WhatsApp can send a pin of where you are now, or share your live location so a friend can follow you on the map for a set time. Both are in the attach menu of a chat.
On Android
- Open the chat.
- Tap the paperclip 📎 in the message box › Location.
- Allow location access if asked (choose "While using the app").
- Tap Send your current location to send one fixed pin, or Share live location.
- For live location, choose 15 minutes, 1 hour or 8 hours, add a comment if you like and tap send.
On iPhone
- Open the chat.
- Tap + next to the message box › Location.
- Allow location access if asked.
- Tap Send Your Current Location, or Share Live Location and pick the time.
Send a place, not where you are
On the same location screen, search for a shop, station or address, or move the map, and tap the place to send it. Useful for telling people where a function or meeting is.
Stop sharing live location
- In the chat, tap Stop sharing under the live map, then confirm.
- To see every chat where you are sharing: Settings › Privacy › Live location, and stop any or all.
- Sharing ends by itself when the time you chose runs out.
If it doesn't work
- Location is wrong or jumping: turn on the phone's Location/GPS, choose high accuracy (Android), and step outside or near a window for a minute.
- Live location stops updating: keep mobile data on and don't use battery saver too strongly; on iPhone set WhatsApp's location to Always in phone Settings › WhatsApp › Location for live sharing in the background.
- "Location" option missing: allow WhatsApp location permission in the phone's settings and restart the app.
Safety tips
- Share live location only with people you trust, and for the shortest time you need.
- Live location is great when travelling alone at night: share 1 hour with a family member and stop when you arrive.
- Never post your live location in big groups with strangers.
This is GroupChatOn’s own easy guide. We are not WhatsApp and are not linked with WhatsApp or Meta. WhatsApp sometimes changes its menus: if a button looks different on your phone, update WhatsApp from the Play Store or App Store.
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