You can enable location sharing on iPhone and iPad through Find My, and on Android through Google Location Sharing in your device’s Settings.
Sharing your location with friends, family, or coworkers is straightforward once you know where to look. The exact steps differ between Apple and Android devices, and each platform has its own prerequisites. Here’s how to enable location sharing on iPhone, iPad, and Android phones, including what to do if it stops working.
What Do You Need Before Enabling Location Sharing?
Before location sharing will work, both Apple and Android require that location services be turned on and that the device has an active internet connection. Additional prerequisites vary by platform, so check the table for your device.
| Requirement | iPhone / iPad | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Location services enabled | Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services | Settings > Location > Use location |
| Active internet connection | Wi‑Fi or cellular data | Wi‑Fi or mobile data |
| Apple ID / Google account | Apple ID signed in to iCloud | Google account signed in |
| Find My app (Apple only) | Pre‑installed; must be on | N/A |
| Google Location Sharing (Android only) | N/A | Find Hub must be turned on (part of Google Play Services) |
| Contact permission (optional) | Not required, but needed to share with a specific contact | Required in Maps to see your contact list |
| “Allow all the time” location (for real‑time sharing) | Not required for basic sharing | Recommended for real‑time updates in Maps |
Enabling Location Sharing on iPhone & iPad
On an iPhone or iPad, location sharing is controlled through the Find My app. Open Find My, tap the Me tab, then turn on Share My Location. If that option is missing, first enable Location Services in Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Open Find My on your device.
- Tap Me at the bottom, then toggle Share My Location on.
- If you want to share from a different device you own (say, your iPhone instead of your iPad), tap Use This iPhone as My Location.
- To share with a person: go to the People tab, tap +, choose Share My Location, enter a contact, and select the sharing duration.
- You can also manage sharing from Settings > [your name] > Find My.
Once set up, the device that’s sharing your location appears next to Sharing From in Find My. To stop sharing with someone, go to the People tab, tap the person, and choose Stop Sharing My Location.
Enabling Location Sharing on Android
Android uses Google Location Sharing, which is built into Google apps like Maps and Messages. Open Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Sharing, then choose who to share with. Location Sharing is off by default and won’t appear until you start sharing through one of the supported apps.
- Make sure Use location is turned on in Settings > Location.
- Go to Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Sharing.
- Tap the list of people you already share with, or start a new share from Maps.
- In Google Maps, tap your profile picture > Location sharing > New share > choose a contact and duration.
- For real‑time sharing, grant Maps the “Allow all the time” location permission when prompted.
To stop sharing with a specific person, return to Google Location Sharing, find the person, and tap Stop. To pause all location updates, turn off Use Location Sharing in the same menu.
Sharing with Family Groups
Both Apple and Google offer family‑focused sharing that makes it easy to see each other’s locations automatically.
- Apple Family Sharing: On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Family > Location Sharing and choose family members under Share Your Location With. You can turn on Automatically Share Location for new members.
- Google Family Link: If you manage a family group, location sharing can be set from the Family Link app. Family members must have a Google account and accept the invitation to share.
Why Isn’t My Location Sharing Working?
The most common reason location sharing fails is that location services are turned off, or the required app permissions are too limited. Check each prerequisite first, then look for the specific issue below.
| Issue | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Share My Location is grayed out on iPhone | Location Services are disabled | Enable Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services |
| No option to share on Android | Google Location Sharing not turned on, or Find Hub inactive | Open Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Sharing and verify Find Hub is on |
| Real‑time location not updating in Maps | Location permission set to “While using the app” instead of “Allow all the time” | Change permission in Settings > Apps > Maps > Permissions > Location to Allow all the time |
| Family sharing not working | Family group not set up or invitation not accepted | Go to Settings > Family (iOS) or Family Link (Android) and confirm all members are added |
| Can’t share from the device I want | Wrong sharing source selected | In Find My (iPhone), tap Me and choose Use This iPhone as My Location |
| Sharing stops after a few hours | Duration set to a limited time | When sharing, choose Share Indefinitely (on Android) or select a longer duration |
| Contact can’t see my location | They haven’t accepted the sharing request | Send a new invitation or check that they have the required app (Find My or Google Maps) |
If you’ve checked all the above and sharing still won’t work, try restarting your device or signing out of your Apple ID/Google account and signing back in.
Location Sharing in a Nutshell
Enable Location Services on your phone, then open the platform’s sharing tool (Find My for Apple, Google Location Sharing for Android), choose a contact, and decide how long to share. That’s all it takes. Stop sharing anytime from the same menu.
References & Sources
- Apple. “Share your location with Find My on iPhone.” Official guide for enabling and managing location sharing on iPhone and iPad.
- Google. “Manage your Location Sharing settings.” Official Android support page for Google Location Sharing prerequisites and steps.