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Google started disabling the location sharing feature of Google+, numerous users have confirmed, as reported by Android Police. The decision is apparently a prelude to the addition of the Sharing Location functionality to Google Maps that the Mountain View-based tech giant said will be coming soon earlier this month. However, while the company’s plan is to migrate the feature from Google+ to Google Maps, it seems that it started shutting it down in Google+ before enabling it in Google Maps, meaning at least some users are currently unable to share their location with others using Google’s products. Not all users are affected by the change which can either suggest the company is gradually shutting down the Sharing Location feature in Google+ or the entire thing is a mistake and the functionality was supposed to be added to Google Maps before getting discontinued in Google+. The latter scenario seems more likely seeing how it doesn’t seem probable the Alphabet-owned company was planning to temporarily prevent its users from accessing the popular feature. However, it’s currently unclear how many people are affected by the issue.
Regardless, those who are affected will be greeted by a “Location sharing has moved to Google Maps” message when they access the Locations menu in Google+. The same message sports a “Go to Google Maps” button that takes them to one of the company’s support pages prompting them to update Google Maps to the latest version, which in turn leads them to the app’s Google Play Store listing. While somewhat convoluted, the procedure likely works as intended up to this point. The problem arises when users open the Google Play Store page of Google Maps and aren’t presented with the ability to update the app, i.e. download the update that adds the Sharing Location feature to the mapping tool.
There’s not much to do while waiting for Google to remedy the situation other than to download another app that accomplishes a similar purpose. An update on the situation will hopefully follow shortly seeing how the Sharing Location functionality should be making its way to Google Maps in the coming days.
