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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Set up location sharing before you leave, then choose a method that matches your trip: live location for ongoing tracking, a check-in for a planned outing or arrival, and Emergency SOS for an urgent situation. Ordinary phone sharing needs a connection for fresh updates; satellite options are limited to supported devices and places.
Choose the right way to share
| Need | Use | What the contact can get | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Follow your movement | iPhone Find My or Messages Live Location; Android Emergency Sharing | Location updates; Android contacts may also receive battery percentage | Android real-time Emergency Sharing needs internet and Location Services. For iPhone Live Location, both people need an iPhone with iOS 15 or later. |
| Confirm a planned outing or arrival | Android Safety Check or iPhone Messages Check In | A scheduled status check; depending on the feature and situation, location and other status details | A missed check-in may share a last known location rather than a fresh one if the phone is offline. |
| Get urgent help | Emergency SOS on Android or Emergency SOS via satellite on supported iPhones | Emergency services may be contacted; configured emergency contacts may receive information on supported features | This is not interchangeable with sharing a location link to a friend, and satellite availability is regional and device-dependent. |
Feature availability and menu labels vary by device, software version, account, and region. Check the exact phone and destination before relying on a feature.
Before your trip: set up contacts and permissions
Do the setup while you have a reliable connection. Confirm that your chosen contact is correct, knows what notifications to expect, and can use the relevant feature. Keep a backup plan for a missed check-in or an unreachable phone.
Android
- Open the Safety or Personal Safety app, sign in, and select Your info. Add emergency contacts and any medical information you want available. You can choose to make emergency information visible from the lock screen.
- To configure Emergency SOS, open Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency SOS > Start setup. Follow the prompts to set the local emergency-services number, add contacts for emergency sharing, choose what to share, and allow the Safety app location access while in use.
- Check that Location Services are enabled. Google says Emergency SOS is available on Android 12 and later; it does not work in airplane mode or while Battery Saver is on. Controls can differ among Android phones.
iPhone
For ongoing sharing, open Find My, turn on Share My Location, go to People, add the contact, and choose a duration: one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. You can also start sharing in Messages. Before depending on Live Location, confirm that both you and the recipient have an iPhone with iOS 15 or later.
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Share your location while moving
Android Emergency Sharing
- Open the Safety app and tap Emergency sharing.
- Select the contacts who should receive your location. Add an optional message if useful.
- Tap Share. Keep internet access and Location Services on for real-time location sharing.
Emergency Sharing ends automatically after 24 hours unless you stop it sooner. It is a contact-sharing feature, not the same as sending location to emergency services.
iPhone Live Location and Maps ETA
People you share with through Find My or Messages can see your live location in Find My, Maps, Contacts, or Messages and request directions. If you share in a group conversation, everyone in that group can see it. To share a trip in progress, start driving, cycling, or walking directions in Maps and share your ETA; the recipient gets Live Location and stops along the navigated route.
Use a check-in for a hike, outing, or expected arrival
Android Safety Check
In the Safety app, choose Safety Check, select a reason and duration (up to 24 hours), choose contacts, and start it. At the scheduled check-in time, your phone gives you a 60-second alert. You can mark yourself OK, begin sharing, or call emergency services.
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If the phone is off or loses signal, the Safety Check remains active and may share the last known location at the scheduled time. That is not a guarantee of a current location when the phone is offline.
iPhone Messages Check In
Start a Check In with a trusted contact for a destination or activity. It does not continuously share your location by default. If you are unexpectedly delayed and do not respond, the contact can be notified with your current location, network signal, and battery details. You can choose to include additional information, such as the route traveled. If a Check In fails, shared location may remain visible briefly after you end it.
What happens without cellular or Wi-Fi?
Do not treat ordinary location sharing as guaranteed off-grid tracking. Android real-time Emergency Sharing requires an internet connection and Location Services. A scheduled Android Safety Check can share a last known location after signal loss, but that may not reflect where you are now.
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Some supported iPhones can share a location with Find My by satellite when outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Set up sharing with the intended contact before losing coverage: turn on Share My Location and already share with that person in Find My. The iPhone needs an active SIM, the feature must be available in the region, and you need to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky and horizon. Heavy foliage or other obstructions can prevent a connection. Sending can take a few minutes; updates are limited to once every 15 minutes, and you cannot see your friend’s location in Find My during the satellite process. Recipients can view the most recent satellite location for up to seven days. See Apple’s iOS 26 instructions for satellite location sharing.
Find My satellite sharing is separate from Emergency SOS via satellite. Emergency SOS is intended to contact emergency responders when cellular and Wi-Fi are unavailable; configured emergency contacts may receive notifications and information. Apple lists iPhone 14 or later and regional minimum software requirements, and availability is subject to regional approval. International visitors may use it in supported regions, with exceptions for phones purchased in certain markets. Check Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite requirements for the device and destination. Neither feature guarantees coverage everywhere or replaces emergency services or a dedicated satellite communicator.
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Android Emergency Sharing sends a location link to chosen personal contacts. Android Emergency Location Service (ELS) is different: it sends location data to an emergency-services endpoint when you call or text an emergency number. Google says ELS does not send your location to Google for viewing. Details are available on the Android Emergency Location Service page.
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Stop or review sharing
On iPhone, stop sharing through Find My, Maps, or Messages. Apple says stopping with a person in one app stops sharing across apps. If personal safety is at risk, Safety Check can quickly review or stop sharing. Deleting the Find My app alone does not stop sharing that was already configured.
On Android, stop Emergency Sharing before its automatic 24-hour end if you no longer want contacts to receive updates. Review the contacts and permissions you configured in Safety before the next trip.
Quick Recap
Official setup references
- Google Android Help: Get help during an emergency with your Android phone
- Apple Support: Share your location with iPhone
- Apple iPhone User Guide for iOS 26: Send your location via satellite in Find My
- Apple Support: Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone
- Android: Emergency Location Service
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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