The need to share geolocation on a smartphone can arise for a variety of reasons. Send the exact meeting place, confirm your presence in a particular place, or, say, allow your loved ones to purposefully monitor your movements in case the taxi driver whose car you got into somehow took a wrong turn. In general, dropping a geopoint can be very useful, regardless of the situation. Another thing is that many, as it turned out, have no idea how to do this.
There are several ways to share your location on Android
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First of all, I propose to look at how to send a geolocation to WhatsApp , because this is perhaps one of the most common means of communication. I really like to say that WhatsApp is like Sberbank Online: few people use it on a regular basis, but everyone has it in reserve. So, even if you yourself prefer another messenger, keep in mind that the person with whom you want to share your current location most likely uses WhatsApp, which means your personal preferences do not play any role here.
How geolocation works on Android
The geolocation system determines the location of the mobile device. Most programs and applications require constant access to geolocation, for example, to find the nearest cafe or store.
Geolocation works by communicating with the satellite and the closest towers installed by the cellular operator. The mobile device identifies beacons through which it receives signals and information, thereby transmitting data about the user's location.
Now almost all mobile devices can work without problems with available navigation systems.
Vyacheslav
For several years he worked in mobile phone stores of two large operators. I understand tariffs well and see all the pitfalls. I love gadgets, especially Android ones.
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Question to the expert
What systems are used to work with GPS?
For this purpose, GLONASS, GPS and Deidou systems are used.
What is the main function of geolocation?
The main function of geolocation is to build a route from one point to another.
In what cases may a phone not detect geolocation?
This can only happen if there is no connection to satellites.
How to share current geolocation in Telegram?
- Open the Telegram app on Android.
- Select the chat you need, correspondence with your interlocutor.
- Click on the "Paper Clips" icon and select "Geolocation" from the list of options that appears.
- Next, you need to allow the app to access your location.
- Next, select “Send your location.”
- Tap the three dots in the map widget.
- Select the “Broadcast my location” option and set the broadcast time.
Now you know how to share your geolocation in different applications on your Android smartphone. As you can see, the process of transferring a location is not complicated and will take no more than a minute, but will save a lot of time for you and your interlocutors.
5/5 — (9 votes)
Do I need an Internet connection for the GPS system on my phone to work properly?
When you enable the GPS option on your phone, the device connects directly to satellites. This does not require an Internet connection or mobile network. However, if you have a stable Internet connection, the process of connecting your mobile device to the satellite can go faster.
Also, any user can send location coordinates to his interlocutor without an Internet connection, for example, using SMS, and use maps on the phone if they have been previously downloaded.
Geolocation shows wrong location
When trying to determine where I am now, the device may show inaccurate data. Perhaps you are in a large city and due to the many high-rise buildings and vast private areas, the coordinates are not entirely correct.
You can improve geolocation accuracy on your Android phone. Use Google maps, select the point where you are. At the bottom, click on the Configure .
Now it will be possible to calibrate the device. Try changing your connection. Instead of WiFi, activate mobile Internet, since your location is determined in several ways:
- Via satellite (GPS). The accuracy is about 20 meters. If you are in a building, it may go down;
- Through WiFi points to which the device is connected;
- Through mobile operator towers.
In the settings, you can enable detection of your geolocation for all types at once. Find the Location and select Across all sources .
How to reset geolocation on Android via WhatsApp
After the user has enabled the GPS function on his mobile device, he can send his location to his interlocutors in the messenger.
This is done as follows:
- First, the WhatsApp application on the phone is launched;
- After this, you need to go into a chat with the person to whom you need to send the geolocation;
- Now you need to click on the paperclip icon, after which a menu will open in which you need to click on the “Place” button.
A message will be sent to the interlocutor with the exact location of the user. In addition, you can send any other location on the map.
Follow the link to watch a video that shows how to do this:
In addition, the WhatsApp messenger has a function with which you can send location data to your interlocutor, who will track your movement in real time.
Method 1: Google Maps
In the Google Maps application, you can transfer both the current geolocation of the device and geographic data of any point on the map. It is installed by default on most Android devices, but if not, you can download it from the Google Play Store.
Option 1: Share your location
- To receive and transmit information about the location of the device, geolocation must be enabled on the device. Open the quick access panel and enable the function if it is inactive.
