Location Share+ Overview

This article explains what Location Share+ is, how it works, and how to add it to your plan. 

Location Share+ is ZOLEO's automatic location-sharing feature. It sends your GPS coordinates to your check-in contacts at a set interval, building a breadcrumb trail map of your route in real time.

Contents:

• What is Location Share+?
• How does Location Share+ work?

• What do I see in the ZOLEO app?

  • Automatically start Location Share+
  • Using a single session for multi-day trips
• What do my check-in contacts see?
• Offline Maps
• How to add Location Share+
  • Adding during activation
  • Adding after activation

What is Location Share+?

Location Share+ is an optional monthly add-on available on any active ZOLEO Basic, In Touch, or Unlimited plan. 

When a session is running, Location Share+ automatically sends your GPS location to your check-in contacts at a selected interval, from every 6 minutes to every 4 hours. Those updates build a numbered breadcrumb trail on a topographic map in the ZOLEO app, so your contacts can follow your exact route in real time or review it after your trip.

You can also view your own sessions in the ZOLEO app and through your MyZOLEO account portal.

Note: Location Share+ updates do not count against your monthly satellite message allowance. Location Share+ location updates are transmitted separately from your plan's included messages.

If you suspend your ZOLEO service plan, Location Share+ is also suspended for the duration. Your Location Share+ history remains accessible in the app, but no new location updates will be sent until your plan is restarted.

Important: Location Share+ is not a GPS navigation tool and cannot provide turn-by-turn directions. It is an automated location-sharing and tracking feature that shows where you have been, not where to go next.

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How does Location Share+ work?

To use Location Share+, you need:

• An active ZOLEO device on a Basic, In Touch, or Unlimited plan with the Location Share+ add-on.
• Up to 5 check-in contacts who have the ZOLEO app installed.
• A clear view of the sky when sending updates via satellite.

Location Share+ can be used with the ZOLEO device alone, or paired with the ZOLEO app for full control over session settings, interval, and the auto-start and End Session Manually options.

What do I see in the ZOLEO app?

A location-sharing icon (a location pin) appears on the Chats screen and within the Check-In and Location Share+ thread. 

Tapping this icon gives you controls for starting and stopping a session, setting your update interval, enabling a notification tone, toggling no-movement updates, and setting whether LS+ starts automatically when the device powers on.

Once a session is running, you can follow your progress in the Check-In & Location Share+ chat thread. Tapping the map tile expands a breadcrumb trail view. Each breadcrumb is numbered and includes:

• GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude)
• Battery level at the time of the update
• Timestamp

To learn more about starting and stopping a session, see:

• How to Start and Stop Location Share+ from the ZOLEO App
• How To Start & Stop Location Share+ From The ZOLEO Device

Automatically start Location Share+

Firmware requirement: Device software version 5.0-0 or later. See How To Update the Software on Your ZOLEO Device if you need to update.

The auto-start option allows your ZOLEO device to begin a new Location Share+ session automatically every time it powers on, no manual start required. Once enabled, turn on your device, and location updates will begin sending immediately.

To enable auto-start: 

1. Open the Location Share+ menu from the Chats tab, the Check-In and Location Share+ thread, or from Settings → Check-In, Location & Settings. 
2. Enable the Start automatically toggle. 
3. You will be prompted to start a session immediately or wait until the next power-on.

Note: The update interval set in the app applies when auto-start is used.

Using a single session for multi-day trips (End Session Manually)

Firmware requirement: Device software version 6.03 or later. See How To Update the Software on Your ZOLEO Device if you need to update.

By default, a Location Share+ session ends when the device is powered off, and your contacts receive a notification that the session has ended. The End Session Manually option changes this behaviour: the session does not end when the device powers off, and automatically resumes when the device is powered back on, picking up exactly where it left off.

This is useful for multi-day trips or expeditions where you want to conserve battery by powering down each night while maintaining a single continuous breadcrumb trail across the full trip.

Important: When using End Session Manually, you must turn off Location Share+ yourself when your trip is complete. This sends the final session-end notification to your contacts and closes out the breadcrumb trail.

To enable End Session Manually, open the Location Share+ menu and enable the End Session Manually toggle.

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What do my check-in contacts see?

Your check-in contacts see location updates in the ZOLEO app in the same breadcrumb trail format you see. They receive app notifications when a session starts and ends. They can also filter between text messages and location updates, and pan or zoom the map for detail.

By default, LS+ only sends a new location update if you have moved more than 50 metres since the last update. If you have not moved, contacts will see a "No movement reported since: [date and time]" message instead. 

This keeps the breadcrumb trail clean. To disable this and send updates continuously regardless of movement, turn off the No Movement Updates toggle in the Location Share+ menu.

For more details on the contact experience, see What Location Share+ Contacts Receive.

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Offline Maps

Location Share+ includes the ability to download offline maps for your destination. Offline maps allow the ZOLEO app to display your breadcrumb trail on a topographic map even when your phone has no internet or cellular connection, essential for remote areas.

Download maps before you leave. Offline maps must be downloaded while you have an internet connection. Once downloaded, the map area appears shaded blue in the app to indicate it is saved and available offline. 

The blue shading confirms the area is ready for offline use. When you are in the field with no connection, open the app, and your location updates will display on the downloaded map as usual.

ZOLEO uses Mapbox Outdoors for map display, a topographic map with styling tailored for hiking, biking, and backcountry travel.

Note: Offline maps and the breadcrumb trail view are features of the ZOLEO app. ZOLEO Track (available via your MyZOLEO account at myzoleo.com) is a separate web-based tracking tool and is not part of Location Share+.

To learn more, see Download and Manage Offline Maps.

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How to add Location Share+

Location Share+ can be added during initial device activation or at any time through your MyZOLEO online account.

Adding Location Share+ during activation

1. Start the activation process by adding a device and selecting a monthly service plan.
2. On the next screen, you will see the option to add a feature. Select Location Share+ (bottom right) and continue.
3. Once activation is complete, go to Devices and Plans in your MyZOLEO account to set your default update interval and add your check-in contacts.

Adding Location Share+ after activation

1. Log in to your MyZOLEO account and go to Devices & Plans.
2. Locate your device and expand it using the drop-down next to the device name.
3. Select the Manage Features tab.
4. Under Location Share+, use the drop-down menus to set your default update interval and choose whether to lock the interval so it cannot be changed in the app.
5. Click Add+ and confirm. Location Share+ will be added to your plan and become available in the ZOLEO app immediately.

For further help adding Location Share+, see How to Add Location Share+.

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