How to send your location on WhatsApp

What you will learn

In this guide, you will learn how to send your location to someone on WhatsApp. This is useful when you want to tell a family member exactly where you are, help someone find a meeting point, or let your family track your position during a journey. You can send a one-time snapshot of your current location or share your live location that updates in real time.

What you need

• A phone with WhatsApp installed
• Location services turned on (GPS)
• An internet connection

The steps

Step 1: Open a WhatsApp conversation

Open WhatsApp and tap on the conversation with the person you want to share your location with. This can be a one-on-one chat or a group chat.

Step 2: Tap the attachment button

Tap the plus icon (iPhone) or the paperclip icon (Android) next to the message box at the bottom of the screen. A menu of options will appear.

Step 3: Choose Location

From the menu, tap Location. Your phone may ask for permission to access your location. Tap Allow or Allow While Using App. Wait a moment while your phone finds your current position on the map.

Step 4: Send your current location

You will see a map showing your current position with a blue dot. To send a one-time snapshot of where you are right now, tap Send Your Current Location. A map image with your position will appear in the chat. The other person can tap on it to see your exact position and get directions.

Step 5: Share your live location (optional)

If you want the other person to see your position updating in real time, tap Share Live Location instead. Choose how long you want to share: 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours. You can add a comment like “On my way!” and tap Send. The other person will see your position moving on the map as you travel.

Step 6: Stop sharing live location

If you chose to share your live location and want to stop before the time runs out, open the conversation and tap Stop Sharing on the live location message. Your position will no longer update. You can also go to WhatsApp Settings > Privacy > Live Location to stop all active shares at once.

Tips

• Before sharing your location, make sure your phone’s location services (GPS) are turned on. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and make sure it is on. On Android, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Location icon to turn it on.
• Live location is very useful when meeting someone in a crowded place like a shopping centre or train station.
• Only share your location with people you trust. Never share your live location with strangers.
• If the map shows your position in the wrong place, go outside or near a window. GPS works better with a clear view of the sky.

External links

• WhatsApp Help: How to send your location — official WhatsApp guide
• WhatsApp Help: Live location — how live location works