Google’s Find My Device Unveils Location Sharing Feature with Contacts


**Google’s Find My Device Unveils Real-Time Location Sharing**

Google’s *Find My Device* has been a highly efficient tool for locating misplaced Android devices and compatible accessories like smartwatches. While many users may have overlooked the app except in situations where they lost their phone, a newly added feature could alter that perspective.

The recent update empowers users to monitor a contact’s location live through the *Find My Device* app. Google introduced this feature as part of its **March Pixel Drop** announcement.

> “The new location-sharing functionality in the *Find My Device* app allows you to share and receive live locations with trusted contacts, offering a sense of security for both regular check-ins and emergency situations,” Google said in the announcement.

### How the Feature Functions

Sharing your location with a trusted contact is simple. Once both users activate the feature, they can access *Find My Device* to view each other’s real-time whereabouts. Moreover, individuals can share their location with multiple contacts at once.

The feature includes various customization choices. For example, users can opt to share their location for a single day—perfect for keeping up with a friend during an outing—or for as little as an hour for shorter adventures. There’s also an option to define a custom duration tailored to personal needs.

### A More User-Friendly Experience

In terms of functionality, this feature mirrors the location-sharing capability available in **Google Maps**. However, *Find My Device* provides a more accessible experience since the app is simpler than Maps. As pointed out by **Engadget**, this makes location sharing more fluid compared to Google Maps, which isn’t specifically tailored for this task.

### Integration with Additional Features

This update enhances other recent improvements to *Find My Device*. In 2024, Google rolled out the option to **share tracked items with friends**, along with support for tracking tags and other handy tools. Furthermore, both Google and Apple have made strides to **strengthen privacy safeguards**, diminishing the likelihood of unauthorized tracking via these applications.

With these enhancements, *Find My Device* is transitioning beyond merely being a lost-device tracker, providing users with a richer and more secure method to remain connected with trusted contacts.