How to Share Live Location with Someone in iMessage on iPhone

Aug. 27, 2021



Sharing your live location comes in handy when you want your family and friends to stay updated with your estimated time of arrival. Besides, real-time location sharing can also help you keep tabs on the whereabouts of your kid. Thanks to the seamless integration with Apple Maps, you can easily share your live location with someone in iMessage on your iPhone. And in case you aren’t a fan of the stocknavigation app for iOS, it’s now possible to share your live location usingGoogle Mapsvia iMessage on iPhone. So, let me help you set up real-time location sharing in iMessage.

Live location sharing in iMessage has existed for several years on iPhone. So, even if you are running an older version of iOS, you can still use this feature. As for Google Maps, it recently got an update to allow live location sharing through iMessage. It’s worth pointing out that live location sharing was already available within the Google Maps app (tap on theblue dot -> Share Your Location).

To make location sharing a convenient affair, Google has added a coollive location sharing widgetfor its popular navigation app in iMessage. So, the next time you want to update your friends about your ETA, bring up the Google Maps widget within iMessage itself. Pretty cool, isn’t it?

  1. First, ensure that you have enabled “Share My Location” in the Find My setting on your device. To do that, head over toSettings -> Apple ID -> Find My. Now, toggle on the “Share My Location” option.

  2. Make sure the Messages app has access to your location. Open the Settings app and navigate toPrivacy -> Location Services -> Messages. For a seamless live location sharing experience, select the “While Using the App” option under the “Allow Location Access” section. Besides, make sure that the “Precise Location” toggle is turned on.

If you are an Apple Maps user, let’s take a look at how you can share your real-time location with friends and family in iMessage.

  1. Launch theMessagesapp on your iPhone and select the preferred conversation thread.

  2. Next, tap on thename of the personat the top.

  3. Then, tap the “Share My Location” option on the contact details page.

  4. Now, you have three options to choose from:

  5. Select the duration you are most comfortable with. In the end, also make sure to tap on “Done”at the top right corner.

  6. That’s it! You have successfully started sharing your live location via iMessage on your iPhone. Now, you want to stop sharing your live location at any time. Just follow the same steps as above to reach the contacts page and tap “Stop Sharing My Location“. Do not forget to hit “Done” at the top right corner to confirm the change.

  7. Since the real-time location sharing widget is available in the latest version of the Google Maps app, make sure you have updated the navigation app. To do so, open the App Store on your iPhone, tap on yourprofile pictureat the top right. Here, find Google Maps and then tap Update. If no update is available, you will see an “Open” button next to it.

  8. Also, ensure that Google Maps has access to your location. Navigate toSettings -> Privacy -> Location Services -> Google Maps. Now, select “Always” to let the app access your location without any restriction. Besides, make sure that Google Maps can access yourprecise locationfor a better location-sharing experience.

  9. Now, open the Messages app and jump into a conversation thread. You shouldsee Google Maps in the app drawerabove the keyboard.

Just in case Google Maps is missing from the app drawer, swipe from right to left on the app drawer to access the “More” button. Then, tap on the “Edit” button at the top left corner on the next page andtoggle on the switch next to Google Maps. Tap on the “Done” button at the top left to finish.

  1. Next, selectGoogle Mapsfrom the app drawer in iMessage on your iPhone. Then, tap the “Share your real-time location for 1-hour”option. Write a message (optional) and hit the send button.

That’s pretty much it! You are now sharing your live location using Google Maps in the iMessage app. Do note that anyone with this link can view your live location.

  1. You can stop Google Maps from sharing your real-time location at your own will. To do so, open the conversation thread in question in the Messages app on your iOS device. Now, wait for a few seconds until the location sharing widget has refreshed. After that, tap on the “Stop” button.

Share Real-Time Location Using iMessage on iPhone

Share Real-Time Location Using iMessage on iPhone

That’s pretty it! So that’s the easiest way to share your live location using Apple Maps and Google Maps in iMessage on iPhone. It’s always better to have multiple options at your disposal so that you can pick the preferred one. Plus, it’s great that Google Maps finally released an iMessage widget to make live location sharing more convenient. With that said, go check out otheriMessage tips and tricksvia the linked article. And if you have any queries and feedback, do let us know in the comments section below.

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

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