WhatsApp is working on a simpler way to find out where your friends are. Right now, if you want someone to share their address or pinpoint where they are on a map, you have to type out a message and wait. A new update spotted in early testing shows the popular chat app is building a quick button to ask for location details directly. This new change makes the app work a bit more like Apple‘s iMessage, removing the need for clunky texting.
A new button makes asking for directions much easier
Under the new system, WhatsApp is giving users a dedicated request location button right inside the chat menu. You will find it tucked inside the existing sharing screen. Instead of tapping out a message asking a friend to send their spot, you just hit the request button.
This action drops a clear visual request card directly into your conversation. It stands out from regular text messages so your friend knows what you need. While you can already share your live spot or drop a pin, this flips the script by letting you actively ask the other person for theirs.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
The feature popped up during a teardown of the beta app version 2.26.41.11 for Android. Researchers enabled it on a test device and confirmed the sending side works.
Public testing might still take a few months to begin
Even though the request card shows up in chats, it is still very early days for the feature. Testers noted that when they sent the card to a second phone, the app showed it as an unsupported message. This means the team is still building out how the receiving end actually works.
If it eventually rolls out to everyone, it will be a huge help for people who find app menus confusing. You will not have to act like tech support explaining how to share a pin. It brings a clean and simple approach to navigation.
For now, there is no official launch date. Because it is still hidden inside early beta code, we might have to wait several months before it becomes available for public testing. You will just have to keep asking people to send their address the old way for a little longer.
Discussion