Sharing your location indefinitely from an iPhone to an Android device is useful for keeping friends and family updated on your whereabouts. With some simple settings adjustments on both devices, you can share your real-time location for as long as you want.
Requirements for Location Sharing between iPhone and Android
To set up indefinite location sharing between an iPhone and Android device, you’ll need:
- An iPhone running iOS 13 or later
- An Android device running Android 10 or later
- Both devices need to have location services/GPS enabled
- Both devices need to be connected to WiFi or cellular data
- The iPhone user needs to have an Apple ID
- The Android user needs to have a Google account
As long as both devices meet these requirements, you can share your real-time location between an iPhone and Android device until you manually turn the sharing off.
Enable Location Sharing on the iPhone
On the iPhone, open the Find My app and follow these steps:
- Tap the People tab at the bottom
- Tap the + icon in the top right corner
- Search for and select the contact you want to share with
- Tap Get Started
- Tap Share My Location
- Choose Share Indefinitely
The contact will now receive a request to view your location. As long as they accept the request on their Android device, they’ll be able to see your real-time location until you stop sharing.
Accept Location Sharing Request on Android
On the Android device, open the Google Maps app and follow these steps:
- Tap the hamburger menu icon in the top left
- Tap Location Sharing
- Accept the share request from your iPhone contact
- Tap Share Location to confirm sharing your location too (optional)
Once you accept the share request, you’ll be able to view their location and they’ll be able to view yours indefinitely until one person stops sharing.
Stop Location Sharing
When you want to stop sharing your location, just follow these simple steps:
On iPhone:
- Open the Find My app
- Tap People at the bottom
- Tap the contact you’re sharing with
- Tap Stop Sharing My Location
On Android:
- Open Google Maps
- Tap the hamburger menu
- Tap Location sharing
- Tap the contact you’re sharing with
- Tap Stop sharing
Once you stop sharing on either device, the real-time location updates will end. The contact will no longer be able to view your location.
Location Sharing Precautions
While location sharing can be convenient, there are some precautions you should keep in mind:
- Only share indefinitely with trusted contacts
- Be aware that location can reveal home/work addresses
- Know that location is shared even when the app isn’t open
- Battery life may drain faster while sharing location
- Review your shared contacts occasionally
- Turn off sharing if you no longer want someone to view your location
As long as you are careful about who you share with and are aware of privacy concerns, indefinite location sharing can give you peace of mind that loved ones can check your location when needed.
Troubleshooting Indefinite Location Sharing
If you’re having issues getting indefinite location sharing set up between your iPhone and Android device, try these troubleshooting tips:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Can’t find contact to share with | Make sure contact is using Apple ID/Google account on their device |
| Contact not receiving share request | Confirm cellular data/WiFi is enabled on their device |
| Location not updating | Check GPS is enabled on both devices |
| Location inaccurate | Restart both devices and relaunch apps |
| Battery draining fast | Lower location accuracy in settings or stop sharing |
If issues persist, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the Find My and Google Maps apps. As a last resort, you can do a factory reset on either device, but only if no other troubleshooting works.
FAQs about Indefinite Location Sharing
Is there a range limit for location sharing?
No, there is no range limit. As long as both devices have an internet connection, your locations can be shared indefinitely regardless of the distance between you.
Do both people need to share their location?
No, only one person needs to share their location. The other person can see the shared location without reciprocating if they want.
Can I share my location with multiple people?
Yes, you can share your indefinite location with multiple contacts on iPhone and Android devices simultaneously.
Will location sharing work abroad?
Yes, location can be shared between countries as long as both devices have data roaming enabled.
Can authorities/police view my shared location without permission?
No, only the contacts you explicitly share your location with can view it. It is not accessible to authorities or third parties without consent.
Key Takeaways
- Enable location sharing in Find My app on iPhone, accept request in Google Maps on Android
- Stop sharing at any time by tapping contact and selecting “Stop Sharing”
- Share selectively for privacy, limit battery drain
- Troubleshoot by restarting devices, reinstalling apps, or factory resetting as last resort
- No range limits and works abroad with data roaming enabled
Sharing your location indefinitely between an iPhone and Android device is easy and secure. With just a few taps, you can give your friends and family peace of mind by letting them view your latest location information.
Conclusion
Indefinite location sharing between iPhone and Android provides convenience and security for you and your selected contacts. With just a couple steps of configuration, you can enable persistent location access until you manually turn it off. As long as you understand the privacy considerations and setup instructions, you’ll be able to take advantage of indefinite location sharing to stay connected with your loved ones whenever needed.