How to send geolocation from Google Maps
Each user can also send their coordinates using Google Maps. This is done as follows:
- First you need to open the Google Maps service, and then click on the button that determines the user’s location;
- After this, you need to wait for the application to connect to the satellites. And then you will need to bring the location point as close as possible and press it for a long time;
- As soon as this is done, the coordinates of this point will appear in the search line. They need to be copied and sent;
- In order to share coordinates, you need to touch the menu that is located at the bottom of the screen, and then you need to click on the “Share” button and select the recipient.
How to transfer geodata via Google Maps
To share your location, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Google Maps and sign in to your account. To do this, enter your email address and click “Next”.
Step 2: Then enter the password and click the Next buttons.
Step 3: Tap your profile icon.
Step 4. Select “Transfer geodata”.
Step 5: Click the Share Location button.
Step 6: Give the app access to contacts saved on your device. To do this, select "Allow".
Step 7. Set the time during which the location data will be visible to other users. To do this, use the “+” and “-” buttons.
Step 8. Select the user to whom you want to share the coordinates. If the selected contact is not associated with a Google Account, an SMS message will be sent to them with their current location. Confirm the action with the “OK” button.
Step 9 : Click Show.
Step 10. The application will offer to send a link with coordinates via SMS. Click "Submit".
Step 11. To stop location tracking for the user , open the “Access by link” item.
Step 12 : Click Stop.
Note! At the end of the user-specified time, the location tracking function will be automatically disabled.
How to send your geolocation on Android via SMS
If the interlocutor does not have a stable Internet connection, then you can send the location data to him via SMS.
To do this, you need to open the SMS application on your mobile phone and open a conversation with the desired person. To the left of the input field there should be an attachment icon that you need to click on. After this, you need to click on the geolocation icon and send it.
Geolocation in WhatsApp
First, some background information. Why is this geolocation needed, and what are the goals of a person sending his location to his interlocutor?
There are several reasons for this activity:
- In an unfamiliar place it is much easier to find each other by geolocation.
- You can indicate in advance on the map where you want to meet.
- Opportunity for parents to monitor their child.
- And so on.
Yes, there are a lot of reasons and situations when such functionality would be appropriate. The question is different - how to properly configure everything in the messenger. If you want to send a geolocation on WhatsApp to your interlocutor, first turn on GPS on your device, and then use the function itself in the chat window.
Let's take a closer look at how to implement our plans in practice for Android and iOS.
If you do not enable geolocation ( GPS ) on your smartphone, it will not be displayed in WhatsApp either.
How to disable geolocation on Android
Each user can disable this feature if desired. This can save battery power and avoid sharing location data across multiple apps.
You can disable the function in the settings of your mobile device by going to the “Location” section. It is located in the “Protection and Location” tab. Depending on the phone model, the name of this section may differ.
In the “Location” section you need to turn off the corresponding function. To do this, you just need to swipe the switch.
Follow this link to watch a video that explains how to disable this feature on your mobile device:
It should be noted that after turning off the location function, the user will be limited in certain capabilities. For example:
- Most applications and programs will provide irrelevant information. In addition, some applications may stop working completely;
- If you lose your mobile device, it will be very difficult to find it, since the Find My Phone function does not work without GPS.
Method 2: Messengers
It makes sense for active users of instant messengers to transmit geographic data using a special function built into these applications. The options are the same - sending your location in real time or a geoposition randomly selected on the map. The function is implemented in approximately the same way in all instant messengers, so if this method interests you, detailed instructions using WhatsApp as an example are available in a separate article on our website.
Read more: Sending geolocation data via WhatsApp for Android
How to track a person through apps
The GPS feature can also be useful for tracking a specific person. This can be used for a variety of purposes, such as when a person is unable to submit location information themselves.
In order to track a person, you will need to install one of the following applications on your mobile device.
GPS tracker Family Locator
Thanks to this application, you can track a person's location, but only with his permission. To use the program, you will need to turn on GPS on your phone, which will send all the information. In addition, the program is also installed on several phones, collecting a “Circle”.
The application has the following options:
- Send an SOS signal with one click;
- Location determination;
- If you deviate from the specified route, a notification will be sent;
- Upon arrival at the required point, the application will send a notification.
