WhatsApp’s live location sharing feature allows you to share your real-time location with your contacts. This can be useful if you want to let your friends or family know where you are, or if you need to meet up with someone. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to share live location on WhatsApp:
Requirements
To share live location on WhatsApp, you need:
- The latest version of WhatsApp installed on your phone
- An active internet connection (WiFi or mobile data)
- GPS enabled on your phone
Steps to share live location
Follow these simple steps to share live location on WhatsApp:
- Open the WhatsApp chat with the contact you want to share live location with
- Tap on the attach button (paperclip icon)
- From the menu, tap on Location
- Select Live Location
- Choose the duration for which you want to share the live location from the options – 15 mins, 1 hour or 8 hours
- Tap on Share Live Location
Your live location will now be shared with the selected contact for the specified duration. The contact will be able to see your location on a map that updates in real-time as you move. They’ll get notifications when you start and stop sharing.
How to stop sharing live location
There are a couple of ways to stop sharing live location on WhatsApp before the timer runs out:
- Tap on Stop Sharing in the chat where you are sharing location
- Tap the message with your shared location and select Stop Sharing
- Go to your phone’s app settings for WhatsApp and toggle off location sharing
Once you stop sharing, the contact won’t be able to see your live location anymore.
Things to keep in mind
Here are a few important things to note about sharing live location on WhatsApp:
- You can only share live location with one contact at a time
- The location sharing automatically ends after the timer runs out
- Sharing live location consumes more battery as GPS needs to stay on
- The location sharing works even when WhatsApp is running in the background
- For enhanced privacy, you can choose who to share location with on WhatsApp
Troubleshooting tips
If you are unable to share live location on WhatsApp, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Check your internet connection
- Make sure GPS is enabled on your phone
- Update to the latest version of WhatsApp
- Close and re-open WhatsApp
- Restart your phone
- Check app permissions for WhatsApp and enable location access
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and enable location access for WhatsApp
Conclusion
Sharing live location can be extremely handy when coordinating meetups or letting loved ones know you’re safe. With just a few taps, you can share your real-time location on WhatsApp for a duration of your choice. Make sure to stop sharing once you reach your destination or the purpose is solved. Be mindful of who you share your location with and when. With these tips, you can easily master WhatsApp’s live location sharing feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my live location on WhatsApp anonymously?
No, WhatsApp does not have an option to share live location anonymously. Your name/number will be displayed to the contact when you share your live location.
Is there a way to share live location in a WhatsApp group?
Unfortunately, live location sharing is limited to individual chats and cannot be done in a WhatsApp group.
Can I share my live location on WhatsApp using my computer?
No, live location sharing is only available on the WhatsApp mobile app. It cannot be done through WhatsApp Web or Desktop at this time.
Do both sides need to have live location sharing enabled to use this feature?
No, only the person who wants to share their live location needs to have the feature enabled. The recipient just needs the latest version of WhatsApp installed to view shared live locations.
Will location sharing work if I switch to another app?
Yes, location sharing will continue in the background even if you switch to another app during the duration. The recipient will continue seeing updates.
| Duration | Limit |
|---|---|
| 15 mins | Can be shared multiple times |
| 1 hour | Can be shared multiple times |
| 8 hours | Can only be shared once every 8 hours with the same contact |
This summarizes the key durations and limits when sharing live locations on WhatsApp. The 8 hour sharing is restricted to avoid over-sharing for safety reasons.
How does WhatsApp live location sharing work?
WhatsApp uses GPS, cellular data and WiFi to share live location. Here’s a quick rundown of how it works:
- When you opt to share live location, WhatsApp activates GPS on your phone to start tracking your real-time location
- Your location coordinates are encrypted and sent via the internet to WhatsApp’s servers
- The servers relay the encrypted location information to the recipient’s phone
- The recipient’s WhatsApp decrypts the location and shows it on a map along with your name/number and location updates
- As you move, this process repeats to keep updating your location consistently
- Once location sharing ends, the process stops and exact location details are no longer relayed
So in summary, your live location is securely transmitted directly between the phones via WhatsApp’s servers enabling real-time map updates.
Is live location sharing on WhatsApp secure?
Yes, sharing live location via WhatsApp is secure. Here are some of the key security measures implemented by WhatsApp:
- End-to-end encryption – Location data is encrypted end-to-end just like WhatsApp messages and calls
- Location hashing – The location coordinates are hashed before being sent to the server making it less precise
- Limited recipients – Live locations can only be shared with contacts and not groups
- Duration limits – Long duration sharing (8 hours) is limited to once every 8 hours per contact
- Notifications – The recipient is notified whenever location sharing starts or stops
WhatsApp also does not store the shared location history or data after the duration ends. So overall, live location sharing has adequate security measures to prevent tracking misuse.
