How do I share my location temporarily for a specific time?

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“I’m trying to arrange to meet my friend at a park later today and they want to know when I’m getting close, but I don’t want to share my location indefinitely for privacy reasons. We use different platforms—I’m on an iPhone and they have an Android—and I’d like to set an expiration for the location sharing (like 3 hours) so it automatically disables after we meet. How can I share my location temporarily for a specific time frame that disables itself without having to manually stop it later?”

iOS (iPhone/iPad) via iMessage/FaceTime

  1. Open Messages or FaceTime:
    • Launch the Messages app and start a conversation with the contact, or open FaceTime and start a video/audio call.
  2. Access Location Sharing:
    • In Messages: Tap the contact name at the top of the chat to open the info screen.
    • In FaceTime: During a call, tap the "i" button in the top-right corner.
  3. Share Your Location:
    • Tap "Share My Location".
    • Choose "For One Hour", "Until End of Day", or "Share Indefinitely".
    • Tap "Send" if prompted to confirm.
  4. Set a Custom Timer (iOS 15+):
    • After tapping "Share My Location," select "Stop Sharing" → "Stop…" → Set an end time → Tap "Done" to activate auto-stop.

Android via Google Maps

  1. Open Google Maps:
    • Launch the Google Maps app.
  2. Access Location Sharing:
    • Tap your profile picture → "Share location".
  3. Select Duration:
    • Choose a preset duration (1 hour, 4 hours, until end of day, or until turned off).
    • For custom times, tap "Custom time" → Set an end time → Tap "Send".
  4. Choose Contacts or Share via Link:
    • Select contacts from your list → Tap "Share".
    • Alternatively, copy the shareable link to send via any app (e.g., WhatsApp, SMS). The link expires automatically when the timer ends.
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Temporary Location via WhatsApp

  1. Open WhatsApp Chat:
    • Navigate to the conversation with the contact.
  2. Attach Location:
    • Tap the paperclip icon (or + on some devices) → Select "Location" → "Share live location".
  3. Set Duration:
    • Choose 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours → Tap "Send".
    • The location stops sharing automatically when the timer expires.

Using Third-Party Apps (e.g., Life360, GeoZilla)

  1. Install the App:
    • Download apps like Life360, Find My Friends, or GeoZilla from your app store.
  2. Create a Circle:
    • Add the contact to a "Family Circle" or "Friend Group."
  3. Share Temporarily:
    • Enable location sharing → Set a timer (e.g., 1 hour, 4 hours) or manual stop.
    • Adjust settings to auto-expire the share session.

General Tips

  • Manual Stop: In most apps, disable sharing via Settings > Privacy > Location Services > [App] > Toggle Off to terminate sharing immediately.
  • Recipients: Ensure the contact has the necessary app (e.g., Google Maps for Android links, iMessage for iOS).
  • Privacy: Review app permissions beforehand. Only share with trusted contacts.
  • Web Browser (Google Maps): Access Google Maps on a desktop → Menu > Share location → Set duration and share via email/link.

Important: Features may vary by device/OS version. Always verify settings post-sharing to confirm auto-stop is active.

Published: September 25, 2025