How to share your location from iPhone to Android
Yes, an iPhone can share its location with an Android phone, just not with Find My: Apple says Live Location needs an iPhone on both ends. Use an app that runs on both: Google Maps (profile picture > Location sharing > New share; the Android user needs Gmail), WhatsApp Live Location for a chat, or a pin for one spot. To share indefinitely and see each other every day, with a note when someone gets home, the easiest way is Warden (top pick).
Competitor facts as of 7 November 2026, per each vendor's own pages (linked).
Mixed couples, families and friend groups (one iPhone, one Pixel, one Galaxy) are the norm, but Apple's sharing stops at the Apple edge. This guide shows every way to get your iPhone's location onto an Android phone, how to keep it on indefinitely, and how to make it two-way. Checked 7 November 2026.
Why Find My doesn't reach Android
Apple's Find My app is made for Apple devices: its App Store page lists iOS, iPadOS and watchOS. For Live Location in Find My and Messages, Apple says "both you and the person that you're sharing with need an iPhone with iOS 15 or later." Apple's sharing pages don't describe an Android path.
So when one of you carries an Android phone, Find My is not the bridge. An app that runs on both phones is.
The ways that work
| Method | Share indefinitely? | What the Android person needs | Two-way by default | Arrival alerts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warden (top pick) | Yes, until either of you pauses | Warden, and they switch sharing on themselves | Yes, both of you choose | Yes, for places you add |
| Google Maps location sharing | Yes, until you turn it off; a link lasts up to 24 hours | A Gmail account | Each person shares separately | The viewer can add notifications |
| WhatsApp Live Location | No, you choose a duration (WhatsApp) | WhatsApp, in the same chat | Each person shares separately | Not stated |
| A pin from Messages or Maps | One fixed spot | Nothing; it opens as a map | n/a | n/a |
Option 1: Warden, for people who want to see each other every day
Warden is built for exactly this: an iPhone and an Android phone in one circle, on one private map.
- Install Warden on your iPhone (iOS 17 or later), start a circle and share the invite code.
- Your person installs Warden on their Android phone (8.0 or later), enters the code, and you approve the request.
- Each of you switches sharing on, on your own phone. Sharing starts off, and nobody can switch it on for someone else.
- Add places like home or work. Warden tells you when someone arrives or leaves, so the "home safe?" text becomes unnecessary.
Either of you can pause anytime. The other person then sees "Paused" instead of a guess, and you can always see who can see you. One plan covers a circle of up to 10 people; people you invite join free.
Option 2: Google Maps (indefinitely, free)
- Install and open Google Maps on your iPhone and sign in to your Google Account.
- Add the person's Gmail address to your Google Contacts.
- Tap your profile picture > Location sharing > New share.
- Choose Until you turn this off to share indefinitely (or a set time).
- Tap the person, allow contacts access if asked, and tap Share (Google).
Google says the recipient "must have a Gmail account". No Gmail? Send a link via Message or More options; it works for up to 24 hours. Google also says accounts its systems think are under 18 can't share for more than 24 hours.
Your location then appears in their Google Maps under Location sharing, with your battery level. To make it two-way, they share back from Google Maps on Android. Full guide: Google Maps location sharing.
Google Maps inside iMessage
If you text with them on iMessage-capable devices, Google's iMessage app can share "your real time location for 1 hour", extendable "up to 3 days" (Google). For an Android person in a green-bubble chat, the link route is simpler.
Option 3: WhatsApp Live Location
If you already chat on WhatsApp, open the chat, tap the attachment button, choose Location and then live location. WhatsApp says Live Location "is available on both Android and iPhone" and that you choose how long to share. It's handy for "I'm on my way" moments and ends when the time runs out. Steps: WhatsApp location.
Option 4: Send a pin (one spot, any phone)
In Messages, tap + > Location, tap the pin button, place it and tap Send Pin. Apple suggests pins for SMS chats, which is what Android conversations usually are, and notes "pinned locations don't update as you move" (Apple). More: how to send your location.
How to share location from iPhone to Android indefinitely
- Warden: sharing stays on until you pause it; the other side sees "Paused" when you do.
- Google Maps: choose Until you turn this off.
- WhatsApp: not indefinite; you pick a duration.
Can the Android person see me in Find My?
No. Apple lists Find My for Apple devices, and Live Location needs an iPhone on both ends. Find Devices on iCloud.com locates devices signed in to your Apple Account, not people (Apple).
Which one to use
- One evening or one trip: Google Maps or WhatsApp.
- Your partner, family, friends or roommates, every day: Warden. Both of you choose to share, you get a note when someone gets home, and a mixed iPhone and Android circle feels the same on both sides.
Troubleshooting iPhone to Android
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Android person doesn't see your Google Maps share | They need Gmail and the Google Maps app; check you picked the right account |
| Share stopped after a day | Link shares last up to 24 hours; under-18 accounts are limited to 24 hours |
| Your location is old on their phone | Allow location access and Precise Location for Google Maps on your iPhone (Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Google Maps) |
| You tried Find My and nothing happened | Find My is iPhone-to-iPhone only |
| They see you but you can't see them | Ask them to share back in the same app |
FAQ
Can an iPhone share its location with an Android phone?
Yes, with an app that runs on both: Warden, Google Maps or WhatsApp. Apple's Live Location needs an iPhone on both ends, according to Apple.
Can I see an Android phone in Find My?
Apple's Find My app is made for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. To see someone with an Android phone, use an app you both have, such as Warden or Google Maps.
How do I share my location from iPhone to Android permanently?
In Warden, sharing stays on until one of you pauses it. In Google Maps, choose Until you turn this off; the Android person needs a Gmail account.
How do I share my location from iPhone to Samsung?
The same way as to any Android phone: Google Maps, WhatsApp or Warden. Samsung Find and Apple Find My don't connect.
Can iPhones and Androids share location with each other both ways?
Yes, if both use the same app. In Warden both of you switch sharing on and see each other on one map; in Google Maps, each person shares separately.
Does the other person know I can see their location in Warden?
Always. Sharing starts off, only they can switch it on on their own phone, and everyone can see who can see their location.
Is there a free way to share location from iPhone to Android?
Google Maps and WhatsApp are apps many people already have, and their help pages don't mention a charge for location sharing. Warden is a subscription app; one plan covers the whole circle and invitees join free.
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