How to Track Mobile Phone using WhatsApp

If you are an avid user of the instant messaging application on your mobile phone, you will have used or heard about WhatsApp. WhatsApp is a popular instant messaging application in which you can use not just to text your friend but also send images and videos. Another cool feature of WhatsApp is that it also enables you to share your mobile phone location with your friends.

WhatsApp recently has introduced a capability in which you can track your friend’s location real time. This means that if your friend was at location A in the morning and later in the day move to location B, you would able to know their current location by just using WhatsApp. This cool feature can also be utilized as a phone tracker.

However, the only limitation to this is that it only allows you to share the real-time location up to 8 hours only. However, it is good enough for you to track a phone and another good thing is that it is free.

So, if you are interested to learn how to track a friend or even your phone using WhatsApp, here are the steps. However, first, you need to enable the live location sharing feature in WhatsApp first.

Here are the steps.

HOW TO ENABLE WHATSAPP FOR LIVE LOCATION SHARING

How to enable Whatsapp for live location sharing

Step 1

Open your iPhone and tap “Settings.”

Step 2

In Settings, scroll down and tap “WhatsApp.”

How to enable Whatsapp live location sharing

Step 3

In the WhatsApp settings, tap “Location.”

Step 4

In the Location settings, change to “Always”.

By changing to “Always” settings, you can track the mobile phone regardless of the WhatsApp application is in use or not. As long as the phone is on and connected to the internet, you are good to go.

So, once you enable the live location feature in WhatsApp, you can then start tracking phone by just using WhatsApp. 

Here are the steps.

HOW TO SHARE WHATSAPP LIVE LOCATION FOR PHONE TRACKING

How to share whatsapp live location 1

Step 1

Open WhatsApp and open the contact chat screen that you want to share the live location. Tap the “+” button below

Step 2

A menu will be shown. Tap “Location”

How to share whatsapp live location sharing 2

Step 3

In the “Send Location” settings, tap “Share Live Location.”

Step 4

You can then set the duration of the live location sharing to either 15 minutes, 1 hour or 8 hours

How to share whatsapp live location sharing 3

Your phone will now be able to transmit your location live to another phone via WhatsApp. That another phone will act as the tracker in case your phone got lost, or you misplaced it. The location transmitted will be a real-time location.

As long as that mobile phone is on and connected to the internet, you will be able to track it even when the WhatsApp application is closed.

You can end the live location sharing immediately by tapping the “Stop Sharing.”

 So, there you have it — simple ways of how you can track a mobile phone real time by using WhatsApp. Please leave us a comment on whether this tip works for you or not.

Please also read our previous article on how to track friends using a mobile phone.

Top 5 Effective Ways How to Track Friend’s Phone

Tracking your phone have been made easy nowadays. This is due to the apps that can utilize the GPS function in your phone as well as the hardware of your phone itself. You can use your phone as a tracking device for yourself or for others to track and find you. The accuracy of the location tracking has also improved nowadays. However, not many people are aware of this amazing function that is embedded in some of the software that we used on a daily basis. So, here are the five effective ways how you can track your friend’s phone.

1. TRACK LOCATION USING WHATSAPP

WhatsApp is probably one of the best instant messaging application available in the market. It is used by most people as a way to send and receive messages to your friends and families. You can also send files and video using WhatsApp to your friends. Read here more if you want to know what other things you can do with WhatsApp. However, you can also use WhatsApp to send your location to your friends or vice-versa. Read here on some the top tips in using WhatsApp. Here are five simple steps how you can track the location of your friends using WhatsApp.

Track using Whatsapp 1

Step 1
Install WhatsApp from the Google Play or Apple Store if you do not have the WhatsApp application yet. Open your WhatsApp and open a conversation box with the friend you want to share the location.

Step 2
Tap the icon + here

Step 3
Tap the location here

Track using Whatsapp 2

Step 4
Tap here to send your location. It will also show your location on the map

Step 5
Your location will then be shared with your friend. Your friend can then use the geo-data that you shared to track and find you.

2. TRACK LOCATION USING GOOGLE

One of the easiest ways to track your phone is by using Google itself. There are many ways how you can use Google. If you are using Android or your friend’s phone is an Android-based phone, you can use the Android Device Manager to help you track the phone’s location. You can visit the Android Device Manager website here. You can also use Google Maps and Google account to track the location of your friends and families. Read more here on how you can track your phone using Google.

3. TRACK LOCATION USING WAZE

Waze is a popular app that people use to get to where they want to be. However, Waze also has the function of adding your friends. Whenever your friends are using Waze, it will automatically tell you where they are, and their location is shown on a map. You can also share your location with them as well. The good thing about Waze, it will track you or your friend on real time. You can also even chat with your friend using Waze. Here are six simple steps on how you can track your friend’s location using Waze.

track friends with Waze 1

Step 1
If you have not yet installed Waze, you can download it from Google Play or Apple store. Once installed, open the App.

Step 2
The first menu would be the real-time map menu where you will be shown your location. Swipe left to enter the Waze menu

track friends with Waze

Step 3
In the menu, tap the icon at the centre here.

Step 4
Your friends that are currently using Waze will appear online here.

track friends with waze 3

Step 5
Tap on your friends that are online.

Step 6
If you plan to meet your friend. Tap at the “Send ETA” so that they will know where you are and when you will arrive at their place.

4. TRACK LOCATION USING IPHONE’S “FIND FRIENDS”

Probably much not aware of this but iPhone iOS comes pre-installed with an app called “Find Friends”. It uses the same technology as the Find iPhone apps where it tracks your iPhone’s location based on your phone’s GPS. Read here more if you want to know how to track your lost iPhone. Using the “Find Friend’s” app, you can find your friend in real-time. The app is also very easy to use. Here are the steps you can use to track the location of your friends using your iPhone.

Track using Find Friends

Step 1
Open your iPhone and tap on the “Find Friends” app.

Step 2

Your friend’s location will be shown on a map. However, this only valid with your friends that have an iPhone. They also need to permit their location can be discovered by you. You can also share your location to your friend by sending your location using this app


5. TRACK LOCATION USING FACEBOOK MESSENGER

If you are a Facebook messenger, you probably have noticed some of the notification where your friends are nearby. Or Facebook can also notify where your friend is attending an event near you. This is because Facebook is utilizing the GPS in your phone to sync with your Facebook account. Facebook Messenger also utilizes the same technology so that you can share your location with your friends. Here are the steps on how you can share your location using Facebook Messenger.

track using facebook messenger 1

Step 1
Before you can share location, you need to enable your location service. Go to your iPhone’s settings and choose the Privacy option

Step 2
In the Privacy settings, find Messenger and tap on it

Step 3
You will be given three choices. It will on “Never” as default. Enable “While Using the App” or “Always” to enable the Location Services

track with facebook messenger 2

Step 4
Open the conversation chat box with the friend you want to share the location with. Tap “+” below

Step 5
A pop-up will show up. Tap the “Location” here

Step 6
Tap “Send” to share your location
Your friends can now see your location. You can also enable the location for a certain time until it expires (Max 1 hour)

So, there you have it. The top 5 effective ways on how you can track your friends using different apps available in the market. Be sure to check our previous article on what to do if you lost your phone. Please leave a comment on whether you have tried some of the apps here to help track your friends.