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Sharing your location with Google Maps

This short guide is a reference tool to help refresh your knowledge or practise what you have learned in the Sharing your location with Google Maps video course, including:

  • how to share your location with your friends and family
  • how to search for things that are near your location
  • how to save maps offline, for when you don't have an internet connection.

Getting started with Google Maps

This course demonstrates how to share your location using the Google Maps app on an Android phone, and the steps are similar on an iPhone or in a web browser on a computer.

Google Maps needs permission to use your device's location features to update the map as you travel. You can give the app permission in the Settings menu of your mobile device, under Location.

To get the most from Google Maps, you should be signed in to your Android phone and Google Maps with your Google Account.

Sharing your location
When you have Location turned on, and give Google Maps permission to know your location, the app will track the location of your device. You always have the option to turn this off if you don’t want the app to track you anymore.

How to 'drop a pin'

Open the Google Maps app on your device. The map appears centred on your location. To choose a new location to drop a pin on:

  1. Find an area you want to share. It doesn't need to be a specific address, but can be a location.
  2. Tap Search here and enter the location, such as the name of a park.
  3. The map centres on the location. To see more of the map, tap the X in the top right of the information panel.
  4. To drop a pin near or within the location, use two fingers on the screen and slide them apart to zoom in on an area.
  5. Once you’ve selected the area, hold one finger on the spot, then release your finger.
  6. A red icon will appear. This is the dropped pin.

How to use your dropped pin

When you drop a pin, Google Maps offers some options for things you can do with it:

  • Directions shows you instructions for how to get to the dropped pin from your location.
  • Start is a quick way to start navigating to the dropped pin, without showing you a preview of directions first.
  • Save lets you keep a record of this location.
  • Share lets you send the location to a friend or family member.

How to share your dropped pin

When you tap Share to share a dropped pin, your device will open its Share menu. This menu is a little different on every phone, and it depends which apps you have installed.

Here's how to share a dropped pin via an SMS or text message:

  1. Tap the Messages option in the Share menu.
  2. Choose a contact to share the location with, and then tap Next.
  3. A new text message with a link to the location on Google Maps appears.
  4. Tap the Send arrow to send the message to your contact.
  5. Depending on your device you might also see an Add label button.
  6. You can give the dropped pin a name, such as Picnic Spot. Type this in the Enter a custom name box.
  7. The ... More button has some extra options, including downloading this location as an offline map.

How to use 'search near me' to find services

When you search on Google Maps, the results will be from the area that is currently showing on the map. To get search results near your location, add "near me" to the search:

  • For example, tap the Search here bar and type in Public toilets near me. You could also type supermarkets near me or Italian restaurants near me.
  • The list of results will show the closest services that match your description.
  • Tap a result to see a pop up with extra information, such as when the toilets close.

How to use offline maps

You can save an area as an offline map for when your device has no internet connection:

  1. Tap Search here and type in the location, such as Adelaide SA.
  2. The map centres on the location and shows some information in the bottom panel.
  3. Tap the ... More button above the photos. You might need to swipe left to see this button.
  4. Tap Download offline map.
  5. A map with a blue border appears. Pinch with your fingers to zoom in and out on this map.
  6. The closer you zoom in, the less of the map will be downloaded offline.
  7. Tap the Download button and the map downloads in the background.

How to view an offline map

  1. Open the Google Maps app and tap your Profile icon in the top right of the screen:
  2. Find Offline maps in the pop up menu that appears.
  3. Tap it to see a list of maps you have downloaded.
  4. Tap any map to see it full screen on your phone.
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