Did you know that your iPhone lets you share more than just pictures and files? One of the easiest things to do with your GPS-enabled device, for instance, is to share your location with family and friends. Maybe you want to show someone a great vacation spot, or perhaps you’re at a party and want a friend to join you. Whatever the case may be, sharing your current location on an iPhone is an easy thing to do.
The options given below allow you to quickly, and temporarily, share your location with other individuals. If you want to share your location on a more permanent basis, check out our guide on using the iOS Find My app — available on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and via most modern web browsers.
How to turn Location Services on
The first thing you need to do is to make sure Location Services is turned on. You might have skipped this step while setting up your iPhone, or maybe you’ve turned it off to conserve battery life. Once you turn it on, you’ll be able to see every app on your smartphone that has access to your location. It’s up to you to decide which apps you allow to access your location.
Step 1: Go to the Settings app.
Step 2: Select the Privacy option.
Step 3: Choose Location Services.
Step 4: Make sure Location Services is turned on.
How to share your location using iMessage
If you’re having a conversation with a friend, coworker, or family member in iMessage, you can share your current location. This can be extremely helpful if you are meeting a person somewhere and want to keep them informed. Follow these steps to share your location in iMessage with ease:
Step 1: Begin by opening iMessage and navigate to your message thread.
Step 2: Tap the information icon (i) in the upper-right corner.
Step 3: Select Share My Location.
How to share your location in the Contacts app
In addition to sharing a location with someone from the iMessage app, you can choose to share your location by going to the individual in the Contacts app. If you don’t already have a message thread started with a contact, this is an excellent way to share your location. Here’s how you go about the process:
Step 1: Open the Contacts app.
Step 2: Select the contact with whom you want to share your location.
Step 3: Scroll down to Share My Location and select it.
How to share your location using Apple Maps
Are you traveling to a friend or family member’s location? If you use Apple Maps, you can share your location and others can follow your travel progress; this is a great method to avoid “are you here yet” conversations. Here’s how you begin sharing your location in Apple Maps:
Step 1: Open Apple Maps.
Step 2: Tap the blue dot that indicates your device’s location.
Step 3: Tap the blue Share My Location button.
Step 4: Choose the app you want to use to send your location.
Bonus tip: Already following travel directions in Apple Maps? Swipe up on the bottom of the screen and select Share ETA, then choose a contact to share your ETA with during your drive. Once you arrive at your destination, your location will stop broadcasting.
How to share your location using Google Maps
If you’re not a fan of Apple Maps, or simply prefer to use Google Maps, we’ll show you how to share your location within the application. Similarly to Apple Maps, following this process will allow others to follow your travel progress. Here is how you share your location using Google Maps:
Step 1: Open Google Maps.
Step 2: Tap the blue dot that indicates your device’s location, or tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the upper-left corner, and select Share Location.
Step 3: Select Share your location.
Step 4: Choose the app you want to use to send your location.
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