How to share location on WhatsApp

There are moments in life when you want people to know where you are, but just for a moment. Maybe you are on a group holiday and travelling in convoy to the seaside. Trying to coordinate your locations on a mile-long beach can be tricky, especially when there are no distinguishable features in the landscape around you — just grassy dune after grassy dune. Knowing each other's exact location would be very useful indeed.

Maybe you want to share your location for security reasons. You are heading out for a solo run and want others to know where you are in case of emergency.

There are many location sharing apps out there that you can choose from. WhatsApp, however, is a great option as most people are already using it. It also allows time-based location sharing with specific groups of people.

WhatsApp’s Live Location sharing feature

The Live Location feature on WhatsApp allows you to share your exact location with friends, family, colleagues or whoever, in real-time. You can share your location information in messages with individuals or within a group chat.

When you share your live location with a contact, they will be sent a static thumbnail of a map. When they tap on it, it will open up a map where they can see your updated location and movements in real-time.

It is worth mentioning that this feature is end-to-end encrypted. That means only the people who you share your location with can see your location. You are also in complete control of when, and for how long, you want to share your live location info for. We will discuss how you do that below. Still feel uneasy? Click on the respective links to find out more about WhatsApp’s privacy policies and their approach to security.

How to turn on Android location services for WhatsApp

1. Go to your Android phone’s Settings app - the one with the cog icon.
2. Tap “Apps.”
3. Find WhatsApp in the list and select.
4. Go to “Permissions” > “Location.”
5. Select “Allow only while using the app.” 

How to share location on WhatsApp on Android

1. Open up WhatsApp.
2. Open the individual or group chat where you would like to share your location details.
3. Tap the plus (+) icon in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen.
4. Select “Location.”
5. Tap “Share live location.”
6. Select the length of time you would like to share your live location for from the dropdown list of options:
7. 15 Minutes
8. 1 Hour
9. 8 Hours

Please note: Once the chosen time has passed, your live location will cease to be shared.

1. “Add a caption…” in the field provided if applicable. 
2. Tap the “Send” icon.

How to stop sharing location on WhatsApp on Android

1. Open up the individual or group chat where you shared your location information.
2. Tap “Stop sharing.”
3. Tap “Stop sharing” to confirm.

How to turn on iPhone location services for WhatsApp

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone - the one with the grey cogs. 
2. Scroll down and tap “Privacy & Security.”
3. Tap “Location Services.”
4. Scroll down to find and tap “WhatsApp” in the list of apps.
5. Select “Always” under “ALLOW LOCATION ACCESS.”

How to share location on WhatsApp on iPhone

1. Open up WhatsApp.
2. Open the individual or group chat where you would like to share your location details.
3. Tap the plus (+) icon in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen.
4. Select “Location.”
5. Tap “Share live location.”
6. Select the length of time you would like to share your live location for from the dropdown list of options:
7. 15 Minutes
8. 1 Hour
9. 8 Hours

Please note: Once the chosen time has passed, your live location will cease to be shared.

1. “Add a caption…” in the field provided if applicable. 
2. Tap the “Send” icon.

How to stop sharing location on WhatsApp on iPhone

1. Open up the individual or group chat where you shared your location information.
2. Tap “Stop sharing.”
3. Tap “Stop sharing” to confirm.