When anxious moms start calling their children incessantly, asking where they are, this often leads to protests and arguments. The same goes for girlfriends, boyfriends, and older relatives.
Wanting to know each other’s location is normal: it creates a sense of safety that’s essential in the dangerous world where risks of all kinds seem to be waiting behind each corner. A lot of people are willing to share their whereabouts with their loved ones. The question is, how to do that?
Location Sharing Options on Both iPhone and Android
You can track any person regardless of whether they use an iPhone or Android. Let’s review the available options that work for both types of devices at the same time.
Personal Phone Tracking
Most people look for someone’s location for personal reasons, such as anxiety over their safety or the need to check in. One of the best ways to find a person you want is to use a number tracker that works on both Android and iOS. You don’t need to turn any special features on for this: it’s enough to create your account and send a location request. You’ll receive the information right away, and from that point on, you’ll know where your loved one is at this specific moment.
Here are the perks of this method:
- It’s perfectly legal to use number trackers because they require an agreement from the person you’re looking for, non-verbal as it is.
- Specifically, a person has to click on the link you send them. If they do, you’ll see where they are.
- Depending on the tracker you choose, there is no need to install anything. All you need is the phone number of the person whose location you want.
- You don’t need to know the phone model; trackers work for Android and iOS of all versions.
It takes about two minutes for quality scanners to retrieve the location you’re searching for and send it to you.
App Tracking
You can also share your location and get someone’s location in return via specific apps. It’s likely that you’re already using them on iOS or Android, so you won’t need to download anything new. Here are some examples:
- Taxi apps. When someone calls a cab and feels worried about their safety, they can easily share their ride with you right through the app.
- WhatsApp. Open a chat with the person whose location you need, tap Location, and click Share Live Location. Choose the duration, and invite this person to do the same.
- Facebook. Messenger works in a similar way. Ask a person to tap Location-Share Live Location button, and watch where they are in real time.
- Snapchat. Tell your loved one to swipe down on the camera screen and open Snap Map. From there on, they can share their location with you.
The only drawback of these methods is that the location they find might not be as accurate and specific as the location provided by specialized trackers.
iPhone-Exclusive Tracking
In summer 2026, more than 58% of free iOS apps confirmed that they collect personal data of their users. A lot of people don’t read terms and conditions, so they have no idea someone is using their private information; when they do find out, they feel furious.
Consent is important, and the good news is, if you receive it openly, you don’t need to come up with some novel ways to track someone’s location. Using phone-specific apps is enough. Let’s talk about iPhones first.
Find My App
Apple has a native way to share your location and track the person you love in return. Just open Find My app, tap the People tab, and select Share My Location. Enter the Apple ID of a specific person and decide how long you want this location-sharing to go on.
If they agree to do the same, you’ll be able to see each other right on the map in real time. This option is perfect for families or close groups of friends who own iPhones.
iMessage
Another iPhone-specific way to share location is through iMessage. You’ll have to follow these steps:
- Open a chat with the person of interest in Messages.
- Tap the info button; it’s marked with “i.”
- Select the Share My Location option from there.
This method is good for people who want to track each other right before they meet. However, you can use it for long-term tracking, too. The only nuance is that you need the other party’s clear agreement for this tracking to work.
Android-Exclusive Tracking
Half of the researched population reported that they’re feeling followed by their own phones. The key difference is explicit agreement: when you have it, you don’t need to worry about anything else. See how to share your location on Android.
Google Maps
Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture. You’ll see a location-sharing option there, so activate it. Once you do, the site or app will generate a link for you, and you’ll be able to send it to any person you want. They can follow the same steps to give their location to you.
Google Family Link
Many of the latest Android models come with special family tracking features. All the updates happen automatically in the Family Link app or Find Hub dashboard, so all your family members can watch out for one another.
Keep Track of Your Loved Ones with Ease
Modern technologies have achieved an unprecedented level of development, with Android and iPhones leading most changes. Apart from simplifying our work and making leisure more accessible, they allow us to track the location of people we love.
The most important thing is that there is nothing illegal about it. As long as you receive permission, even the non-explicit kind, you can receive updates about the slightest moves your loved ones make.
If something seems wrong, you can react right away. This removes the pressure of anxiety and gives us an opportunity to stay connected without making constant phone calls.
Bio
Jennalie Anderson is a tech enthusiast with great appreciation for every new tool and feature that makes life easier. She owns both Android and iPhones, and as a mother of two unruly children, she uses every available tech tool to stay updated on their whereabouts. Her suggestions center on safety and legality, so she’s eager to share them with the rest of the world.