WhatsApp introduces live location sharing on Android and iOS

Popular messaging app WhatsApp was today updated with a new feature that's designed to allow WhatsApp users to share their location in real-time with family and friends.

Live Location through WhatsApp features end-to-end encryption and includes tools to allow users to specify who they share their location with and for how long.

This has been seen before in apps such as Google Maps and even Facebook Messenger - the launch in both of those cases happened back in March. Seven months later, the feature is finally ready to be added to WhatsApp.

That may sound creepy, but WhatsApp says it's a "simple and secure way to let people know where you are." It's end-to-end encrypted and users can end the location sharing before the designated time period is over if they want.

When you start sharing your live location, you can also add a message.

If you share your Live Location in a group, you also see this on the Group info screen. If more than one person shares their Live Location in a group, all locations will be shown on the same map.

The feature is released via a server-side update and is working for us in combination with Android bèta 2.17.379. Also for iOS it’s currently rolled out.


Live Location is available on both Android and iPhone and will be rolling out in the app in the coming weeks. It is currently not available for WhatsApp Web/Desktop app.