Lost Android
You can download the program from the official store on your phone completely free of charge. With its help you can find out the location where your mobile device is located. To use it, you need to register on the developer’s website, after which you will have access to your personal account. However, the program does not have Russian language.
The application has the following options:
- Remote smartphone locking;
- Erase all files and data from the phone;
- Notification of card change;
- Remote control of the gadget.
Where are my children
The tool tracks the location where the child is currently located. If the phone's charge level becomes low, the parent will receive a notification about this. In addition, the program has the following functions:
- You can remotely listen to your child’s surroundings;
- Setting the zone that can be moved. If the child leaves her, the parent will also receive a notification about this;
- The route along which the child has traveled for the last two days is saved.
It must be remembered that all these programs will only work when the GPS function is turned on, and if one of the parties turns it off, you will not be able to track.
4.6/5 — (34 votes)
Method 3: Special software
There are many applications in the Google Play Store for determining and transmitting the geolocation of an Android device. Almost all of them show ads, but there may be additional options that you may find useful. Let's consider this method using the “My Location” application program as an example.
- We launch the application and allow it access to information about the location of the device.
- Once My Location displays your current coordinates and address, you can share your location with other users.
Call up the context menu, tap “Share” and send the link. You can open it using Google Maps or through the same application, if it is installed.
- To send coordinates, copy them by clicking the appropriate item and send them like any text message.
- Other users can monitor the location of our device in real time, but only if My Location is also installed on their smartphone. In the context menu, select “Publish current location”, set the publication time, if desired, allow sharing the route of movement and send a link to the broadcast.
Share your location with Facebook Messenger
When you compose a message, you will see a GPS location symbol on the right side of the window - click on it. When Facebook prompts you to enable location for Messenger, click the “Enable” icon. Now whenever you send a message, it will contain information about your location. The recipient, for their part, must click on the message to see where it was sent from, or select the “view card” option from the chat options menu to view it in detail.
How to send coordinates from Yandex.Maps, 2GIS or Google Maps to any messenger
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Irina, good day and thank you! ))) In fact, it turns out that only Yandex showed the digital coordinates; each map transmits only to itself (2GIS - to 2 GIS, Yandex - to Yandex, Google - to Google). Moreover, I tried to transfer the location of a house within the city limits (on 2GIS maps) in the private sector from one iPhone to another via WhatsApp - it’s some kind of crap: the recipient opens a link in WhatsApp, through which the phone first opens 2GIS in Safari (interactive map on their website), offering to download 2GIS in the App Store (and they, of course, are downloaded and open) - okay, I agree; goes to the App Store - you can immediately see that the cards have been downloaded, you can tap “open”. It opens not what was sent, but the location of the recipient, but at the same time, if you return to Safari, look at the official postal address and enter it manually in the maps - then yes, no problem, but if you select COPY in the maps menu - a terribly long link is copied ( apparently, with some kind of internal code or whatever it is correctly called, 2GIS itself), according to which, no matter how funny or sad, open maps CANNOT FIND ANYTHING!!!!!! So that’s half the trouble – if you have an office/postal address; If you remember, my story began with the fact that I was looking for a house in a dacha association, where, naturally, there are no addresses in principle (dacha association XXX, plot number No. No. - of course, such an “address” is not registered in the maps). And here’s another thing: I tried to insert the coordinates that I-maps provide into other maps/services - so far nothing has worked; I'll look into it further. In general, THANK YOU for caring about your readers, responsiveness, and attention! In fact, most of it is understandable; I will continue to try using the “scientific poking” method. )))
Irina Chernova22 June 2016
1
@iWanderer, I see(((Well, I have a couple of ideas for solving the problem. When I have time, I’ll add to the article and write back to you.
iWandererJune 22, 2016
0
@Irina Chernova, it seems to me that 2GIS is generally a mess in this regard: the guys have done a lot of good things, no doubt, but they haven’t thought through this issue. (( It killed me when, using my own link, copied through the menu of their own site, it writes “Nothing was found. Nothing at all. Try changing the request a little.” ((
iWandererJune 22, 2016
0
@Irina Chernova, although if you point at a map outside the city, where no buildings are marked, 2GIS still gives the coordinates! ))) You need to try to determine the coordinates somewhere at a real point (at a summer cottage) and substitute from Z to 2G, and from 2G to Z... He’s already a very big guy, but he came up with some fun for himself! ))))))