WhatsApp Location Sharing: Share your location on WhatsApp without sending a message—a new feature is coming to Status

WhatsApp Location Sharing: WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to share their location directly on their Status, without needing to attach a photo or video. Find out how this new feature will work.

WhatsApp Location Sharing: Currently, to share their location on WhatsApp, users have to rely on options within a chat or the Status feature. Sharing a location via Status, in particular, is a bit cumbersome—it requires selecting a photo or video first and then adding a location sticker. WhatsApp is now working to simplify this process.

The company is developing a feature that will enable users to post their location directly to their Status without requiring any accompanying photo or video. This eliminates the need to select a separate background image. Let’s take a look at what this new Status feature is and how it will function.

What is the new feature coming to Status?

According to reports, WhatsApp is developing a feature for Android users that allows for direct location sharing on Status. This has been spotted in the Android beta version 2.26.45.8, available via the Google Play Store. Once this feature is rolled out, users may see a dedicated 'Location' option when creating a Status update.

What options will be available before sharing a location?

According to reports, once granted permission to access the device's location, the app will automatically display the user's current location. Users may be asked to confirm this location before sharing it to their Status. If a user prefers not to share their precise location, they may have the option—via device settings—to share an approximate location instead. Furthermore, users will also be able to manually select and share a different location rather than their current one.

Location to be displayed via a map card

According to reports, with this new feature, users may see an additional option at the bottom of the screen when opening the Status composer within the 'Updates' tab. You will be able to share your location directly by selecting the 'Location' option. A key feature here is that the location will appear as a map card rather than a sticker. This card will include a map with a green pin marking the selected location, along with the name and full address of the place. This allows contacts viewing your status to see location details presented via a distinct map card.

Feature not yet available for testing

Currently, this WhatsApp feature is in the development stage. According to reports, the company is working on it for Android users, and it has not yet been released to beta testers. Consequently, there is no information available regarding its general availability or when it might be rolled out to all users.