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How to Use Uber's Beacon and Live Location Sharing Services
Find your ride right away
By Scott Orgera Scott Orgera Writer Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 2, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section What Is Uber Beacon How Uber Beacon Works Uber Live Location Sharing Why Use Uber Beacon and Location Sharing Having trouble finding your Uber driver? Learn how to use Uber Beacon and Uber location sharing to make sure you always get into the right vehicle. Instructions in this article apply to the Uber app for iOS and Android. What Is Uber Beacon
Uber created a device called Beacon that makes it easier to pinpoint the car that you're supposed to be getting into. Using color-pairing technology, the Bluetooth-enabled Beacon device is placed behind a driver's windshield and features the easily recognizable Uber app logo. The Beacon glows brightly in the specific color that the rider chooses in the app, causing it to stand out when idling in a long line of similar-looking cars. Uber Not all Uber drivers have Beacon. As of August 2020, Uber Beacon is only available in a limited number of cities. How Does Uber Beacon Work
If the driver you're paired with has an Uber Beacon on their dashboard, the app asks you to set a color. An interface appears, prompting you to drag the slider across an array of available colors. At this point, Uber recommends holding your phone up while you look for the car so that the driver sees the matching color and can call out to you if needed. If you return to the app and modify the color, the change is automatically reflected on the driver's Beacon. Uber Live Location Sharing
Another feature that makes it easier for drivers to connect with riders is live location sharing. Although you are required to submit an address when requesting a ride, specific pickup locations are sometimes tough to find when you're in a busy public place. This usually results in some type of delay and prompts one or more phone calls or text messages between you and the driver. With live location sharing, the driver can determine your exact location through their app interface. This functionality is not enabled by default, so some manual intervention on your part is required to activate it. After a pickup has been initiated, tap the gray icon in the lower-right corner of the screen, then tap Confirm in the pop-up window to share your location. A new icon appears in the lower-right corner of the map, indicating that your live location is being shared. Tap the icon at any time to disable this feature. You can also toggle live location sharing by going to Settings > Privacy Settings > Location > Share Live Location in the Uber main menu. Why Use Uber Beacon and Location Sharing
When your Uber ride request is first accepted, you're shown pertinent information, including the driver's name and a photo of their face. More importantly, key details about the vehicle such as make, model, and license plate number are also provided. If you're being picked up in a not-so-crowded area, this information is usually enough to identify the correct automobile. However, this isn't always the case in high-trafficked areas with lots of ride-sharing cars and taxis. It's not always easy to check the license plate of multiple vehicles in the dark. To make matters worse, many Uber drivers tend to have similar models. It can be especially tricky outside of concert venues, sporting events, busy hotels, and airports. Uber Beacon and location sharing were created to help riders and drivers in these situations. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Cancel Uber How to Split an Uber Which Is Cheaper: Uber or Taxi? 9 Things to Consider Before Buying a Dash Cam How to Make a Beacon in Minecraft The 4 Best Location Sharing Apps What Is Lyft and How Do You Use It? How to Delete Your Uber Eats Account How to Use WhatsApp Privacy Settings Beginner's Guide to Uber Lyft vs. Uber: What's the Difference? Should You Buy a Dash Cam? How to Use Snapchat Maps Foursquare's Swarm App: What It Is and How to Use It How to Delete Your Uber Account 8 Find-My-Friends Alternatives for Android Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies