three kinds of sharing, how to start and stop on Android and iPhone, and how to check who can see your location right now.
Three kinds of sharing Once, on the way, or ongoing
Once
- They see
- only that spot
- It ends
- it's one snapshot
- Started in
- Messages, Apple Maps
On the way
- They see
- you live, on the route
- It ends
- Google trip: arrival/stop
- Started in
- Google Maps, Apple Maps
Ongoing
- They see
- live; iPhone: direction
- It ends
- at the time you set, or stop
- Started in
- Google Maps; Find My
From Apple's «Share your location with iPhone» and Google Maps Help, listed under Sources. Google «Share trip progress» stops when you arrive or stop navigation. On iPhone, Live Location gives a sense of direction and speed; ongoing sharing on iPhone also starts in Messages.
any time
Stop sharing
- Google Maps: Location sharing > tap the person > Stop.
- Android settings: Location > Location services > Google Location Sharing > the person > Stop.
- iPhone: stop in Find My, Apple Maps or Messages — stopping in one of these apps stops it across them, and the person isn't notified.
Share my location
- Google Maps: tap your profile picture > Location sharing > New share, choose how long, pick the person and tap Share. The person needs a Gmail account; for someone without a Google Account, tap Copy to clipboard and send the link — it works for up to 24 hours.
- iPhone: in Find My, tap Me and turn on Share My Location, then People > Add > Share My Location.
See a family member's
They share it with you. In Google Maps you can ask for someone's location only if you shared with them, or they shared with you, in the past: they get your email address and a notification, and can share, ignore or block you.
In Apple Family Sharing, once location sharing is on, the organizer's location is shared with the family automatically; every other member chooses whether to share.
How to start sharing, step by step you start it yourself
In both apps, you start the share yourself and choose the people, or send a link.
Android — Google Maps
- Check what you need
A Google Account, a mobile device, an internet connection and the Use location setting on.
- Start a new share
In Google Maps, tap your profile picture or initial > Location sharing > New share.
- Choose how long
Pick a time, or Until you turn this off.
- Choose who, then Share
Pick a contact with a Gmail account and tap Share. For someone without a Google Account, tap Copy to clipboard and send the link; it works for up to 24 hours.
iPhone — Find My
- Turn on Share My Location
In Find My, tap the Me tab and turn on Share My Location.
- Add a person
Tap the People tab, tap Add, then Share My Location.
- Choose how long
For an hour, until the end of the day, indefinitely, or a custom time period.
- Check their iPhone
To share Live Location, both iPhones need iOS 15 or later.
Google Maps and iPhone, side by side start, limit, stop
| Google Maps / Android | iPhone | |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Profile picture > Location sharing > New share | Find My > People > Add > Share My Location |
| How long | A time you choose or until you turn it off; a link lasts up to 24 hours | An hour, until end of day, indefinitely or custom |
| Needs | Recipient with a Gmail account (or a link); Google Account, internet, Use location on | Live Location: iOS 15 or later on both iPhones |
| Stop | Location sharing > person > Stop | In Find My, Apple Maps or Messages; stops across them; they aren't notified |
| Doesn't stop it | Turning off an app's location permission; Incognito mode in Maps | Deleting the Find My app |
| Review | Android: Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Sharing (this device and account) | Safety Check: iOS 16 or later, signed in to an Apple Account with two-factor authentication; not everything is covered |
From the Google and Apple help pages listed under Sources.
Limits: what to know before you share
- In Google Maps, people you share with can always see your name and photo, your device's recent location even when Google apps aren't being used, and its battery level and whether it's charging.
- Location Sharing works even when Timeline is turned off.
- If Google's systems indicate you may be under 18, you can't share your location for more than 24 hours.
- The Google setting is per device and per account: adjust it on each device you're signed in on.
- Turning off Use Location Sharing in Android settings pauses updates from that device while it's off, but doesn't remove your previous shares; to end a share, stop it for that person.
- Safety Check can't review everything, for example accounts and passwords, social media sharing, or information shared from another device.
If you think someone can see your location
- Android: open Google Location Sharing in Settings, or on a computer go to myaccount.google.com > People & sharing > Location Sharing > Manage Location Sharing, and stop any share you don't want.
- iPhone: Safety Check has Emergency Reset, which resets sharing for all people and apps at once, and Manage Sharing & Access for one person or app at a time.
- When someone you share with adds an arrival or departure notification about you in Google Maps, you get an email about it. On iPhone, recurring notifications about you need your acceptance first.
Who can see my location?
- Android: Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Sharing shows who you share with from this device and account.
- iPhone: Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check lets you review who has access to your location and stop sharing. It needs iOS 16 or later and being signed in to an Apple Account that uses two-factor authentication.
Sharing is the owner's choice
These features are built for sharing your own location. If you want to see someone's location, ask them to share it; if you share yours, pick an end time unless you mean it to be ongoing.
Questions about location sharing
Who decides whether I can see someone's location?
The person sharing. They start the share and choose people, or send a link that anyone who has it can open for up to 24 hours. In Apple Family Sharing, the organizer's location is shared with the family automatically once location sharing is on. When you ask in Google Maps, they get your email address and a notification.
Can I ask someone to share their location?
In Google Maps, yes, if you shared with them or they shared with you before: tap the contact, then Request. They can share, ignore or block you; if they block you, you can no longer ask.
Will they be notified if I stop sharing?
On iPhone, the person you stop sharing with isn't notified.
Does Incognito mode in Maps stop sharing?
No. Neither Incognito mode nor turning off an app's location permission stops or pauses Google Location Sharing.
If I delete Find My, does sharing stop?
No. People can still see your location; reinstall Find My and stop sharing there.
How long does a shared link work?
A Google Maps location link works for up to 24 hours.
What does someone see when I share with them?
In Google Maps: your name and photo, your device's recent location and its battery. On iPhone, Live Location also gives a sense of your direction and speed.
8 official sources · checked November 2026
- Google Maps Help — Share your real-time location
- Google Account Help — Manage Google Location Sharing
- Google Account Help — Manage Location Sharing on a computer
- Google Maps Help — Location Sharing notifications
- Apple — Share your location with iPhone
- Apple — Share your location with family (Family Sharing)
- Apple Personal Safety User Guide — Safety Check (what you need)
- Apple iPhone User Guide — Manage information sharing with Safety Check