In the search bar, enter a destination or tap it on the map. Follow the on-screen instructions to help Maps find your location. Tip: Point your phone camera at buildings and signs across the street, instead of trees and people. Once Maps knows where you are, you'll get directions through the camera view on your screen.

If you do want to make your location visible, you need to enable location tracking on your phone: from Settings in Android, tap Location, then enable the Use location option. You can choose how long your location is shared for. The people you're following will show up on Google Maps.