How to share your location on Android
To share your location on Android, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Location sharing and New share, choose how long, pick the person and tap Share. Google Messages (Real-time location) and Find Hub (Start share) use the same Google Location Sharing underneath, and Samsung phones add Samsung Find. Google's options reach anyone with a Gmail account; for everyday sharing with iPhone users in one circle, with arrival alerts, the easiest way is Warden (top pick).
Competitor facts as of 7 November 2026, per each vendor's own pages (linked).
On Android, real-time location sharing runs through one Google setting, Google Location Sharing. Google Maps, Google Messages, Find Hub, Family Link and Personal Safety all use it (Google), so a share you start in one shows up in the others. Samsung Galaxy phones add Samsung's own Samsung Find. This guide covers every way, for Pixel and Samsung, with Google's and Samsung's labels as checked on 7 November 2026. Google's help pages don't split these steps by Android version (14, 15 or 16); menu names can differ slightly by phone maker.
Before you start: what you need
Google lists the requirements for Location Sharing (Google):
- A Google Account.
- A mobile device.
- An active internet connection.
- The "Use location" setting turned on for your device.
Google adds that the setting "is device and account-specific", so on a phone and a tablet you set it on each. People you share with can see your name, profile picture, real-time location and battery status, and "shared info may also include where you've recently been."
Way 1: Google Maps (the main way)
- Open Google Maps and make sure you're signed in.
- Add the person's Gmail address to your Google Contacts if it isn't there.
- Tap your profile picture or initial > Location sharing > New share.
- Choose how long, for example Until you turn this off.
- Tap the person, allow contacts access if asked, and tap Share (Google).
Google: "The Location Sharing recipient must have a Gmail account." For anyone else, tap Copy to clipboard and send the link; it works "for up to 24 hours." Full guide: Google Maps location sharing.
Way 2: Google Messages (in a chat)
- Open the conversation and tap the attachment button.
- Tap Real-time location; the first time, tap I accept.
- Choose For 1 hour, Today only, Until you turn this off or Custom duration (custom "can't last more than 24 hours").
- Tap Send (Google).
To end it: tap your location message > Stop next to your name.
Way 3: Find Hub
- Open Find Hub and sign in.
- Tap Start share and choose One hour, Until the end of the day (ends at 11:59 PM), Until you stop the share or A custom duration.
- Pick people and tap Create share, or Get link to share ("'Until you stop' shares can't be created as a link share") (Google).
Recipients with Find Hub or Google Maps get a notification; others get an email. Guide: Google Find Hub.
Way 4: Samsung Find (Galaxy phones)
Samsung Galaxy phones also have Samsung Find, whose People tab shares location with family and friends based on your Samsung account, for "1 hour / 1 day (24 hours) / Indefinitely", once the other person requests and you accept (Samsung). Samsung says the other person checking your location sends you "a location inquiry notification." Details: share location on Samsung.
Way 5: Send a one-time location
In Google Maps, drop a pin or select a place, tap its name, then Share and choose an app (Google). A pin doesn't move with you. More: how to send your location.
Way 6: Share your ETA while navigating
Start navigation, swipe up on the information card, tap Share trip progress, pick the person, Share. It ends when you arrive or stop navigation (Google). See share your ETA.
Pixel vs Samsung: where things are
| Task | Google Pixel | Samsung Galaxy (One UI) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Location Sharing switch | Settings > Location > Location Services > Google Location Sharing | Same Google setting (search Settings for "Google Location Sharing") |
| Phone-maker sharing app | none extra; Find Hub | Samsung Find (People tab) |
| Emergency location to contacts | Google's Personal Safety features use Google Location Sharing | Settings > Safety and emergency > Emergency sharing / Emergency SOS (Samsung) |
For emergencies on both: Emergency SOS on iPhone and Android.
Share with an iPhone user
Google Maps has an iPhone app, so an iPhone user with a Gmail account can receive your share directly, or open a link. Apple's Find My doesn't include Android: Apple says Live Location needs an iPhone on both ends (Apple). Full guide: share location from Android to iPhone.
Warden (top pick): Android and iPhone, every day, in one circle
Google's sharing is great for trips and evenings. If your partner, friends or family carry iPhones, and you want to see each other every day with a note when someone gets home, Warden runs natively on both:
- Install Warden (Android 8.0 or later), start a circle and share the invite code.
- Each person enters the code on their own phone; you approve them. No Gmail needed.
- Each person switches sharing on for themselves. Sharing starts off.
- Add places like home or work for arrive and leave alerts.
- Choose a battery mode: Precise, Balanced or Battery saver.
Pause anytime; the circle sees "Paused", with no location and no battery level.
How to stop sharing on Android
- One person: Google Maps > profile picture > Location sharing > the person > Stop.
- In Find Hub: tap the person > Stop sharing; Google says it "stops for your account, and for all apps using Google Location Sharing."
- Everything: Settings > Location > Location Services > Google Location Sharing and turn it off.
- On the web: myaccount.google.com > People & sharing > Location Sharing > Manage Location Sharing (Google).
More in how to stop sharing your location.
Troubleshooting on Android
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Can't share at all | Check "Use location" is on and you're signed in; Google lists region, Workspace, age and Family Link limits (Google) |
| Share ends after 24 hours | Google limits under-18 accounts; verify age, then recreate with Until you turn this off |
| Contact can't be selected | They need a Gmail account; send a link instead |
| Your location is stale for others | Phone offline, location off, or sharing off; battery-saving modes slow updates |
| Location shows a nearby shop | Google: in busy areas it "may occasionally show your location incorrectly as a nearby point of interest" |
| Samsung Find looks old | Tap Refresh on the People tab; it doesn't refresh automatically |
FAQ
How do I share my location on Android?
Open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, tap Location sharing, then New share. Choose how long, pick the person and tap Share.
How do I share my location on Android permanently?
Choose Until you turn this off in Google Maps or Google Messages, or Until you stop the share in Find Hub. Google limits accounts it believes are under 18 to 24 hours.
Can I share my location from Android to an iPhone?
Yes. Google Maps runs on iPhone; the person needs a Gmail account or your link. WhatsApp and Warden also work on both.
Where is location sharing in Android settings?
Google puts it under Settings > Location > Location Services > Google Location Sharing.
How do I share my location on a Samsung phone?
Use Google Maps like on any Android phone, or Samsung Find's People tab to share with other Galaxy users.
What does the other person see when I share on Android?
Your name, profile picture, real-time location and battery status, and possibly where you've recently been, according to Google.
Do I need Google Maps to share location on Android?
No. Google Messages and Find Hub use the same Google Location Sharing, and Samsung phones have Samsung Find.
Why can't I share my location on Android?
Usually location is off, you're not signed in, or Google's limits apply (region, Workspace domain, age or Family Link). The recipient also needs a Gmail account for a direct share.
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