The Messages app on your iPhone lets you connect with loved ones on the go. If you’re working on a project with your friends, you can use the Collaborate feature in the Messages app to get real-time updates on everything that’s going on.
Also, when you want your friends or family to stay updated on your whereabouts, you can share your live location using the Messages app on your iPhone. This article explains how to share your live location using Apple Maps and Google Maps in the Messages app on your iPhone.
Use Messages app on iPhone to share live location
Apple Maps is your iPhone’s default navigation app, and Apple has integrated it into the Messages app. So, the first method to share your live location using the Messages app on your iPhone is the built-in Apple Maps feature.
Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2nd step: Select the contact you want to share your live location with. You can also tap the New message icon in the upper right corner and select a contact.
Step 3: Tap your contact’s name at the top.
Step 4: Tap Share my current location.
Your iPhone will share your current location with your contact through the Messages app. When the contact clicks on your current location tile, it opens the Apple Maps app.
How to share live location for specific duration
You can also choose to share your live location using the Messages app on your iPhone for a specific duration. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2nd step: Select the contact you want to share your live location with. You can also tap the New message icon in the upper right corner and select a contact.
Step 3: Tap your contact’s name at the top.
Step 4: Tap Share My Location.
Step 5: Select how long your live location is shared with your contact.
Your live location will be accessible to your contact for a duration that you choose.
Use Google Maps in Messages app to share live location
If you keep Google Maps instead of Apple Maps as your default navigation app, you can also share your live location using Google Maps in the Messages app. The iMessage service allows you to share content from various apps with your contacts, including your live location using Google Maps.
So you need to check if Google Maps has been activated as an iMessage app on your iPhone.
Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2nd step: Select the contact you want to share your live location with.
Step 3: Swipe right on the apps list above the keyboard and tap More.
Step 4: Tap Edit in the top left corner.
Step 5: Scroll down and tap the toggle next to Google Maps to enable it as an iMessage app.
Step 6: Tap Done in the top left corner to confirm.
Step 7: Tap Done in the upper right corner to confirm again.
After adding the app, here’s how to use it to share your live location.
Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2nd step: Select the contact you want to share your live location with. You can also tap the New message icon in the upper right corner and select a contact.
Step 3: Swipe right on the app list above the keyboard and tap Google Maps.
Step 4: Tap Send your current location.
You can also tap Share your location in real time for 1 hour.
Step 5: Tap the Arrow icon to send the message and share your location.
If you think you sent the wrong location to your contact, you can unsend the message on your iPhone.
Share Live Location
You don’t need to leave the Messages app and share your live location with your contacts. You can do this directly in the app using both Apple Maps and Google Maps. If you have created a group chat in the Messages app, you can share your live location to direct your friends to a location in time.
Sometimes you may accidentally end up deleting some messages. Amid the deluge of messages you receive daily from banks, businesses, and advertisers, you may want to delete some important messages from friends and family. If this sounds familiar, you can read our article on the best ways to recover deleted messages on your iPhone.