Location Sharing in Elta
Share where you are — on your terms
How Location Sharing Works
Elta uses your location to keep you safe, but you're always in control of who sees it and when.
When Your Location is Shared
Your location is only shared with emergency contacts in these situations:
| Situation | Who Sees Your Location |
|---|---|
| Active Trip | Contacts assigned to that trip (if you enable sharing) |
| Active Check-In | Contacts assigned to the trip or check-in |
| Running Quick Timer | Your default emergency contacts (if enabled) |
| Emergency Triggered | All relevant emergency contacts receive your last known location |
| Manual SOS | All emergency contacts immediately |
When you're not actively using a safety feature, no one sees your location.
Types of Location Sharing
Live Location
Real-time updates as you move. Your contacts see your current position on a map.
Best for: Active trips where you want contacts to follow your progress
Last Known Location
The most recent location your phone recorded. Sent when an emergency triggers.
Best for: Emergencies where your phone may no longer be active
Trip Location
The destination and route you've entered for a trip — not real-time tracking.
Best for: Letting contacts know your plan without constant updates
Privacy Controls
You decide exactly how location sharing works:
Per-contact settings
- Some contacts can see live location
- Others only receive location during emergencies
- Full control for each person in your network
Per-trip settings
- Enable live sharing for backcountry hikes
- Disable it for local errands
- Different settings for different activities
Global controls
- Turn off all location sharing with one toggle
- Location is still recorded locally for emergencies but not shared until triggered
Location Accuracy
Elta uses your phone's GPS for the most accurate location possible:
- Outdoors: Typically within 5-10 meters
- Urban areas: May use cell towers and Wi-Fi for enhanced accuracy
- Indoors: Less precise, but still useful for general area
Tip: For outdoor activities, make sure GPS is enabled and battery saver mode isn't restricting location services.
Battery & Location
Location tracking uses battery, but Elta is optimized to minimize drain:
- Intelligent polling adjusts based on your activity
- Background location uses efficient low-power modes
- You can adjust location frequency in settings
For critical activities, we recommend starting with a full charge and carrying a backup battery.
What Your Contacts See
When location sharing is active, your contacts can:
- View your position on a map
- See when your location was last updated
- Get directions to your location
- View your trip details alongside your position
They cannot:
- See your location history
- Track you when sharing isn't active
- Access your location without your permission
Your location. Your rules. Shared only when it matters.
Member discussion