Activate localization (prerequisite)
Before explaining in detail how to send location on WhatsApp, I have to show you the procedure for activating the location, a prerequisite in order to be able to share the position thanks to the GPS sensor integrated in the smartphone.
Android
Acting from a device Android, tap on the app Settings which is located on the main screen (it is the symbol of a gear), then scroll through the menu you see on the screen until you find the item Geolocation and presses on it. Now, move from OFF a ON the lever you see located at the top, in correspondence with the wording Not active: in this way, the writing will change to Attiva and you will have finished the procedure to activate the GPS module.
The procedures just indicated refer to an Android smartphone I own (Wiko Lenny 3), which is updated to version 6.0 of the Google operating system. However, the indications may vary slightly depending on the device and the Android version in use. For example, to activate geolocation on a smartphone updated to Android version 8.0, you must instead tap on the items Settings> Security and Privacy> Location Services and you have to move the lever from OFF a ON, in correspondence with the wording Access my location (this procedure just indicated refers to a Huawei Mate 10 Pro smartphone).
In a simpler way, you can activate geolocation by using the control panel which is accessible with a swipe from top to bottom: from the drop-down menu on the screen then presses the button Location (o Geolocation).
iOS
If you have one iPhone, to activate the GPS, tap on the app Settings that you find in the main screen of the device (it is the one with the gear symbol); then scroll through the menu that is shown to you until you find the item Privacy (and the symbol of a hand), tap on it and finally press on the item Location. Now, move the lever from OFF a ON, in correspondence with the wording Location, and the GPS will activate.
At this point, fai tap sulla voce Share my location and make sure the wording Share my location present in the next screen is active; otherwise, move the lever from OFF a ON. Go back in the section Location and check that, in the list of apps that have access to the location, the wording is set Everlasting for the app WhatsApp. In case there is the voice Mai, tap on it and press on Everlasting.
Send the location on Whatsapp from Android
Send to a contact of WhatsApp your location is a very simple procedure to perform. Acting from a device Android, first presses the icon of the app WhatsApp (in this guide of mine I explained how to install the messaging app) located on the main screen (it is the symbol of a green speech bubble with a white handset inside). Then, through the section Chat, locate the single chat or group chat in which you want to share the location and tap on it.
Now, press the button with the paper clip symbol that you can see below and then presses on the item Location from the drop-down menu that appears on the screen. Once this is done, you can see a map and a blue dot, corresponding to your current position.
At this point, pigia sul pulsating Share current location, to enable real-time location sharing. As you can see on the screen in the next menu, this can be sent for a set length of time: 15 minutes, 1 hours o 8 hours. Once you have chosen the duration of the sharing, by pressing on the relevant item, press the button with the airplane symbol to confirm sending.
In this way you will have shared the position in real time and it can automatically update on the map, until the end of the set time period. The person with whom you have shared the position in real time will then be able to follow your movements in real time.
To stop sharing your position in real time before the deadline, press the button Stop sharing you see in the chat.
Real-time location sharing also works in the background and can be used reciprocally by all the people with whom it has been shared (and therefore also works in WhatsApp groups). The people (or the person) with whom you have shared it can in fact press the button View current position in the chat and share their position by pressing Touch to share your current location.
If the position is shared in a group, just view the map to distinguish where the different people are: each “dot” of the position is marked by the user's profile photo.
As an alternative to sending your position in real time, you can share your current position. To do this, press the button with the paper clip symbol within the chat, then on the button Location and finally on the wording Submit your location. In this specific case it is not necessary to stop sharing, as it is a static sending.
If you need it, know that it is also possible to share the position of a place located nearby, instead of your exact position: to do this, press one of the items on the screen, corresponding to the wording Places nearby and choose the place to share. Easier than that ?!
Send the location on Whatsapp from iOS
send the location on WhatsApp from devices iOS (hence from iPhone), you must first launch the WhatsApp previously downloaded (if you have not yet downloaded and installed the app, read my guide dedicated to the topic) and then presses on the title of the single or group conversation in which you want to share your movements.
Then press on pulsating (+), located at the bottom left and tap on the wording Location you see on the screen. Now, press the button Share current location, in order to share the position in real time for a set duration (15 minutes, 1 hours o 8 hours) and finally tap the button with the symbol of an airplane, to confirm the sending operation.
The position sent will update automatically and, in case of movement, will be visible on the map shared with all members of the chat. Sharing will be active until the end of the time period you set but you can stop it at any time by pressing on Stop sharing per due turn consecutive.
This tool works in the exact same way within single or group conversations: chat participants can then view the location (View current position) and interact with it (Touch to share your current location).
You can also share one single static position, rather than the dynamic one in real time; in this case it is a single sending which does not need to be interrupted. To do this, press the button with the symbol (+) located within the conversation, tap on the voice Location and finally on the wording Submit your location.
In addition to this, it is also possible to share the position of a nearby place: to do this, just press on one of the items visible on the screen, in correspondence with the wording Places nearby and choose the place of interest.
In case of problems
The procedures just indicated for sharing the location on Whatsapp refer to a feature of the instant messaging application that was introduced on the server side. For this reason, this tool is already active by default on all devices and it is therefore not necessary to wait for an update.
In case you still encounter problems related to its use, you can proceed by manually updating the application WhatsApp on Android and iOS, by carrying out the procedures that I indicate below.
If you have a device Android, start the Play Store by tapping on its icon located on the main screen (it is the icon with the colorful play symbol), then presses the button with the symbol (☰) and, from the drop-down menu you see on the screen, tap on the wording Le mie app ei miei giochi.
Now, locate the section Updates o Install: if in one of these there is the wording Update, next to the icon WhatsApp, it means an update is available. Then press the button Update to download it, and at the end, click on the item apri to start the application. If, on the other hand, the wording apri in place of Update, means that WhatsApp is already updated to the latest version available.
If you have one iPhone, on the other hand, first presses the icon ofApp Store (the shop that features the symbol of a stylized "A" in white on a light blue background), then press the button Updates located in the bottom bar (it is the down arrow symbol).
If the application WhatsApp is present in the screen that opens and there is the wording Update next to it, it means an update is available. Then tap the button Update to download and install it; at the end press the button apri to start WhatsApp and take advantage of the features I told you about.
I also advise you to read my tutorial in which I explained how to activate automatic updates for Android and iOS applications, so as not to have problems in case of features introduced with subsequent updates.
