Google Messages Adds Live Location Sharing Feature
▼ Summary
– Google Messages is preparing to introduce a new “Real-time Location” sharing feature, discovered in a recent app version.
– This feature will allow users to share their live, moving location within a chat for a set duration, unlike the current static address sharing.
– The live location will be accessible via a link that works across devices, even if the recipient doesn’t have the feature or uses a web browser.
– Users can control the sharing duration with options like 1 hour, “Today only,” or a custom time, and can easily stop sharing via a chat banner.
– It’s important to note this feature is based on an APK teardown and may not be guaranteed for a public release.
Google Messages is poised to significantly enhance user connectivity with the introduction of a live location sharing feature, moving beyond static address pins to offer dynamic, real-time tracking directly within conversations. This update represents a major step in the app’s evolution from a basic SMS client into a comprehensive communication platform, aiming to close a notable functionality gap when compared to other popular messaging services.
For years, the app has allowed users to share a one-time, fixed location. While useful in some scenarios, this static method falls short during active travel or when coordinating a meet-up in real time. The newly discovered “Real-time Location” option, found within a recent beta version of the app, is designed to solve this exact problem. It will enable users to broadcast their moving location to a contact for a predetermined period.
Activating the feature is intuitive. Users can select it from the attachment menu inside any chat. After granting the necessary location permissions, they choose a sharing duration. Options include preset times like one hour, “Today only,” or a custom period, mirroring the functionality available in Google’s own Find My Device service. Once active, a clear, persistent banner appears at the top of the chat thread, showing that live sharing is on and displaying a countdown timer.
A key strength of this implementation is its cross-platform compatibility. The system is designed to work seamlessly even if the message recipient does not have the latest version of Google Messages. In such cases, the recipient receives a link. If they have the Find My Device app installed, the link opens directly there. Otherwise, it opens in a web browser, where the sender’s live location is displayed and updated on a map. This ensures the feature is broadly accessible without requiring both parties to be on the same software version.
Ending a location share is just as simple. The sender can tap the banner at the top of the chat and select “Stop.” The moment sharing is halted, the live link ceases to update, giving users full control over their privacy. This addition is part of Google’s broader effort to integrate richer, more interactive tools into Messages, building upon recent upgrades like RCS support, message reactions, and improved media handling. While the feature is not yet publicly available, its presence in the beta code indicates a likely rollout in a future update, promising to make coordinating with friends and family more efficient and intuitive.
(Source: Android Authority)
