Ghost mode: how to pause sharing your location
To turn on Ghost Mode on Snapchat, open Snap Map, tap the gear in the top right and switch on Ghost Mode. Pick 3 hours, 24 hours or until turned off. Your friends stop seeing you on the map until you switch it off.
Switch options on and off to see the steps you need. Tap the card for the next app.
Below are the same steps for Find My, Google Maps, Life360, Bump and Dronk, plus what your friends actually see when you pause. Pausing is normal. If it is a friend, telling them is usually kinder than disappearing.
- Apps covered
- 6
- Snapchat timer
- 3 h, 24 h, off
- Takes
- Under a minute
- Cost
- Free
How to turn on Ghost Mode on Snapchat
- Open Snap MapTap the map icon at the bottom left of Snapchat.
- Tap the gearTap the settings gear in the top right of the map.
- Turn on Ghost ModeSwitch on Ghost Mode at the top of the location settings.
- Pick how longChoose 3 hours, 24 hours or until turned off. With a timer, Ghost Mode switches itself off again.
You can also get there from your profile: tap the settings gear and find See My Location. On the same screen you can choose who sees you when Ghost Mode is off: all your friends, all friends except some, or only the friends you pick.
In Ghost Mode your friends can't see you on Snap Map, and your location is not updated. You can still see the friends who share with you.
Share the glass, not your whole day
Show your friends where the night is
Ghost mode exists because most apps share all the time. Dronk starts the other way round: you show up on the map when you snap your glass, beer, water or coffee, and the app prints it as a polaroid with the time. You're visible while you're out, and the next day the night is ready as a video.
How to pause or stop sharing your location on iPhone
On iPhone, location sharing with friends goes through Find My. You can stop for one person, or pause for everyone at once.
Stop sharing with one person
- Open Find MyTap the People tab.
- Pick the personTap their name in the list.
- Stop sharingOpen their card and tap Stop Sharing My Location at the bottom.
Pause sharing with everyone
- Open Find MyTap the Me tab.
- Turn off Share My LocationYour friends stop seeing you until you turn it back on.
Apple does not send the other person an alert when you stop, but you disappear from their list, so they will notice if they look. When you start sharing again, they get a notification.
How to stop sharing your location in other apps
Google Maps
Open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Location sharing. Tap the person and tap Stop. When you start a new share you can pick a set time, so it stops by itself.
Life360
Life360 has Bubbles: instead of your exact spot, your Circle sees a wider area, from 1 to 25 miles across, for 1 to 6 hours. The Circle can see that a bubble is on, and it bursts if a crash or emergency is detected. It is a fair middle ground for families.
Bump
Bump has a ghost mode for one friend at a time: tap their pin, tap the ghost icon and stop sharing. Your pin stays at the last place you shared with that friend. Other friends still see you as normal.
Dronk
Dronk does not share all day in the first place. You are only on the map while you're out, from your first snapped glass until a few hours after your last. Tap the eye on the map to open Who can see you: switch friends on or off one by one, or turn them all off with one tap. Tap I'm not out anymore and you leave your friends' map, and they see that you went home.
Visible when you're out, gone when you're home
In Dronk your friends only see you while you're out, and only the friends you pick. Snap your glass to show up, send a cheers or a come over, and tap I'm not out anymore when the night is done.
Get Dronk free on iPhone
What your friends see when you pause
Pausing your location is your right, and it works best when it is honest. This is what the other side sees in each app.
| App | How you pause | What friends see | Timer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snapchat | Ghost Mode | You are gone from their Snap Map | 3 hours, 24 hours or until off |
| Find My | Stop Sharing or Share My Location off | No alert, but you are gone from their list | No, but shares can be set to 1 hour or end of day |
| Google Maps | Stop in Location sharing | You stop showing on their map | Yes, when you start a share |
| Life360 | Bubble | A wider area instead of your exact spot, and that a bubble is on | 1 to 6 hours |
| Bump | Ghost one friend | Your pin stays at your last shared place | No |
| Dronk | Who can see you, or I'm not out anymore | You are not on their map, or they see that you went home | Ends by itself after the night |
Pause honestly
- Tell your friends. A quick "going quiet tonight" saves a lot of guessing.
- Use timers. Pausing for a few hours is easier to explain than vanishing.
- You never owe anyone your location. If someone pressures you to share, stop sharing with them.
- Feeling unsafe? Stop sharing, use Safety Check on iPhone, and talk to someone you trust.
Every off switch in one place
The same steps as in the card at the top of the page, sorted by what you want to do.
Hide from everyone
4- Snapchat Ghost Mode: Snap Map, gear in the top right, switch on Ghost Mode
- Find My: Me tab, turn off Share My Location
- Google Maps: profile picture, Location sharing, Stop for each person
- Dronk: tap the eye on the map, then I'm not out anymore
Hide from one person
4- Find My for one person: People, tap the name, Stop Sharing My Location
- Snapchat for some friends: See My Location, then pick My Friends, Except
- Bump for one friend: tap their pin, tap the ghost icon
- Dronk for one friend: tap the eye on the map, switch that friend off
Pause for a while
4- Snapchat with a timer: Ghost Mode for 3 hours or 24 hours
- Life360 Bubble: a wider area for 1 to 6 hours
- Google Maps with a timer: start shares for a set time
- Find My for one hour: share for one hour instead of indefinitely
Questions people ask
How do I turn on Ghost Mode on Snapchat?
Open Snap Map, tap the gear in the top right and switch on Ghost Mode. Choose 3 hours, 24 hours or until turned off.
Can friends tell if you're in Ghost Mode on Snapchat?
They can't see you on Snap Map while it is on, so if they look for you, they will notice you are not there.
How do I pause location sharing on iPhone?
Open Find My, tap Me and turn off Share My Location. To stop for one person, tap them in People and choose Stop Sharing My Location.
Does someone get notified when I stop sharing my location?
On iPhone, Apple does not send an alert, but you disappear from their list in Find My. If you start sharing again, they get a notification.
How do I stop sharing my location on Google Maps?
Tap your profile picture, then Location sharing, tap the person and tap Stop.
Does Dronk have a ghost mode?
Dronk only shows you while you're out, for the friends you pick. Tap the eye on the map to switch friends off one by one or all at once, or tap I'm not out anymore to leave the map.
Keep the night going
Updated