What are the advantages of sharing live location on WhatsApp?
Here are some key advantages of using WhatsApp’s live location sharing feature:
- Real-time tracking – Lets you share your exact location conveniently in real-time
- Better coordination – Great for coordinating meet-ups, travel, and sharing commute or trip progress
- Safety reassurance – Provides safety reassurance when travelling late or in unfamiliar areas
- Works offline – Initial location can be shared even without connectivity for recipient to track later
- Easy to use – Simple sharing process with duration presets makes it very intuitive
- Secure – End-to-end encrypted with security measures to prevent misuse
- Saved chats – Shared live locations get saved in chats for later reference
What are some common uses of live location sharing on WhatsApp?
Here are some of the most common scenarios where sharing live location on WhatsApp can be helpful:
- Arranging a meeting – Share location to help find each other easily when meeting up
- Daily commute – Share commute or trip progress with family/friends
- Travelling – Share live location when travelling in a new city or country
- Work – Employers can share location with colleagues when out for work meetings
- Emergency – Share live location if in an unsafe situation or area
- On a date – Share location with a friend when on a date for safety
- Running late – Let someone know your updated arrival time if getting delayed
- At events – Easily coordinate where to meet during concerts, conferences etc.
- Long drives – Share your trip status when driving long distances
What are some safety tips for using live location on WhatsApp?
If using live location sharing, keep these safety tips in mind:
- Be selective about who you share location with and when
- Limit long duration sharing to people you really trust
- Avoid sharing if your location privacy may be at risk
- Disable location sharing as soon as it’s no longer required
- Use shorter durations if sharing with casual contacts
- Share initially without specifying recipient to control access
- Make sure your phone has adequate security like lock screens
- Monitor your phone’s app permissions and GPS settings
Following basic precautions goes a long way in keeping your location privacy intact!
What are some alternatives to share location on WhatsApp?
If you need more flexibility than live location sharing, some alternatives on WhatsApp include:
- Send static location – Tap attach > location and share one-time location
- Use third-party apps like Life360 or Glympse to share location in groups and with more controls
- Share location via Google Maps sharing feature outside of WhatsApp
- Send contact, landmark name or address for recipient to locate you
- Use voice notes or chats to explain your whereabouts
You can choose the option that suits your specific location sharing needs outside of live location.
Does WhatsApp notify others when I share location?
Yes, WhatsApp always notifies the recipient when you start or stop sharing live location:
- When you start sharing location, the recipient gets a notification saying “[Your name] is sharing live location”
- They also get notified when you stop sharing with a message “[Your name] stopped sharing live location”
- If you share initial location before specifying recipient, they get notified when added
- Recipients are notified even if WhatsApp is running in background
So recipients are always informed to avoid location sharing without their knowledge.
Can I share old locations on WhatsApp instead of real-time?
No, WhatsApp’s live location sharing feature is strictly for real-time tracking. There is no option to pick and share an old location on the map.
However, you can achieve something similar using these workarounds:
- Take a screenshot of the location you want to share on a maps app and send the screenshot.
- Share a pinned location from Google Maps which will open a live map for recipient with pinned spot.
- Install a third party location sharing app that lets you share previously saved locations.
While not the same as live sharing, these methods can let you share locations that are not your current real-time location.
Can I share my commute route instead of just current location?
Unfortunately WhatsApp does not have a native feature to share your full commute route. Some workarounds include:
- Use Google Maps location sharing which shows route and multiple stops
- Screen record your commute route shown in a map app and send the video
- Use a navigation app like Waze or Google Maps and share the ETA and current stops
- Export commute/trip details from map history and share screenshots
While not real-time, these approaches let you convey your full route and progress to recipients.
Is there a way to see WhatsApp live locations on a PC?
Since WhatsApp’s live location sharing works only on smartphones, you cannot directly see the live locations on a PC. However, there are some possible workarounds:
- Use WhatsApp Web on PC – Shared locations will be visible here
- Use WhatsApp Desktop app on PC which also syncs locations
- Get the recipient to share their screen via WhatsApp video call or screen sharing apps
- Ask recipient to take periodic screenshots of the live map and send them
While not ideal, these methods can allow you to monitor a shared live location on a bigger screen when required.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s live location sharing feature provides a quick and easy way to let your contacts view and track your real-time location with end-to-end encryption. It can prove extremely useful in scenarios like coordinating meetups, sharing commute status or providing safety reassurance when travelling alone. With intuitive sharing options, notification alerts and security measures in place, it offers a fairly robust location sharing implementation. Make sure to use discretion when sharing your live location and limit access only when required. Used responsibly, this WhatsApp feature can significantly improve coordination and add peace of mind during your daily interactions and travels.