As Android Authority points out, asking a contact to send their location — especially an older one — can be a tricky exercise. It’s a query typically followed by a bunch of long-winded questions as they fumble their way through WhatsApp’s UI. According to Android Authority, WhatsApp’s working on a feature to change that.
A new feature in the works at WhatsApp
In theory, the finished feature would allow a user to easily request their contacts’ location from inside the chat. At the moment, sharing a location is entirely up to each specific user. Open a chat, tap the little paper clip, then tap ‘Location ‘, and you’ll get the option to ‘Share live location’ or ‘Send your current location’.
Android Authority uncovered the feature as part of an APK teardown of WhatsApp version 2.26.41.11. As pictured above, that ‘Location’ screen would now add a “Request location” button. Ideally, this would send a prompt to the selected contact, and clicking it would automatically share their location. We assume, anyway.
Android Authority wasn’t able to receive a location request message on their other device, being told to update WhatsApp first. When the feature becomes available to the public, it’ll likely ask them whether they want to share a live location or their current location. After being prompted to turn on their location, of course.
At the moment, though, there’s no indication when (or even if) the feature will be ready for consumption.
