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Shared Location Not Working? Try These Fixes for Apple and Google Maps 

By anjal

Shared Location Not Working? Try These Fixes for Apple and Google Maps 

If you are traveling in public transportation or using a ride-sharing service, sharing your location with your family can alert them about your location. They can then live-track you and get updates on your whereabouts.

Such features can save a life during an emergency. If this feature is not working on your device, you should not neglect it and keep a close eye on it. This issue can be caused by problems like not connecting to the internet or a disabled location service. If it is not functioning, you can easily fix such issues by enabling location service or granting necessary permissions.

This article will guide you with causes and the different options you can do to fix this that leads to this kind of problem.

Why Is My Shared Location Not Working? 

If a shared location is not working on your device, it can be caused by various reasons. Here, I’ve mentioned some common causes you need to understand.

  • Unstable Internet Connection: If you are using Data or WiFi with an unstable internet connection, then your shared location might not work perfectly
  • Not signed in: Not Signing in with Apple ID or Gmail ID can lead to shared location not working . It doesn’t matter if you are connected to the internet if you haven’t signed in, you won’t be able to access it.
  • Disabled Location services: Another common reason why your shared location is not working can be caused by not enabling the location services.
  • Disabled Share my location: You need to ensure your Share my location is enabled before using this feature. 
  • Inaccurate Date & Time: If you are sharing or receiving the location, then not having an accurate date & time can also create a problem.  
  • Outdated Maps: Using the old version of Maps can have glitches or might not support this feature. 

    • How to Fix Shared Location Not Working on Apple Maps

    This part will focus on the different fixes you can use to fix your shared location not working on the Apple Maps.

    Login to Apple ID

    The first thing you need to do to access the Shared location is by logging your Apple ID. After the newest version, it’s mandatory to log in with your Apple ID to share your location.

    1. Open Settings
    2. Tap on Apple ID.
    3. Then, Log in with your Apple ID if you are not signed in. 

    Enable Location Service

    Shared Location won’t work on your device unless you enable location service. This feature helps you keep track of the location, gives access to GPS & Maps-related functions, and more.  

    1. Open Settings
    2. Tap on Privacy.
      Tap-on-Privacy
    3. Click on Location Service and enable it. 
      Click-on-Location-Service-and-enable-it

    Enable Share My Location

    After logging in to your Apple ID and enabling location service, ensure you have enabled the location sharing feature. You won’t be able to share your location before enabling this feature.

    1. Open Settings. 
    2. Go to Apple ID.
    3. Tap on Find My.
      Tap-on-Find-My
    4. Enable Find My iPhone & Share My Location.
      Enable-Find-My-iPhone-Share-My-Location
    5. Make sure to select This Device under the From Settings.   

    Enable Background App Refresh

    A Disabling Background App refresh can preserve your iPhone’s battery. However, it might restrict some features like location service to running normally in the background. You need to enable it to function right even though you might not be using your iPhone.  

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Tap on General.
    3. Click on Background App Refresh to enable it. Here you can select between Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi & Cellular Data.
      Click-on-Background-App-Refresh-to-enable-it.-Here-you-can-select-between-Wi-Fi-or-Wi-Fi-Cellular-Data
    4. Scroll down and Tap on Maps to turn it on.
      Scroll-down-and-Tap-on-Maps-to-turn-it-on

    Disable Restrictions

    This feature lets users control their privacy by giving permissions to different apps. Your Share my Location might not work if you have mistakenly enabled the restrictions feature. 

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Click on Screen Time.
      Click-on-Screen-Time
    3. Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions and disable it.
      Tap-on-Content-Privacy-Restrictions-and-disable-it

    Check Your Date & Time

    The shared location needs an accurate Date & Time of sender & receiver. Inaccuracy in such things will lead to failure in sharing location. To check your Date & Time, follow the given instructions.

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Tap on General.
    3. Tap on Date & Time.
      Tap-on-Date-Time
    4. Click on Set Automatically.
      Click-on-Set-Automatically

    Reboot Your iPhone

    Rebooting your iPhone is a simple option that can resolve a majority of the issues. It doesn’t take much time and has a decent chance of working without much effort.

