The introduction of the new location-based feature on Instagram Maps has opened the door to new ways to connect with friends and discover location-based content. However, its launch has also raised important questions about privacy and security, especially when it comes to controlling how, when, and with whom real-time location sharing occurs.

ALSO READ. What is the repost button on Instagram and how does it work?

What is the Instagram Map and how does it work?

Launched for U.S. users in August 2025, Instagram’s Map feature is a social tool similar to Snap Maps. It allows users to see where their friends are—if they’ve opted in to share their location—as well as explore posts and reels tagged to specific locations by friends or content creators they follow.

The Map is located within the Messages tab, and it visually displays user activity with different shapes to indicate location sharing status:

• Blue arrow: You are sharing your location with your selected audience.

• Red dot: You are not sharing your location.

• Orange triangle: You need to enable location permissions on your device to activate location sharing.

Importantly, location sharing is off by default, and you won’t appear on the Map unless you actively choose to enable it.

How does location sharing work on Instagram?

Instagram first introduced location sharing in direct messages in November 2024. Since then, it has evolved into a more interactive, map-based system.

According to Meta, your location is updated whenever you open the app or return to the app if it’s been running in the background.

You can choose to share your location with:

• Followers who you follow back

• Close Friends

• Specific friends only

• Or no one at all

You can also exclude specific individuals, even if they’re in your shared group. Instagram emphasizes that location sharing only works with accounts that you follow, which helps prevent abuse from strangers.

If you do enable location sharing, your location will automatically update in real-time and remain visible for up to 24 hours—unless you open the app again, in which case it resets the countdown.

Can you see the Map even if you’re not sharing your location?

Yes. Even if you’ve chosen not to share your own location, you can still open the Map to view content from friends and creators who have location sharing enabled. You can also explore tagged posts, reels, and stories related to places of interest.

If a friend has opted to share their location with you, their icon will appear on the Map. Tapping on their icon will let you start a direct conversation via DM.

This allows users to engage with Map content passively, without contributing their own data—an option many will appreciate for its balance between connection and control.

How to turn off location on Instagram step by step

If you have location sharing enabled and wish to disable it, Instagram provides a simple process to do so:

• Step 1: Open the Instagram app.
• Step 2: Tap the arrow icon in the top right corner to open the Messages tab.
• Step 3: Tap on the Map icon located at the top of your inbox.
• Step 4: Tap the gear (cog) icon in the top right corner to open Settings.
• Step 5: Under Location Sharing Preferences, select “No one” if you don’t want to share your location with anyone. Alternatively, you can choose to remove specific individuals from your sharing list.
• Step 6: Tap “Update” to save your preferences.

Once updated, your real-time location will no longer be visible, and the red dot will appear on your icon to indicate that location sharing is off.

How often does Instagram update your location?

According to the company, Instagram updates your shared location every time you open the app or return to the app if it has been running in the background. If you don’t reopen Instagram within 24 hours, the shared location expires automatically.

This means that even passive users can unintentionally share up-to-date location information unless location sharing is fully disabled.