Instagram’s new location-sharing map: How to check if yours is on, who can see it

Instagram rolled out new features to help users connect, including one that shows your location on a map.

Meta, the owner of Instagram, announced the new Instagram map feature on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. The new feature allows users to share their real-time locations with friends.

Here’s everything to know about the new Instagram map:

When did the Instagram map feature launch?

The map was made available to users in the U.S. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. It will be available globally soon, according to Meta.

Is my location automatically shared on the map?

No. The feature is off unless you opt in, according to Meta.

Does the map share my location with all of my followers?

If you decide to share your location on the map, you can choose who you share your location with, including friends (followers you follow back), close friends or only specific friends you select.

You can also decide not to share your location in specific places or with specific people.

How often does my location update on the map?

When you opt in to the map feature, your location will be updated whenever you use the Instagram app or when you go back to the app if it has been running in the background, according to Meta.

What else can I see on the map?

Whether or not you decide to share your location, you can still see location-based content on the Instagram map, including stories and reels.

According to Meta, any content that was posted by someone you follow with a location tagged will show up on the map for 24 hours after it was posted.

Notes from people you mutually follow are also available on the map for 24 hours.

How do I find the location-sharing map?

If you want to turn your location on, here are the steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your DM box.
2. Click on the map feature, which shows a photo of a map and is located next to the Notes, or short posts from followers, at the top of your inbox.
3. You’ll receive a prompt that says, “Join your friends on the map.” Tap next.
4. After that, you’ll get a prompt that says “Who can see your location,” and you can select to share with friends, close friends, only certain people, or no one.
5. Once you select the group you want to share your location with, click the “Share now” button.

If your location is turned off for Instagram, you’ll be prompted to go to your device settings to give the app access to your location.

How do I turn my location off?

If you turned your location on for the map but have decided you don’t want to do that, you can turn your location off at any time, according to Meta.

To turn your location off or modify who can see you on the map, here’s what to do:

• Click the map feature at the top of your DM inbox.
• Click the circular settings icon located at the top right of the map.
• You’ll receive a prompt that says, “Who can see your location.”
• Click who you want to share your location with (friends, close friends, only these friends, or no one).
• Tap “Done.”

Can parents turn off location services for teens?

Meta shared the following about how parents can control the location sharing feature for their teens who are on Instagram.

“If you’re a parent with supervision set up for your teen, you have control over their location sharing experience on the map,” according to Meta. “You will receive a notification if your teen starts sharing their location, giving you the opportunity to have important conversations about how to safely share with friends. You can decide whether your teen has access to location sharing on the map and see who your teen is sharing their location with.”

Other new features

In addition to launching the location-sharing map, Instagram also now allows users to repost their favorite reels and posts.

To repost a reel, tap the “Repost icon,” which features two arrows and is located next to the like, comment and share buttons on a post.

“With reposts, you can repost public reels and feed posts, making it easier for you to share your interests with your friends,” Meta said. “Reposts will be recommended to your friends’ and followers’ feeds, and they’ll also be in a separate tab on your profile, so you can always go back to revisit your reposts.”

A repost is credited to the original poster. Meta said that this gives the creator an opportunity to reach more people.

If you don’t want people to be able to repost your content, here’s how to turn the feature off:

1. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner to go to your profile.
2. Click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
3. Once the settings section is open, scroll down to find the “Sharing and reuse” section. This is located under the “How others can interact with you” section.
4. Tap “Sharing and resuse.” Then you can toggle off the “Reposts on posts and reels” option under “Allow people to share your content.”