Google Maps location sharing: how to fix on iPhone / Android

If Google Maps location sharing says someone is offline or stops updating, the issue is usually tied to the phone, the account, or a paused connection. In most cases, it’s not a mysterious Google Maps bug. The shared phone has lost connectivity, switched devices, been restricted by battery settings, or had location services turned off.

The fix is usually straightforward: check the account/device that is sharing location, make sure location services and network access are still enabled, and restart Google Maps or the phone if the location seems frozen. Below I’ve kept the working checks first and left the more specific ones farther down.

Quick Answer

Google Maps location sharing can stop updating when the shared phone is offline, in battery-saving mode, has location services disabled, or has switched to a different device. Start by checking the phone that is sharing location, not just the one viewing it.

If Maps says a person is offline, remove and re-add the device in Google account location settings, then reopen Location sharing in Google Maps. If the location is just stale, restart the phone, turn off battery saver, and confirm that Wi‑Fi, mobile data, and Location Services are still on.

Part 1. Google Maps location sharing says person is offline

What does "offline" usually mean here? In practice, it often points to one of these situations:

• the person changed phones;
• Wi‑Fi or mobile data is off, weak, or unavailable;
• the Google account on the sharing phone is signed out or not active for the feature;
• location access was turned off;
• battery restrictions stopped Maps from updating in the background.

Users sometimes see one device updating normally while another shows "person is offline" or a frozen location. That usually means the sharing setup on the phone that provides the location needs to be refreshed.

First way to fix it:

1. Log in to your Google account on your device.
2. Go to Activity controls.

3. Under Location history > Devices on this account, activate the mobile device in the list via checkbox.

Second way:

1. Go to Activity controls.
2. Remove the device you are not using from the list.
3. Activate the new mobile device that you are currently using to locate.
4. Disable device sharing and re-enable it.

Third way:

1. Open Google Maps on the phone that provides the location.
2. Tap the profile image in the top right corner on the screen.
3. From the menu, navigate to the Location sharing settings.

4. A Stay connected screen appears at the top of the screen.
5. Tap on the Share location button.

6. Set a time limit for sharing location.

If the person changed phones, this part matters more than most people expect. Google Maps may still remember the old device for a while, and the share can look broken until the active device is updated.

Part 2. How accurate is Google Maps location sharing?

Google Maps location sharing is usually good enough for approximate position tracking, but it is not exact. Accuracy often lands somewhere around 20–25 meters in open areas, though it can be worse indoors or in places with weak signal.

Two things matter most:

Factor 1. Where the person is at that moment.

Indoors, GPS can get unstable. Buildings, underground areas, dense streets, and poor reception can all reduce accuracy. In open terrain, location is usually more stable.

Factor 2. Whether the phone can use Wi‑Fi or mobile data.

On Android and iPhone, Maps can usually improve location accuracy when Wi‑Fi, mobile data, and system location services are enabled. If any of those are restricted, the location may update more slowly or look less precise.

Part 3. How to know if someone stopped sharing location in Google Maps

If someone stops sharing their location, Google Maps usually makes that obvious, but not always instantly. You may see a notification, the location may disappear, or the marker may stop moving.

A few things to keep in mind:

• the person's name may still stay in the list for a while;
• the last known position can remain visible until Maps refreshes;
• if the person paused sharing rather than removed you, the screen can look inconsistent for a bit.

To share location again, tap the Share your real-time location button in Google Maps.

To remove a user from the list:

Step 1. Tap the button with three horizontal dots.

Step 2. Use the Remove from list command.

Step 3. The selected user will no longer be able to follow your movements.

If you are the person sharing location and you want to stop it, it’s worth checking both Google Maps and your Google account settings. Sometimes one side is turned off, but the other still shows an old share state.

Part 4. Google Maps location sharing not updating: a fix

1. Turn off Power mode on your phone

Battery saver modes can limit background activity. That includes the services Google Maps uses to keep location current. If the shared phone is trying to save power, the location may update slowly or stop altogether.

Solution:

Set the phone back to its normal power mode, then reopen Google Maps. Expect battery life to drop a bit if the phone is keeping location active.

Instructions for Android:

1. Open the Quick settings panel.
2. Hold down the Power saving button with your finger.

3. Select the High performance mode.
4. Run or restart the Google Maps app.

For iPhone:

1. Go to the Battery settings.
2. Turn off Low Power Mode.

2. Restart the phone

A frozen location often clears after a restart. It sounds basic, but it fixes more app and network glitches than people expect.

Solution:

Restart the phone that is sharing location, then open Google Maps again and check whether the marker moves normally.

3. Clear the cache on the mobile phone

If Google Maps has built up too much cached data, the app can misbehave. This doesn’t fix every location-sharing problem, but it’s worth trying when the app seems stuck.

Solution:

Clear the cache, then restart the app.

Instructions for Android:

Step 1. Go to Settings > Apps

Step 2. Search for Maps.

Step 3. Go to Storage and tap Clear data.

Step 4. Restart the Google Maps app and check if the "Location Sharing Not Updating" error appears.

Instructions for iOS:

1. From the Google Maps settings, find the About, terms & privacy section.
2. Use the Clear application data option to clear the cache.
3. Restart the app.

We also advise to clear system cache.

4. Enable / disable Location service

If location services are off, Google Maps can’t update location properly. On some iPhone versions, toggling Location Services off and back on can reset a stuck permission or refresh GPS behavior.

How to fix

Make sure that the GPS connection on iPhone is enabled. How to do this:

1. Go to Settings

2. Tap the Privacy button

3. Tap Location Services option.

4. Disable Location Services by tapping the Disable button.

5. Wait for half a minute to a minute and then move the slider to the On position.

This is more useful on older iOS versions, but it can still help when location sharing gets stuck after a permission change or system update.

5. Make sure airplane mode is off on iPhone

If airplane mode is on, wireless connections are cut off and location sharing won’t update normally. The phone may still show an old position, which makes the problem look worse than it is.

How to fix

You can disable airplane mode on your iPhone this way:

1. Go to Settings.

2. Enable Airplane mode by moving the slider to the right.

3. Wait 20 seconds to 1 minute and re-enable the option.

This check also helps if you see a message like "location service unavailable" or "user is offline."

FAQ

Why does Google Maps say a person is offline?

Usually because the sharing phone has lost internet access, switched devices, has low battery restrictions enabled, or has location services turned off.

How do I refresh Google Maps location sharing?

Restart Google Maps first. If that doesn’t help, restart the phone, turn off battery saver, and recheck the sharing settings on the phone that is sending location.

Can Google Maps location sharing work without internet?

Not really. The phone needs some kind of connection to keep location sharing updated. If it loses network access, the location can freeze or show as offline.

Why is the location shown on Google Maps not exact?

Location sharing is approximate. Accuracy depends on GPS, Wi‑Fi, mobile data, indoor signal quality, and the phone’s settings.

How do I know if someone stopped sharing their location?

Their location may disappear, stop updating, or show as unavailable. In some cases, the name stays in the list for a while even after sharing has been stopped.

Does Low Power Mode affect Google Maps location sharing?

Yes, it can. Battery saver modes may restrict background location updates, which can make sharing slower or stop it from refreshing.

What should I check first on iPhone or Android?

Start with location services, internet connection, battery saver, and whether the person is still signed into the same Google account on the device that shares location.