WhatsApp Tests New “Request Location” Feature for Easier Location Sharing

WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new Request Location feature that could make it easier for users to ask someone to share their location directly inside a conversation.

The feature was discovered in WhatsApp version 2.26.41.11 through an APK teardown. It adds a dedicated “Request location” option to the existing location-sharing screen. 

Currently, WhatsApp allows users to send their current location or share their live location. However, if you want another person to send their location, you normally have to ask them through a text message and explain how to use WhatsApp's location-sharing tools.

The upcoming feature could simplify that process.

How WhatsApp's Request Location Feature Could Work

According to the reported testing, the new option appears within WhatsApp's Send location menu alongside the existing location-sharing options.

After selecting Request location, WhatsApp creates a dedicated “Location request” card inside the chat. 

This would give users a much simpler way to communicate that they want someone's location without having to type a separate message.

For example, instead of sending:

“Please send me your location. Open the attachment menu, select Location and then share it.”

A user could potentially send a location request directly from WhatsApp's location menu.

What Happens When Someone Receives a Location Request?

The exact recipient experience is not confirmed yet.

Testing reportedly showed that the feature worked on one device, while the request appeared as an unsupported message on another device. This indicates that WhatsApp is still working on the functionality and compatibility. 

One possible implementation is that the recipient could tap the Location request card and then choose whether to share their current location or live location.

However, this response process has not been confirmed, so it should not be treated as the final WhatsApp experience.

WhatsApp Could Make Location Sharing Easier

The proposed feature could be useful in everyday situations.

For example, friends meeting at a busy location could request a map location instead of exchanging written directions. Families could also use the feature when trying to find one another, while businesses and colleagues could potentially use it when coordinating meetings.

The main advantage would be convenience: users would not need to explain where the location-sharing option is located inside WhatsApp.

Similar to Apple's iMessage Location Request

The idea is not entirely new.

Apple's iMessage already provides a Request Location option that allows users to ask another person to share their location. WhatsApp's reported feature appears to follow a similar concept. 

If WhatsApp introduces the feature publicly, it could make location requests more consistent with the way other modern messaging platforms handle location sharing.

WhatsApp Feature Is Still Under Development

It is important to note that WhatsApp has not announced a public release date for this feature.

The discovery comes from testing and APK analysis rather than a confirmed stable release. WhatsApp could change the feature's design, functionality or availability before making it available to everyone. There is also no guarantee that every feature discovered during testing will eventually reach the public version of the app. 

For now, WhatsApp users should continue using the existing location-sharing options available in their current version of the app.

What This Means for WhatsApp Users

If WhatsApp officially launches the Request Location feature, asking someone for their location could become much faster.

Instead of manually explaining how to share a location, users could simply send a dedicated request from the location menu. The recipient could then potentially respond through WhatsApp's existing location-sharing system.

The feature could be particularly useful for meetups, family coordination, travel, deliveries and other situations where sharing a precise location is more convenient than typing an address.

Key Takeaway

WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new Request Location feature that would allow users to send a dedicated location request inside a chat. The option has been spotted in WhatsApp version 2.26.41.11, but its recipient experience and public release date remain unconfirmed. 

If released, the feature could make WhatsApp's location-sharing system considerably easier and more convenient.