    Here’re the steps to turn off your iPhone:

    1. Press and hold down the side button.
    2. Swipe to the right to power off. 

    Similarly, you can turn it on using the steps below:

    1. Press and hold down the side button for 3-4 seconds.
    2. Keep on holding it until you see the Apple logo appear. 

    Update the Apple Maps

    Sometimes such features might not work due to bugs or outdated versions of the apps. You can update your app and try again. Such an issue will go away once you update to the latest version.

    1. Open App Store.
    2. Search for Apple Maps.
    3. Click on it and update it if you are using the older version.

    How to Fix Shared Location Not Working on Google Maps

    Apple devices also support Google Maps. This part will focus on the different fixes you can use to fix your shared location not working on the Google Maps. However, the below solutions are based on Android OS.

    Provide Necessary Permission

    You need to grant necessary permission like Location to be able to use this feature on Google Maps. Here’s how you can grant permission.

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Tap on Apps.
      Tap-on-Apps
    3. Go to the Manage Apps.
      Go-to-the-Manage-Apps
    4. Look for Maps and Tap on it.
    5. Grant the necessary permission.
      Grant-the-necessary-permission

    Accurate Date & Time

    To run this feature, the sender or receiver must have an accurate date & Time. Having an accurate Date & Time won’t just update you about the schedule, it is also important to run all the functions properly on your device. You can follow the steps to check your device Date & Time.

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Click on Additional Settings.
    3. Tap on Date and Time.
      Tap-on-Date-and-Time
    4. Tap on Set Time Automatically.
      Tap-on-Set-Time-Automatically-1

    Enable Precise Location

    Not enabling this feature will only let the app access an approximate location which can cause difficulty in functioning in the shared location.  

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Tap on Apps.
    3. Go to the Manage Apps.
    4. Look for Maps and Tap on it.
    5. Click on Location.
      Click-on-Location
    6. Tap on Precise Location.
      Tap-on-Precise-Location

    Disable Battery Saver

    Battery Saver can help save your device power. However, enabling a Battery saver can kill the apps in the background, limiting features like Shared location from functioning well. Disabling the Battery saver can help run Google Maps in the background even when the screen is off.  

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Scroll down and Go to Battery.
      Scroll-down-and-Go-to-Battery-1
    3. Tap on the battery setting at the top right corner.
    4. Click on Battery Saver and Tap it to turn it off.
      Click-on-Battery-Saver-and-Tap-it-to-turn-it-off

    Re-add Google Account

    Sometimes, a bug or restrictions on your Google account can cause this problem. You can easily fix such a problem by simply removing and adding your Google account.

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Tap on Accounts & Sync.
      Tap-on-Accounts-Sync
    3. Scroll down and click on Google.
      Scroll-down-and-click-on-Google
    4. Tap on your Gmail ID.
      Tap-on-your-Gmail-ID
    5. Click on More and Remove Account.
      Click-on-More-and-Remove-Account
    6. To re-add your account, Go to back to Setting and Tap Google.
      To-re-add-your-account-Go-to-back-to-Setting-and-Tap-Google
    7. Tap on your profile. Then, click on Add another account and fill in your login information.
      Tap-on-your-profile.-Then-click-on-Add-another-account-and-fill-in-your-login-information
    8. Check to see if the shared location is working again. 

    Update Google Maps

    Updating an app is one of the best ways to solve such an issue. When you update an app, the app developer can fix the bugs or add new features. So, if you still have trouble with that, consider updating your Google Maps. 

    1. Open Play Store.
    2. Search for Google Maps and Tap on it.
    3. Tap on update if the new version is available.
      Tap-on-update-if-the-new-version-is-available 

    Reboot Your Device

    Rebooting the device forces its system to start again. Everything will be cleared out, killing all the previous running apps which need to start fresh. Therefore, rebooting can fix such issues as Location not sharing. This always won’t work, but it’s worth a try. 

    1. Long press on the power button.
    2. Tap on the Reboot Button and click again to confirm it.
      Tap-on-the-reboot-button-and-click-again-to-confirm-it