To share your live location on Snapchat, you simply allow your friends to see where you exactly are. It is useful for meetups, safety, or just to stay in touch. There are a multitude of ways to share your location on Snapchat, be it live tracking or by manually sharing your location.
Here we will see how to share your live location and how to stop sharing, along with the other ways to share your location with any friend.
What Does Live Location Mean on Snapchat?
The real-time movement or live location feature offered by Snapchat allows you to share a specific friend with your real time movements and events. Live location tracking continues to update for a period of time — unlike the Snap Map, which updates your location only when you open the app.

This is to show your selected contacts where you are in real time. The ability to stay connected and be safe is a great feature, but this is only for trusted friends you select to share it with.
How Does Live Location Work on Snapchat?
Your phone’s GPS is what allows Snapchat to use its live location feature, which delivers in real time. Both users must have added each other and the post is only available to mutual friends. Your GPS signal and internet connection determines the accuracy. Live location sharing works in the background and it’s updated even if you are not using the app.
There are, however, limits as to how long it’s effective for, such as 15 mins, 1 hour, or 8 hours. The feature comes with a guarantee of privacy where you get to decide who will be able to see your live updates and not share your location with the whole of your friend list.
How to Share Live Location Snapchat
Follow these steps to share your live location on Snapchat:
- Open Snapchat and go to the chat of the friend you want to share your location with.

- Tap on their profile icon to open their profile page.
- Scroll down and find the Share My Live Location option.

- Choose how long you want to share your live location (15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours).
- Confirm, and your friend will receive a notification about your live location.
- You can stop sharing anytime by revisiting the same option and disabling it.
How Often Does Snapchat Live Location Update?
Snapchat live location updates in real-time as long as you have a stable internet connection. The frequency of updates depends on your phone’s GPS accuracy and network stability.
Unlike Snap Map, which only updates when you open the app, live location keeps updating in the background until the set time expires or you manually stop sharing. If your phone’s GPS is weak, the location updates might lag or be slightly inaccurate.
How to Stop Sharing Snapchat Live Location
If you no longer want to share live location Snapchat, follow these steps:
- Open Snapchat and go to the chat of the friend you’re sharing your location with.
- Tap on their profile icon.

- Scroll down to the Share My Live Location section.

- Tap Stop Sharing to disable live location sharing. Alternatively, you can turn off location access for Snapchat in your phone settings, which will immediately stop all location-sharing features, including Snap Map.
How to Deal with Snapchat Live Location Not Updating?
If your Snapchat live location not updating, try these fixes:
- Check Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.
- Enable Location Services: Go to your phone settings and confirm that Snapchat has location access.
- Update the App: An outdated app may cause issues. Update Snapchat to the latest version.
- Restart the App and Device: Close and reopen Snapchat or restart your phone.
- Re-enable Live Location: Stop sharing and restart the process.
- Check Background App Permissions: Ensure Snapchat can run in the background without restrictions. If issues persist, reinstall Snapchat or contact support.
Alternative Methods to Share Location with Snapchat Users
If you don’t want to use Snapchat’s live location feature, there are other ways to share your location with friends. These methods give you more control over privacy and how long your location stays visible. Below are some easy alternatives to share your location with Snapchat users.
Send a Location Via Snap
Sending a location via Snap is a fun and creative way to share where you are. It allows you to personalize your location update with photos or videos, making it more engaging. This method also keeps your location private, as it is only visible to the selected recipient.
- Open Snapchat and take a snap.
- Tap the sticker icon and select the location sticker.

- Choose your location from the list.
- Send the snap to a friend.
Use Snapchat Chat to Share a Location Manually
Sharing your location manually through Snapchat Chat gives you full control over who sees it and when. It’s a quick and direct way to update a friend without constantly sharing your live location. This method is also useful for one-time location sharing without enabling continuous tracking.
- Open a chat with the friend you want to share your location with.
- Tap the map pin icon or type your location manually.

- Send it as a message.
Use an Online Phone Number Tracker
Using an online phone number tracker like MLocator allows you to share your location easily with the other person simply by providing their email address. This works with any brand of cell phones.
- Visit MLocator Phone Number Tracker.

- Enter your phone number.
- MLocator will start the phone number tracking process immediately.

- After the location process is done, enter the email address where you want to send your location.

- Your location details will be shared to the email ID.
Share a Google Maps Link
Sharing a Google Maps link on Snapchat is a convenient way to provide an exact location with detailed navigation options. It allows your friend to open the location in Google Maps, get directions, and view nearby landmarks. This method is precise, reliable, and works across different devices.
- Open Google Maps and tap your current location.

- Select Share and choose Snapchat.
- Send the link to a friend.
Use Find My Features
Using Find My features to share your location via Snapchat offers real-time tracking and enhanced accuracy. iPhone users can use the Find My app, while Android users can utilize Google Maps’ location-sharing feature. This method ensures seamless, secure sharing with trusted contacts, making it ideal for safety and coordination.
👉For iPhone Users:
- Open the Find My app.

- Select Share My Location.
- Choose a contact and share the link via Snapchat.
👉For Android Users:
- Open Google Maps and go to Location Sharing.

- Choose how long to share your location.

- Copy the link and send it via Snapchat.
FAQs
Did Snapchat remove live location sharing?
No, Snapchat still allows live location sharing. However, it’s only available for mutual friends and must be enabled manually. You can choose the duration and stop sharing at any time.
Does live location on Snapchat mean they are active?
Not necessarily. A person’s live location updates even if they are not actively using Snapchat. It only means they have chosen to share their real-time location with you.
How accurate is Snapchat live location?
Snapchat live location accuracy depends on GPS and internet connection. If the GPS signal is strong, the location will be precise. Weak signals may result in slight inaccuracies or delays.
What’s the difference between Snapchat live location vs location?
Snapchat live location updates in real-time for a set period, while regular location (Snap Map) only updates when the user opens the app. If we compare Snapchat Live location vs location then Live location is more accurate and continuous.
Wrap Up
Snapchat’s live location feature is a great way to share real-time updates with friends. Whether for safety or convenience, it offers multiple ways to share locations. You can use Snapchat’s built-in features or third-party methods like Google Maps and MLocator. Always be mindful of privacy settings and only share your location with trusted contacts.