How to Share Your Location on WhatsApp (Current and Live)

Sharing your location on WhatsApp saves a lot of "I'm by the blue door, no, the other blue door" messages. It's handy for meeting friends, letting family know you're on your way home, or telling a customer exactly where to find your pop-up stall. WhatsApp gives you two options, and they behave very differently. One sends a single snapshot of where you are. The other keeps updating for as long as you choose. Here's how each works, according to WhatsApp's help centre, and how to stop sharing when you're done.

Current location vs live location on WhatsApp

Option	What the other person sees	How long it lasts
Send your current location	A static image of where your phone was when you sent it	No, the pin stays where it was
Share live location	Your real-time position on a map in the chat	For the length of time you pick, or until you stop it

WhatsApp's help page is clear that sending your current location doesn't share your live location. So if you just need to say where the venue is, the current location option is the more private choice.

Turn on location access for WhatsApp first

WhatsApp can't share anything until your phone lets it use location.

• Android: open your phone's Settings, then Apps, then WhatsApp, then Permissions, then Location. WhatsApp's help page lists the choices as Allow only while using the app, Ask every time and Don't allow.
• iPhone: open your phone's Settings, tap Privacy and Security, then Location Services, then WhatsApp, and choose an option. WhatsApp's live location page says to choose Always.

Send your current location in a WhatsApp chat

1. Open the individual or group chat.
2. Tap the Attach icon next to the message box.
3. Tap Location.
4. Choose to send your current location, or pick a nearby place from the list.
5. Send it.

WhatsApp's help page says the Location option lets you send your location or a nearby place, which is useful when you'd rather share the cafe than your exact spot. Menus vary by app version, so the wording of the send button may differ slightly on your phone.

Share your live location on WhatsApp step by step

1. Open the individual or group chat.
2. Tap Attach, then Location, then Share live location. Tap Continue (Android) or OK (iPhone) if you're asked.
3. Choose how long to share your live location for. Sharing stops on its own when that time is up.
4. Add a comment or emoji if you like.
5. Tap Send.

I'd always pick the shortest time that covers the trip. You can stop early, but you can't forget to stop if it ends on its own. If you're sharing with a group, remember that everyone in that group can see your position until it ends, not just the person you're meeting, so a one-to-one chat is often the better place for it.

How to stop sharing your live location on WhatsApp

In one chat

1. Open the chat where you're sharing.
2. Tap Stop sharing, then confirm.

In every chat at once

• Android: from the Chats tab, tap More options, then Settings, then Privacy, then Live location, and stop sharing.
• iPhone: tap Settings or your profile picture, then Privacy, then Live location, and stop sharing.

WhatsApp's help page explains what's left behind: people in the chat still see the first location you shared as a small static map, and they can tap it to see your last updated location. Nothing keeps updating once sharing has stopped or expired.

Location sharing on WhatsApp for small businesses

If customers come to you, sending your current location or a nearby place is a quick way to answer "where are you?" without typing out directions. For events, markets or home visits, a short live location share helps the other person see you're nearly there. I'd keep live location for people you know, though, and use a static pin for everyone else. If you've got a dedicated business number, my guide to setting up WhatsApp Business through Meta covers the profile details that help customers find you.

Meeting up with a whole team or club? Location works in group chats too, so it's worth creating a WhatsApp group for the day and sharing your location there once.

Staying safe when you share location on WhatsApp

• Only share live location with people you trust, and for the shortest time that works.
• Check the Live location screen in Privacy now and then to make sure nothing's still running.
• You can switch off WhatsApp's location permission in your phone's settings at any time.
• If someone's making you uncomfortable, stop sharing, then block them on WhatsApp. If you're in danger, contact the police.

If WhatsApp location sharing won't work

• Check location permission for WhatsApp in your phone's settings, as above.
• Make sure your phone's location services are switched on.
• WhatsApp's help page says live location isn't supported on companion phones linked to your account, so share it from your main phone.
• If a place is missing or wrong on the map, WhatsApp says its map and places information comes from Facebook Places and Google Maps, and points you to those providers.

Frequently asked questions

Does WhatsApp share my location automatically?

No. You choose to send your current location or share your live location in a chat, and live sharing stops when the time you picked runs out or when you stop it.

Can people see my location after I stop sharing?

They see the first location you shared as a static map image, and can tap it to see your last updated position. It doesn't keep updating.

Can I share my location in a WhatsApp group?

Yes. WhatsApp's help page describes the same steps for individual and group chats.

Can I share live location from WhatsApp Web?

WhatsApp's help pages describe live location on phones. It isn't supported on companion phones linked to your account.

How do I stop all live location sharing at once?

Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Live location, and stop sharing.