Location sharing feature explained

WhatsApp allows users to share their location with contacts, either as a one-time event or in real time, on both Android and iPhone devices. This feature can be useful for meeting up with friends or family, tracking deliveries, or coordinating activities.

Enabling location access

Users must first authorize location access for the WhatsApp application. On Android, this involves going to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Permissions and enabling Location in "Only allow when the app is in use" mode. On iPhone, users need to go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > WhatsApp and choose "While Using the App" or "Always."

Sending a fixed location

To send a fixed location to a contact or in a group, users can open the desired conversation in WhatsApp, tap the paperclip icon (Android) or the + button (iPhone), select Location, and choose "Send My Current Location." The recipient can then open this location in Google Maps or Apple Maps.

Real-time location sharing

For real-time tracking, users can select "Share Location in Real Time" and choose a duration of 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours. A comment can be added, and the location can be sent. Contacts can follow movements on a real-time map, and the user can stop sharing at any time by tapping "Stop Sharing" in the conversation.

End of real-time sharing

Once sharing stops or the time elapses, contacts no longer track movements, though the map remains displayed as a miniature frozen on the last transmitted position. Real-time sharing stops automatically at the end of the chosen duration.

Privacy and encryption

Location sharing on WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, just like messages. Only the participants in the conversation can see the location. In a group, this means all its members. Users can find and turn off multiple shares in Settings > Privacy > Location Sharing.