Whether it’s through Google Maps or Emergency SOS, there are plenty of ways to quickly let your loved ones know where you are. Photograph: Apple Whether you are visiting a friend for the first time or meeting up with a family member in the city, a little navigational help might prove useful. Sometimes you want to go further than sharing a specific spot and need to share your position with someone for an extended period of time. Well, there are several easy ways to share your location using your smartphone. Here's how. Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day. Table of Contents
How to Share Your Location Using Google Maps There is an advantage to Google tracking you through your phone: It’s easy to share your location with friends and family, especially since it's the most popular mapping app in the world. There’s a simple method built into Google Maps, and it works on both Android and iOS devices. Photograph: Simon Hill via Google Maps
You can review the list of people you are sharing your location with on that same Location sharing tab, and you will see their profile picture on the map if they are also sharing their location with you. To stop sharing or to get directions to their location, tap on the profile picture or their name listed at the bottom. How to Share Your Location Using Find My If you and the people you want to share your location with are using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, then the Find My app is the easiest way to do it. Here’s how: Photograph: Apple
You can stop sharing your location on the same People tab by tapping on the relevant person and choosing Stop Sharing My Location. You can quickly stop sharing with everyone by selecting the Me tab and turning off Share My Location. How to Share Your Location Using Facebook Messenger If you are already chatting to the person or group you want to send your location to in Facebook's popular Messenger app, then you can share your location right there without exiting it. This works on Android and iOS. Photograph: Facebook
How to Share Your Location Using WhatsApp If the person or people you want to share with use WhatsApp, it’s easy to share your location with them. This is available on both Android and iOS. Photograph: Simon Hill via WhatsApp
How to Use Emergency SOS on an iPhone Apple's iPhone has a feature called Emergency SOS. When triggered, it sends a text message and shares your location with your emergency contacts.
It might be a good idea to try this when you set it up (and give your emergency contacts a heads-up) so you know exactly how it works. How to Use Emergency Sharing on Android Unfortunately, the emergency options for sharing your location differ from manufacturer to manufacturer with Android phones. You can usually hold down the power button to access emergency information or an emergency mode. On most Android phones:
Samsung phones offer something called SOS Messages. Here's how to set it up:
Google Pixel phones have an Emergency SOS function enabled in the Personal Safety app. Here's how to use it:
Remember to check who you are sharing your location with every now and then. If you're sharing your location regularly for safety reasons, you might want to read our guide, The Best Personal Safety Devices, Apps, and Alarms. More Great WIRED Stories
Simon Hill has been writing about tech for more than a decade. He is a regular contributor to WIRED, but you can also find his work at Business Insider, Reviewed, TechRadar, Android Authority, USA Today, Digital Trends, and many other places. Before writing, he worked in games development. He lives... Read more How do I see a person's shared location?When someone shares their location with you, you can find them on your map.. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .. Tap your profile picture or initial. Location sharing.. Tap the profile of the person you want to find. To update the person's location: Tap on a friend's icon More. Refresh.. Why can't I see a shared location on iPhone?Before you can use the Find My app to share your location with friends, you need to set up location sharing. Note: If you set up location sharing and others still can't see your location, make sure Location Services is on in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Find My.
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