How to share your location using iPhone

Smartphones may mean you never have to ask for directions, but it can still be difficult to convey your location at any given time to friends and family trying to find you. iPhone users can share their current location using Messages, Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Apple’s Find My app. While Apple makes it easiest to share locations with other iPhone users, there are a number of ways to send your location to someone who also uses an Android device. In the steps below, we’ve covered four different methods, as well as how to share from your Mac and how to stop sharing your location when you need to.

How to share your location using Messages

This may be the easiest method since you’re probably already messaging the person you want to share your location with. To send a message to someone where you are, follow these steps:

1. Open a conversation in Messages and tap the recipient’s name/picture at the top of the screen.

2. Tap “Send my current location”.

3. A map thumbnail of your location will instantly appear in your conversation.

If your recipient has an iPhone and they tap the map, an information screen will open with the option to get directions using Apple Maps. If your recipient does not have an iPhone, they will receive a link to Apple Maps that will open in their browser.

If you want to share your location for a longer period of time.

1. Tap your recipient’s name/picture in your Messages conversation.

2. Tap “Share my location”.

3. Choose “Share for an hour”, “Share for the rest of the day”, or “Share indefinitely” (which remains active until you turn off sharing).

4. They will get a notification that you are sharing your location with them and you will be added to their Find My app.

Just remember that this only works with other iPhone users.

How to quickly share your home address in Messages

If your address is saved under your own contact, you can send your home address through Messages by typing the words “my address is” and Messages will automatically prompt you to fill in your home address. This will also send your address as a link to your recipient. can tap to open their default map application.

How to share your location using the Find My app

Find My lets you find your Apple devices as well as other iPhone users. The app is a combination of two previous Apple offerings, Find My iPhone and Find My Friends. As you might expect, this also only works with other iPhone users.

1. Tap the Find My app from your home screen.

2. Click People at the bottom left.

3. Tap the + sign at the top of the contact list.

4. Select “Share my location” from the pop-up window.

5. Enter the name of the person you want to share your location with. Note that only your contacts with iPhones or email addresses will appear.

6. Tap the contact’s name and tap send. Choose whether you want to share for an hour, the rest of the day, or indefinitely until you turn off location sharing.

7. You will get a popup saying you have started sharing your location and your recipient will get a notification that you have shared your location and your information will appear in their Find My app.

A note about satellite location sharing

Currently, all iPhone 14 models have the ability to both send messages to emergency services and share your location when you’re outside cellular coverage areas. That means you can send your location through the Find My app even when you’re offline. You can read more about limitations and other factors in Apple’s press release.

How to share your location using Family Sharing

Family Sharing is an Apple service that lets you share things like subscriptions, media purchases, and photo albums with up to five members of your family. It’s also another way to let your family know where you are.

1. Go to Settings, then tap your Apple ID, iCloud+, Media & Purchases at the top.

2. Click on Family Sharing.

3. From the list, select the friends or family members you want to use Family Sharing with (note that Family Sharing only works with other iPhones).

4. Tap the blue arrow to send. Your recipients will receive a text invitation to join Family Sharing.

5. When sharing with someone, you can turn on Location Sharing at the bottom of the Family Sharing menu (Settings > Apple ID > Family Sharing).

6. At the bottom of the screen, tap Location Sharing.

7. You will see an information panel about Family Sharing and your location. Click on “Share location”.

8. The next time you tap Location Sharing from the Family Sharing menu, you’ll be taken to a screen that lets you turn location sharing on and off.

9. People connected to you through Family Sharing (provided you have location sharing enabled) will be able to see you in the Find My app and in your Messages profile panel.

How to share your location with Google Maps

You can also share your location directly from the apps that many people use for navigation. To send a location using Google Maps, you must sign in to your Google Account in the Maps app. Once signed in, follow these steps to start location sharing:

1. Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone.

2. Tap your account picture in the upper right corner.

3. Tap Location sharing.

4. You will see a location information panel. Click the Share Location button.

5. From here you can choose to share with your contacts from Google by selecting the duration and the icon of the person you want to share with. Your recipient will receive a Google Maps notification (provided they have Google Maps installed and notifications are enabled for that app). They will also receive an email with a link to view your location on Google Maps.

6. Alternatively, you can click More options under your contacts to share your location with a link.

7. You will see a popup asking if you want to share the link. Click Share.

8. Choose from the suggested contacts (the small icon at the bottom right of each contact’s image indicates which method will be used to send the link). Or select an app, such as Messages or Gmail, to open those apps and enter your contact information.

9. Your contact will receive a link using the method you chose. When they tap the link, it will take them to the Google Maps app (if installed) or to Google Maps in the browser.

How to share your location with Apple Maps

If you prefer to use Apple Maps for navigation, here’s how to use the app to send your location data:

1. Open Apple Maps

2. Tap the arrowhead icon to center the map on your current location.

3. Swipe up on the panel in the lower half of the screen.

4. Scroll down to “Share my location” and tap.

5. From the suggestions menu, select the person you want to share your location with, or select an app, such as Messages or Mail. If you want, you can add a comment and click the blue send arrow.

6. If you choose to send via Messages, your recipient will receive a map thumbnail of your location. If they tap on it, it will open their Apple Maps app. If they don’t have Apple Maps, your location will be displayed using Apple Maps in their browser.

How to share your location with a Mac

1. Click Launchpad from the Dock.

2. Open the Find My app.

3. Tap “Share my location” in the bottom left corner.

4. Enter the name of the person you want to share with. Like Find My on iPhone, Find My on Mac can only share your location with other Apple devices.

5. Your recipient will receive a notification that you have shared your location and your information will appear in their Find My app.

Troubleshooting location sharing

If you’re having trouble sharing your location, make sure Location Services is turned on for the app you want to use.

1. Go to Settings.

2. Click Privacy & Security.

3. Click on Location Services.

4. Make sure Location Services is turned on.

5. Make sure the app you want to use is set to “In Use”.

How to stop sharing your location

If you’ve been sharing your location with Find My, Family Sharing, or Google Maps for a while, you can stop sharing at any time. If you’ve shared a one-time link to your location through the link option in Messages, Apple Maps, or Google Maps, you can’t undo that action, just like you can’t unsend a text or email.

1. Find through meOpen the Find My app and tap the name of the person you want to stop sharing with. Pull up on their dashboard and tap Stop sharing my location.

2. Through Family ExchangeOpen Family Sharing by opening Settings and clicking your Apple ID panel at the top of the Settings menu. Click “Family Sharing,” then “Location Sharing,” and turn off “Automatically share location.”

3. Via Google MapsOpen the Google Maps app and tap your profile picture in the top right. Tap Location sharing. You’ll see a list of people you’ve shared with. Tap the person you want to stop sharing with, then tap the Stop button at the bottom of the screen.