Google is rolling out a new real time location sharing feature in Google Messages, powered by Find Hub. This update makes it easier to let friends, family, or colleagues track your location directly in the chat, offering more flexibility and safety for on the go coordination.
How Real Time Location Sharing Works
The new feature is found in the Attachments plus menu, where the previous “Location” option has been updated to “Real time location” with a dedicated icon. Google is keeping the old One time Location option, which sends a static Google Maps link.
Once you select Real time location, you can choose the sharing duration and send a dynamic location card that appears directly in the message thread. Options include:
- 1 Hour: Share your location for one hour from the moment you start sharing.
- Today Only: Keep your location visible until the end of the current day.
- Until You Turn This Off: Share continuously until you manually stop sharing.
- Custom Duration: Set a specific time period, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
Stopping location sharing is simple; you can tap the location card in the thread. Recipients can also share back from the same message for easy coordination. For users who prefer central control, all location sharing settings can also be managed via Google Maps or Find Hub.
Early Access and Rollout
This feature is already appearing for some beta users, and Google has published a support article outlining the functionality. While there’s no official global rollout date yet, the documentation suggests a swift expansion to more users soon.
Privacy and Security Considerations
End-to-end encryption in Google Messages ensures that chat content remains private and readable only by the participants. However, Find Hub location sharing relies on Google Maps services to function. This means that location data is processed according to Google’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Users should be aware that while real-time location is convenient, it is handled differently from encrypted messages and is subject to Google’s location processing policies.
Why This Matters
Real time location sharing improves safety and coordination in daily life. Whether meeting friends in a crowded area, sharing your commute details, or tracking family members, this feature makes it easy to stay connected without repeatedly sending static locations.
The multiple duration options offer flexibility, letting users control how long their location is visible and ensuring privacy remains a priority. Combined with Google Maps and Find Hub integration, this rollout represents a significant enhancement to the Google Messages experience.
Bottom Line
With real time location sharing, Google Messages becomes more than just a texting app; it’s now a practical tool for safe, precise, and convenient coordination. Users can track and share locations dynamically, control the duration of sharing, and manage everything from both the chat thread and Google Maps.
As Google continues to expand this feature, it’s expected to reach all users in the near future, bringing smarter, safer communication to Android users worldwide.
