Have you ever checked someone's live location on Google Maps and noticed that the marker appears slightly away from where they actually are? It may look like the person's location is inaccurate, but small differences are completely normal.

Google Maps doesn't rely on GPS alone. Your phone combines information from GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and other location signals to estimate where you are. The accuracy can therefore change depending on where you are and the conditions around you.

How Does Google Maps Find Your Location?

Your smartphone uses multiple technologies to determine its position.

GPS is one of the most important sources of location information. When your phone has a clear view of the sky, it can generally receive satellite signals more effectively.

However, your phone may also use nearby Wi-Fi networks and mobile network information to improve or estimate your location, particularly when GPS signals aren't strong.

This is why the location shown on Google Maps can change slightly even when you haven't moved much.

Why Is GPS More Accurate Outdoors?

GPS generally works best in open areas where the phone has a relatively clear view of the sky.

In contrast, tall buildings, underground parking areas, basements, dense structures, and other obstacles can interfere with or weaken satellite signals.

As a result, the location marker may appear several metres away from your actual position.

Why Does Live Location Sometimes "Jump"?

You may occasionally notice the location marker moving slightly from one point to another even though the person is standing still.

This can happen when the phone receives updated location information from different sources or when GPS accuracy changes.

For example, a phone might initially estimate a person's location using available network information and then refine the position after receiving a stronger GPS signal.

The marker can therefore move slightly without the person actually travelling that distance.

Does Indoor Location Have Lower Accuracy?

Often, yes.

Inside buildings, GPS signals can be weaker or obstructed. The phone may rely more heavily on Wi-Fi and mobile network information, which can result in a less precise location estimate.

This is particularly noticeable in large buildings, shopping malls, underground areas, parking garages, and locations surrounded by tall structures.

What Does the Blue Circle Around the Location Mean?

When Google Maps shows your location with a blue circle around the marker, the circle represents the estimated area in which your device may be located.

A smaller circle generally indicates greater confidence in the location, while a larger circle means the phone is less certain about its exact position.

So, don't always interpret the centre of the marker as an absolutely precise location.

Can Live Location Be Off by a Few Metres?

Yes.

A small difference between the displayed location and the person's actual position doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with Google Maps.

The amount of variation depends on factors such as the phone's location hardware, satellite visibility, nearby buildings, Wi-Fi availability, mobile network conditions, and the surrounding environment.

What About Someone's Moving Location?

When a person is travelling, there can also be a small delay between the phone determining its location and that information being displayed or updated.

This means the marker may occasionally appear slightly behind or ahead of the person's actual position.

The effect can be more noticeable when someone is moving quickly or when the network connection is unstable.

So, Is Google Maps Live Location 100% Accurate?

No location service should be treated as perfectly accurate at every moment.

Google Maps can provide a very useful estimate of someone's location, and it can be highly precise under favourable conditions. However, small variations are normal, particularly indoors or in areas where GPS and other location signals are obstructed.

If the marker is a few metres away from the person's actual position, there's usually no reason to assume that something is wrong.

The Bottom Line

Google Maps Live Location is designed to give you a useful estimate of where a person or device is, not a guaranteed centimetre-perfect position.

Open outdoor areas generally provide better location accuracy, while buildings, underground spaces, weak signals, and changing network conditions can cause the location marker to wander slightly.

So the next time a friend's live location appears a few metres away from where they actually are, don't immediately blame Google Maps—the difference may simply be a normal limitation of smartphone location technology.