Google's Find My Device app, primarily known for helping users locate lost phones and gadgets, is expanding its functionality in a significant way. The application now allows users to track not just their devices but also their friends and family members through a new location sharing feature that's rolling out widely to Android users.
The New People Tab
Google has introduced a dedicated People tab in the Find My Device app, complementing the existing Devices section. This new interface divides location sharing into two categories: Sharing with you and You're sharing with. The map display shows live locations of people sharing their whereabouts with you, providing both exact addresses and distance information. Users can initiate location sharing through a simple plus button, with options to share for one hour, for the current day only, for a custom duration, or indefinitely until manually disabled.
Find My Device New Features
- New People tab for location sharing
- Two categories: "Sharing with you" and "You're sharing with"
- Location sharing duration options:
- One hour
- Today only
- Custom duration
- Until manually disabled
- Redesigned Devices tab with split-screen view
- Integration with existing Google Maps location sharing
How Location Sharing Works
The location sharing process is straightforward and user-controlled. When you decide to share your location, you can do so by sending a link to your contacts. The recipient can then view your real-time location on their map. Privacy remains a priority, as users maintain complete control over their sharing status and can disable it at any time. This feature provides peace of mind for families, friends meeting up, or emergency situations where knowing someone's exact location could be crucial.
Redesigned Device Tracking Interface
Alongside the new people tracking capability, Google has refreshed the device tracking interface as well. The Devices tab now presents a split-screen view with a map showing the location of your selected device at the top and a more compact list of your devices below. When selecting a specific device, users can access options to play a sound for locating nearby items, mark a device as lost, or get directions to its location.
Integration with Google's Ecosystem
While this location sharing functionality might seem new to Find My Device users, similar features have actually been available in Google Maps for some time. The interface for location sharing looks identical across both apps, as they're pulling from the same underlying data. What's changing is the consolidation of these features into the Find My Device app, creating a single hub for tracking both people and devices.
Building on Find My Network
This update builds upon Google's Find My network that launched last year, which uses the vast network of over a billion Android devices and Bluetooth technology to locate devices even when they're offline or powered down. By extending these capabilities to include people tracking, Google is creating a more comprehensive location ecosystem that serves multiple purposes within a single application.
Practical Applications
The new people tracking feature offers practical benefits for various scenarios. Parents can keep tabs on their children's whereabouts, friends can coordinate meetups more easily, and people can share their location during travel for safety purposes. The ability to set custom duration limits provides flexibility while maintaining privacy control, making the feature useful without being intrusive.