Google Maps rolls out WhatsApp-like live location feature; here’s what you should know

Google has been in the headlines for introducing a plethora of user-friendly updates to its apps lately. While some were relatively minor (read: Google Maps changing colour), a lot of them were more significant and crafted especially for the holiday season.

In a more recent update, Google has brought forth a new navigation feature that enables users to share live location updates with their trusted contacts. This location-share feature will also be closer to what instant messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram have to offer.

Google Maps live location sharing: What's new?

Google Maps already has a built-in feature that allows you to share your real-time location with your loved ones. However, now, you will additionally be able to share a live link with your contacts for them to track you for as long as you like. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open the Google Maps app on your smartphone
Step 2: Tap on your profile photo icon located in the top right corner; select the location sharing in the menu
Step 3: Once you do, tap on the share location option to choose a custom time for the activity. Generate a sharable link
Step 4: When you’re done travelling, you can always head back into this menu to stop sharing your location

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However, a key point to note is that this feature can now be shared across apps and is not restricted to Google Maps. This means that you can further share these links across conversation and instant messaging apps. Apart from this, it can also work with your location history disabled.