Whether it’s a family member, friend, or colleague, knowing their location is the first step in ascertaining if they are safe and how they can be reached if in danger. Over the years, WhatsApp has grown to be one of the most commonly used networking apps around the world, with a location feature that allows you to find people’s locations easily.

In this post, we will explain how to track someone on WhatsApp and discover the exact location without any hassle.
Is It Legal to Find or Track Someone on Whatsapp?
Yes, it is legal to find someone on WhatsApp. The app comes with a feature that allows users to share their location whenever they want to. This form of tracking is completely legal in most countries because it requires the consent of both parties to access the tracking feature. Once you’ve shared your location with others, they can monitor your whereabouts and won’t be breaking any law.
On the other hand, if someone doesn’t share his/her location with you, tracking is impossible. WhatsApp has a location-sharing time range of 15 minutes, 1 hour, and 8 hours. After this time frame, you can’t track the person through the shared link anymore.
How to Find Someone’s Location on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp prioritizes user privacy and safety, hence why you can only track people’s location when they share it with you. Now how do you track someone on WhatsApp?
Check Someone’s Current Location on WhatsApp
Current location on WhatsApp can only be viewed by a receiver after it has been shared by the sender. Once the sender leaves that location, the receiver won’t get an update on the newer locations.
👉Here’s how to check someone’s current location on WhatsApp:
- On the sender’s phone, open WhatsApp, click on Chats, and select the contact (yourself) to share the location with.
- Click on the attachment icon at the bottom right corner.

- Select Location from the pop-up options.

- Finally, click on Send your current location.

- You can now view the person’s current location.
Find Someone’s Real-time Location on Whatsapp
This method of finding someone on WhatsApp indicates their real-time location through a virtual map. Whether they are situated in a distant region or they are just a few blocks away, this WhatsApp live location tracker displays their exact coordinates throughout the tracking period.
👉Here’s how to track someone’s real-time location on WhatsApp:
- Launch the Whatsapp app on the person’s phone, click on Chats, and select the contact (yourself) to share the location with.
- Tap the attachment icon at the bottom right corner.

- Select Location from the pop-up options.

- Click on Share live location and choose how long you want to share the location (15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours).

- After you receive the location message, select View live location to track the person’s real-time location.

How to Find Someone on Whatsapp Without Them Knowing?
Want to know how to find someone on WhatsApp without them knowing (that is, without having to share location on the person’s phone)?
Explained below are the methods to do this without the “send location by WhatsApp” method.
Using TraceU to Track Someone’s Location on WhatsApp
Are you trying to avoid letting the other party know that you are tracking them? TraceU can help you track people’s location without them knowing.
Unlike the procedures involved in WhatsApp’s location sharing, TraceU only requires the phone number used to register the WhatsApp account. You can use this tool in various situations, such as when your teenage children refuse to willingly share their live location with you or when you’re dealing with an elderly person who doesn’t know how to use the WhatsApp location-sharing feature.
TraceU is a browser-based tool with a user-friendly interface that’s capable of finding people’s location, conducting background checks, and social media accounts. This includes tracking iPhones without them knowing and finding Instagram accounts with their phone numbers.
👉Here’s how to find someone in whatsapp without them knowing using TraceU:
- Visit TraceU website and select the phone tracker option. Input the phone number associated with the Whatsapp account and click the Search button.

- Wait for a few seconds for the search to be completed.
- Now, enter your email address, and follow the on-screen instructions to view the person’s exact location.

Using Google Maps to Find Someone’s Location Without Them Knowing
Being one of the world’s most prominent virtual map services, Google Maps can be used to locate someone anywhere in the world. You can set the location sharing beforehand on the person’s phone and commence tracking afterward without them knowing.
👉Below are steps for tracking someone’s location with Google Maps:
- Open Google Maps on the phone you intend to track.
- Click the profile icon or initials at the top-right corner.

- Select Location sharing from the display panel and a prompt will appear for you to share location.

- Click on Share location, tap WhatsApp, and select the contact to receive the location (yourself). A link will be sent to your phone to commence real-time tracking.

- Just in case you do not want the person to know that you have initiated location sharing, you can delete the shared link from their Whatsapp and continue tracking them on Google Maps.
Conclusion
Knowing how to track someone on WhatsApp is a viable way to seamlessly find people, especially with the popularization of the social networking app. There are options to either check their current location or monitor their real-time location.
On the other hand, you can find someone on WhatsApp without them knowing when you use TraceU or Google Maps.
FAQs About Tracking Location on Whatsapp
Below, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions about finding people on WhatsApp. Read on to get more insight.
1️⃣Can You Search for People on Whatsapp?
Yes, you can search for people on WhatsApp. TraceU has a Reverse Lookup feature that can find people on social media, including how to find someone on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Snapchat, and even WhatsApp.
It basically involves entering the phone number that’s linked to the WhatsApp account into the TraceU Reverse Lookup website and you will get the WhatsApp profile of the person.
2️⃣How Do I Find Out If Someone is Online in WhatsApp?
All you need to do is open your Whatsapp app and select the chat of the person’s whose online presence you want to determine. Take a look at the top of the screen, beneath their contact name. If they are online, you’ll see the word “online”.
3️⃣How to Track Down Someone Who Scammed You on WhatsApp?
When people get scammed, they begin to ask questions like; how can I track someone on whatsapp or how to track a number on whatsapp.
Tracking down someone who scammed you on whatsapp is achievable with TraceU. All you need to do is type in the scammer’s mobile number into the TraceU system and wait to get detailed information about the person, including the full name, address, WhatsApp account, and many more.