To share your location on iPhone through a text message, open the conversation in Messages, tap the person’s name at the top, choose Send My Current Location or Share My Location, and pick a duration. No separate app is needed.
This works inside any existing text thread, including group chats, and does not require the other person to have an iPhone.
Sending a one-time location in Messages
Open the conversation, tap the contact name or group name at the top of the screen, then tap Info. Under the location section, tap Send My Current Location to drop your current spot into the chat as a single message.
This is the fastest option when someone just needs to know where you are right now, like when you are running late to meet up. It sends once and does not update afterward.
Sharing live location for a set time
From that same Info screen, tap Share My Location instead, then choose One Hour, Until End of Day, or Indefinitely. Your location updates in real time on the recipient’s end for the duration you picked.
This is the better choice for road trips, meetups, or letting a parent track a commute, since the pin moves as you do rather than freezing at one point.
Sharing location through a plain text message
If you would rather send a location without opening the Info panel, you can also type a location directly. Tap the plus button in the message bar, choose Location if available, or simply drop a pin from Maps and share it into the conversation.
Recipients on Android see a clickable map link instead of the native iOS bubble, but the pin still opens correctly in their default maps app. For a broader look at how iPhone location sharing behaves across contacts, see our guide on how to share your location on iPhone without oversharing your whole day.
Stopping location sharing
To stop, go back to the same conversation’s Info screen and tap Stop Sharing My Location. This only affects that one person or group, so other active shares continue unaffected.
If you shared indefinitely and forget to check, your battery usage may tick up slightly from background location services, so it is worth reviewing active shares occasionally in Settings under Privacy and Security.
If you are also troubleshooting related iPhone features, our guides on screen recording on iPhone and fixing AirPods that will not pair cover other common everyday snags.
Frequently asked questions
Can I share my location through text with someone who has an Android phone?
Yes. They will receive a map link instead of the native iOS location bubble, but tapping it opens the location correctly in their default maps app.
Does sharing my location through text drain my battery?
A live share running for hours uses more battery than a one-time send, since your phone keeps updating GPS in the background. A one-time location share has almost no impact.
Will the other person know when I stop sharing my location?
Yes. Once you tap Stop Sharing My Location, their view of your live location simply stops updating, and the shared pin disappears from the conversation.
