Discover how location sharing keeps you connected to the people who matter most - from letting you know that your loved ones are safe to making it easier to meet up with friends in a crowded location.
Location sharing gives you peace of mind.
Find Hub is an Android core feature that helps you keep track of the people and things that matter - all in one place. One helpful feature within Find Hub is location sharing. Whether you want to make sure a loved one made it home safely, or you’re coordinating a Friday night meetup with friends, location sharing is a convenient tool that reduces stress and gives you peace of mind. When using this feature, you have complete control over who sees your location and for how long. And this goes for those who share their location with you as well.
How can someone share their location with you?
One of the best things about location sharing is knowing that the people who matter most in your life are safe and sound. Android’s location tools offer an extra layer of reassurance and connection, making it easy to see that your loved ones made it to their destination without having to send countless messages back and forth.
Location sharing requests
If you want to be able to see where someone is at any given moment, you can initiate a location sharing request to them directly by sending a text. This is often the fastest way to get a "live" update on their location:
- In your message thread, simply ask, "Can you share your location?"
- This triggers a "Share Location" chip to appear in the suggestion bar of their phone’s keyboard. Once they tap that chip, you’ll receive a secure Find Hub link.
- Just tap the Find Hub link to see their live location on your map. No setup required on your end.
How to make location sharing ongoing
If you have a close family member or partner you check in with frequently, you can avoid having to repeat the request process each time by setting up ongoing location sharing. This ensures that you can see where they are at any time without them needing to send a new link. Here’s how you do it:
- In Find Hub, tap the "+" and select "Request location" to send a link to your loved one.
- When they open your link, they’ll be taken directly to the sharing screen.
- Ask them to select “Until you turn this off” so you can stay connected indefinitely. This saves them from having to find menus or settings manually.
Share your location with friends and family so they know you’re safe.
Location sharing is also helpful when you’re on the move and want to share your whereabouts with friends and family, so they know you’re okay.
Let's say you went out with friends and you want to let your partner know you’re safely on your way home in a ride share. Instead of sending constant updates, you can use live location sharing in Find Hub. This sends a link that updates your position as you move, cutting out any guesswork. Your partner receives a notification and can see your icon moving on their on-screen map in real-time.
As mentioned above, you can also set this location sharing to be ongoing, so your partner receives the same notification every day. For instance, it could automatically let your partner know every time you arrive home from work. No check-ins needed.
Effortless meetups: How to use location sharing for your social plans.
When you’re trying to meet up with friends, it's helpful for everyone to know one another’s location at any given moment. Sending someone your location is easy with the Find Hub features already built into your Android phone.
Share your live location within Google Messages
Sometimes you just need to quickly send someone a precise location. Let’s say you’re trying to find your friends in a busy train station, a crowded cafe, or out in front of the arena before a concert. Location sharing in Google Messages uses the power of Rich Communication Services (RCS) to send your information instantly mid-chat, while the Find Hub network ensures your location stays accurate and up-to-date in real-time. Sharing your live location in Messages is easy:
- Open your conversation in the Google Messages app
- If you’re not already in a conversation, just find your contact and click on the "Messages" icon
- Tap the plus “+” icon on the left side of the text box
- Choose “Location” from the menu to instantly send a map showing your current, live position
In case you did not share your live location on your way to the meetup and want to tell your friends you arrived, you can also send a simple "I'm here" ping without exiting from your chat in Google Messages.
Stay connected and confident.
Android offers a full spectrum of location sharing tools designed for every part of your life. By understanding how to use location sharing, you can rest assured that your loved ones are safe, offer them that same peace of mind about your safety, and easily find friends in a crowd. Find Hub helps you stay connected with the people who matter most.