When someone is on the way, a dropped pin only tells you where they were. Live location sharing lets a chosen recipient see updated positions during an active session. My Location supports this on iPhone and Android, with browser links for recipients and a friends option for signed-in users.
This guide focuses on starting, checking, and ending a share. If you only need a fixed meeting point, read how to share a static location safely.
Two live-sharing audiences
- Anyone with the link: create a follow link and send it directly. The recipient can view it in a browser without installing the app or signing in. Guest sharing is available, subject to its time limit. Anyone who receives the link can forward it.
- Friends: sign in, add a friend, and choose whether to share your live position with that person. Each person controls their own sharing; adding a friend does not automatically create a permanent two-way tracking session.
A saved place or shared-map snapshot is a separate option. It describes fixed locations and does not become a live feed when you move.
How to share your live location
- Confirm the position. Open My Location, allow the relevant location permissions, and check that the map has a plausible fix.
- Start live sharing. Choose the link audience or the friends you intend to share with.
- Choose a duration. Select the shortest window that covers the journey. Available choices depend on sign-in status and Pro.
- Send the follow link. For link sharing, use a direct message to the intended recipient. Ask them to open it and check the timestamp.
- Check updates. Movement, connection quality, battery settings, and background permissions affect how often the viewer receives a new position.
- Stop when finished. End the session in the app, or let its selected timer expire. A new journey should have a new sharing decision.
Free durations and longer Pro sessions
The native apps offer 30-minute, 1-hour, and 4-hour choices without Pro. Longer options, including 8 hours and “Until I Stop,” require Pro and are subject to session caps. Guest sessions are limited to four hours; signed-in Pro sessions have a maximum of 24 hours. “Until I Stop” does not mean unlimited permanent sharing.
Starting live sharing from the track-recording screen is a Pro feature. Recording a track and sharing a live point are separate actions: a live viewer sees the current shared point, not your complete recorded route.
What recipients can see
A live share exposes a changing position while active. That is useful for an arrival or meetup, but you should still treat the link as sensitive. Do not assume you can identify everyone who opens a forwarded link. Recipients may save screenshots or remember locations they have already seen.
Ending a session stops further live sharing through that session. It cannot undo information someone already received. Account sync, saved places, and recorded tracks also have their own data behavior; a live share is not a promise that every app feature keeps all data only on your phone.
When live sharing helps
| Situation | How to use it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup at a busy venue | Share briefly while approaching the agreed entrance | GPS accuracy and the entrance name |
| Meetup in a park | Let friends see your changing position | The latest update time |
| Arrival after a trip | Give a trusted contact temporary visibility | Coverage and enough battery for the journey |
| Walk or cycle ride | Choose a bounded session when updates are useful | Recording and live sharing are separate controls |
If the live location stops updating
First check the viewer’s timestamp. On the sharing phone, confirm that the session is still active, the device has internet access, and the app has the required location permissions. Battery-saving settings or operating-system restrictions can delay background updates. Reopen the app to check its status. If contact matters now, send a message or call instead of interpreting a stale dot as current.
Continuous location use can increase battery consumption. For one destination, a static pin may be enough. A live link cannot provide current updates without a working connection.
Friends and optional place alerts
My Location can also request an arrival or departure alert for a friend at a chosen place. The friend must approve it, and alerts only work while that friend is actively sharing live location with the requester. They do not extend a session or create continuous background permission to track someone. Notification permission and delivery also affect whether an alert arrives.
For saved places, collections, GPS tracks, platform differences, and the broader Pro feature list, read the complete My Location app guide. Both app-store links are below.
