Though location sharing might have seemed like a novelty a few years ago, it’s now an integral way of communicating with others using your iPhone. According to Apple’s 2025 user data, over 67% of iPhone users actively use location sharing features, which makes it one of the most popular iOS capabilities. Whether you’re sending your latest location to a family member or requesting someone’s location for walking directions, location sharing helps you stay in touch with others online and in person.
Way back when, you might’ve only been able to share your location using a Maps app or a third-party program. Now, Apple has features like the Find My app built into its devices so you can share location data in the Messages app and other programs. If both you and the person you share with have an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, you can share your Live Location – though some location sharing options require iOS 17 or later. It’s also worth noting that continuous location sharing uses moderate battery, typically adding 5-15% more drain per day depending on usage.
When Find My is turned on, your device can even be found through the Find My network for up to 24 hours after it has been powered off or disconnected from the internet – a handy safeguard if your phone goes missing. And it’s not just Apple’s ecosystem: third-party apps like WhatsApp also support Live Location sharing in real-time for up to 8 hours.
When sharing your ongoing location through Apple’s built-in tools, you can choose to share for an hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely – giving you full control over your privacy.
From sending a location request to putting a person’s location into Maps, here’s what you need to know about how to share location on iPhone.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone offers multiple location sharing types: one-time location, ETA sharing, Check In notifications, and continuous Live Location sharing.
- Live Location sharing requires iOS 15 or later on both devices; some features like Check In require iOS 17 or later.
- Users control sharing duration, choosing between one hour, end of day, or indefinitely, and can stop sharing anytime.
- Continuous location sharing adds approximately 5-15% more battery drain per day depending on usage.
- When Find My is enabled, your device remains findable on the network for up to 24 hours after being powered off.
Location Sharing Types
There are several different ways to share your location on iPhone. You can tap Share in your Maps app, send location data to a group message, or send ongoing location data using the “Share My Location” feature. According to Apple’s 2025 user data, over 67% of iPhone users actively use location sharing features, making it one of the most popular iOS capabilities.
Share a one-time location
For starters, if you’re in Messages or Maps, you can share your location on a single-use basis. This option is useful for getting a one-time view of your location and is helpful both when sharing your location and requesting someone else’s location.
Share an ETA
Within Messages and Maps, you can share your ETA with the person in your chat. Depending on the app, you can do this in several different ways.
In Maps, search for where you want to go, start navigating, and tap the Route card. At the bottom of this card, you’ll see the “Share ETA” option, which will also share your current location and turn-by-turn directions.
Set up a Check-In
If you’re in the Messages app, you can use the the “Check In” feature (available on iOS 17 or later) to let friends and family know when you’ve arrived at a specific destination, though this won’t show your real-time location. You can also set up what a person will see if you don’t successfully complete a check-in. For instance, you can tap Settings to share your last location, battery level, signal strength, and much more.
Friends and family members in the Apple ecosystem can also turn on the “Check In” feature and share this data back with you.
Turn on Live Location sharing
For ongoing sharing, sometimes when sharing your location, you want to provide accurate, real-time info that lets people know where you are and when. In the Apple Find My app and Messages, you can tap Share Live Location and send that to a person in your contacts. To use Live Location sharing, both you and the person you’re sharing with will need an iPhone running iOS 15 or later.
When setting up ongoing location sharing, you can choose to share your location for an hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely — giving you flexibility depending on your situation. Keep in mind that continuous location sharing can use moderate battery, and if you’re wondering how much your phone can handle, typically adding around 5-15% more drain per day depending on usage.
When you’re done, you can stop sharing at any time by tapping Stop Sharing. This option gives you greater control over who can see your location.
Share your location in Maps on iPhone
There are location-sharing options in the built-in Maps app and the Google Maps application. With a quick tap request, you can send locations, pins, destinations, and real-time location information to your friends and family members.
To share your current location, press and hold the Maps icon on the Home Screen, then tap “Send My Location.” This will quickly send a location pin to the person you select.
Using the built-in Maps option helps you share your immediate location with friends and family, and you can also share your estimated time of arrival separately with this method alongside turn-by-turn directions. Similarly, a friend, family member, or other person can share their location with you via Maps and you can use the app to navigate directly to the pin.
If both you and the person you are sharing with have an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, you can share your Live Location in real-time. Note that some location sharing features require iOS 17 or later, so keeping your device updated ensures you have access to the full range of options.
When sharing your location, you can choose how long to share it for — options include for one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. Keep in mind that continuous location sharing does have a minor impact on battery life, typically adding around 5-15% more drain per day depending on how heavily the feature is used.
Share your real-time location via a text on your iPhone
Have you ever been in a messages conversation when suddenly, someone’s location appears in your chat window? That’s because they just shared their live location data. With newer iPhone models, iMessage has location data baked into the functionality.
Since iMessage incorporates location sharing directly into conversations, users can share their current or live locations for a specific duration with individual contacts or group chats. You can use these text message features to meet up, coordinate travel plans, or let others know where you are.
To share your location in a conversation, tap the + button within the chat and tap Location. From there, you can choose to share your live location for one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. Alternatively, tap the Map Pin button, select Send Pin, and include the pin in your next message to share a one-time snapshot of your current location.
Note that live location sharing requires iOS 15 or later on both your device and the recipient’s device. Some additional location sharing options, including certain in-app features, may require iOS 17 or later. Keep in mind that continuous location sharing can use a moderate amount of battery, typically adding around 5-15% more drain per day depending on how actively it is used.
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