6 Ways to Share Your Location on WhatsApp

Did someone ask you to send your location on WhatsApp? This guide shows how to share your location on WhatsApp from an iPhone or Android.

Note: Before you start sharing, make sure you give location access to WhatsApp. On iPhone, go to Settings → WhatsApp → Location. Select Always. Similarly, on Android, go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions, then allow location access. If location access isn’t granted beforehand, you will be asked to grant it while sharing the location.

1. How to Share Your Current Location on WhatsApp

WhatsApp offers an easy way to send your real-time location on the platform.

To share your current location on WhatsApp via your phone, launch WhatsApp, and go to the chat where you want to share your location.

• On iOS, tap the + on the typing bar. Select Location from the menu.
• If you are using an Android phone, tap on the Attach icon (the paperclip) at the bottom of the typing box. Select Location from the menu.

You will see the options to send a nearby or current location. Press the Send your current location button.

The location box will appear in the chat. Alternatively, tap on the dotted square icon in the top-left corner of the map if you want to send the location with the exact address. This will place a pin at your current location on the map.

Tap the Send this location button at the bottom to send your location with your address.

Tip: you can also send high-quality videos on WhatsApp.

2. How to Share a Different Location on WhatsApp

If you are meeting someone at a specific address or prefer to keep your exact location more private, you also have the option to share a different location on WhatsApp. The directions are the same on both iOS and Android devices. To send a location that’s different from your current location, open the desired chat in WhatsApp.

Select the Paperclip icon, followed by Location on Android, or the +, followed by Location on iPhone. Tap on the search icon or the search bar at the top of the location screen.

Type the name of the location that you want to send, then tap the location name from the options at the bottom.

On Android, you can also manually drop a pin on the location by tapping on the dotted square icon to open the map in full-screen mode. Drag the map, and the pin will move automatically. Leave it in the desired position, then tap Send this location.

Tip: to share a faraway location, you must manually move the map and drop the pin on the location.

3. How to Share a Live Location on WhatsApp

The first method will share your static location with others. If you move from that location, your new location will not be reflected in the chat. If you want someone to track your location in real time, use the live location-sharing feature.

To share a live location on an Android or iPhone, open a WhatsApp chat. On Android, tap on the Paperclip icon -> Location. On iPhone, tap on + -> Location.

Tap on Share live location, and select the sharing duration. By default, 1 hour is selected. You can also choose 15 minutes or 8 hours. You can even add a comment explaining why you are sharing your live location. Finally, tap the Send button.

4. How to Share Your Location on Your WhatsApp Status

To share your location on your WhatsApp status, you need to use the location sticker, then open WhatsApp on your Android or iPhone.

Go to the Updates tab, and tap on the Camera icon. Capture a new photo, or select an existing one that you want to put on your WhatsApp status.

Tap on the Sticker icon at the top. Select the Location icon under Content Stickers, and choose Select your current location to add your location to the WhatsApp status.

Alternatively, use the search icon at the top to find a different location, then tap on it to add it to your status.

Once the sticker shows up, tap on it to change its color, or move it around by dragging it. Hit the Send button to publish the status with your location.

Tip: learn how to save a friend’s WhatsApp status on Android.

5. How to Share Location on WhatsApp from Google Maps

If you enjoy the Google Maps interface rather than WhatsApp, you can share your location from Google Maps in any WhatsApp chat. For this, open the Google Maps app on your Android or iPhone.

You will see a blue circle over your current location. Touch and hold your current location or any other location you want to send. A screen will show at the bottom, where you will see options like Save, Share, Post, Edit, etc. Swipe left on these options, and tap Share.

Select WhatsApp from the share screen, then tap on the chat in WhatsApp where you want to send your location.

Tip: if needed, you can also visualize your Google location history.

6. How to Share Live Locations on WhatsApp from Google Maps (Android, iPhone)

Just like your current location, you can even share your live location from Google Maps on WhatsApp. For this, open Google Maps on your mobile, and tap on your current location, shown by a blue circle, instead of holding it.

Press the Share location button. Set the time that you want to share your location. By default, 1 hour is selected. You can increase or decrease it using the + and – . Choose WhatsApp from the list of apps, and select the contact you want to send your live location to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Zainab Falak.

Zainab Falak - Staff Writer

Zainab is an Actuarial Sciences graduate from Pakistan with a passion for technology. When she's not busy writing insightful pieces on Windows and the latest tech trends, you'll find her with her nose buried in a productivity book, always on the lookout for ways to optimize her workflow and stay ahead of the curve.