Google Contact Adds Real-Time Location Tracking Feature (Image: Pixabay)

Google has recently rolled out a significant feature to the Contacts app on Android, permitting users to see the location of friends and family in real-time. The real-time location sharing feature is often a widely used feature in applications, including WhatsApp. Even though sharing locations on Google Maps is not new, this update integrates directly into the Contacts app.

Notably, Google has updated this feature in a silent move. Users will be able to get this feature by installing Google Contacts version 4.22.37.586680692. It is important to note that users need to meet certain requirements to make this update work. Firstly, users have to ensure that the contact’s Google account information is filled into the email field on their contact card. It should be the same Google account that they use for Google Maps. Also, the person showing their location is required to have location sharing turned on in Google Maps. After this process, a banner will appear on the contact card. The banner displays the time the location of the user has been shared. There will also be a new button, named Location Sharing, to interface with the new features.

When a contact shares their location with the user, a tiny Google Maps block will become visible on their contact card. It shows the current location of the contact. Google Contacts can be downloaded across all devices with access to Google Play. It is worth mentioning that Google Contacts also gives users the option to decide whether they wish to share their location data with others.