Google Messages Real-time Location Sharing rolls out (or: How to remove the ‘plus’ dot)

Following the announcement at the start of this month, Real-time Location Sharing in Google Messages for Android is more widely rolling out.

Once available, you’ll notice that the ‘plus’ menu in conversations is badged with a dot. There’s a new “Real-time Location” pill that has a green icon. It stands out from all the other attachment options.

Google has retained the previous sharing option that creates a Google Maps link as “One-time Location.”

Tapping brings up a live map that you can expand to take up most of the screen. The card at the bottom notes what you’re sharing with a dropdown menu to select: For 1 hour, Today only, Until you turn this off, or Custom duration.

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“Send” will add a real-time map to the conversation thread that the recipient can expand. The recipient will see “See my real-time location” as the message notification.

On the privacy…