Google has quietly added a brand new module to its Contacts app on Android permitting customers to see the placement of family and friends in real-time.

It’s value mentioning this operate has been within the works for a while now – since late Might when it was leaked by business insider Nail Sadykov on X (the platform previously often called Twitter). It took a short while, however now you will get this characteristic by putting in Google Contacts model 4.22.37.586680692.

In response to Android Police who initially found this, the location-sharing banner will probably be powered by Google Maps, sitting between the contact choices and the Contact Data part. Tapping it immediately “opens their location in [Maps]” the place you possibly can then get instructions to them. Conversely, if a pal is heading in direction of you, you possibly can arrange notification alerts letting you already know after they’ve arrived at your location.

You could meet a few necessities to make this replace work. First, you have to have the opposite particular person’s Gmail deal with saved onto your copy of the app. Second, they should be actively sharing their location on Google Maps. If these two standards are met, the banner will seem on the contact card. 

Establishing Location Sharing

Establishing the characteristic is simple. When you faucet the profile image on Google Maps, you will notice the Location Sharing choice within the menu. Choose it, then hit the Share Location button on the next display. After that, determine which of your contacts you wish to share your real-time information with. Usually, folks will elect to briefly present their location by selecting out a time restrict, however we advocate choosing “Till you flip this off” if you need folks to seek out you. 

Preserve a watch out for the patch when it arrives as it might be rolling out in waves. We up to date Google Contacts on our Android machine, nevertheless, we didn’t see any modifications. It might nonetheless be making its approach to all customers or we have been simply unfortunate. 

Be sure you take a look at TechRadar’s roundup of the 10 finest Androids app of 2023 – in line with Google.

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