One of the most interesting things about Waze is that it’s also a social navigation app. Its social aspect sets it apart from similar apps.
This is especially true when you consider how easy it is to send your location from Waze via WhatsApp and other messaging apps you can use with Waze. WhatsApp and Waze work well together when you and the person you’re sharing with use them regularly.
In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to share different Waze data on WhatsApp and some more information on how you can communicate through Waze.
Sending Waze Location via WhatsApp
With more than 2 billion active users worldwide, WhatsApp is by far one of the most popular messaging and video calling applications in the world.
One of the reasons so many users love it is because it’s lightweight and super responsive. It also integrates easily with other applications. For example, you can instantly share your Waze location via WhatsApp.
The only prerequisite for this to work is that the person you’re sending your Waze location to has the latest versions of WhatsApp and Waze installed, preferably on their device. Now, here is how to send your Waze location using WhatsApp:
- Open the Waze app on your phone and find the location using the search bar.
- Tap the location and then tap the blue “Go” button at the bottom of the screen.
- On the left side panel of the Waze app, you will see the selected location. Tap the three dots on the right next to the location.
- A drop-down menu will appear. Select “Send Location”.
- Select the “Other” option. Next, select the WhatsApp icon from another menu.
- Choose your WhatsApp contact.
- The Waze location will appear in your contact’s message box. Check if it’s correct and then tap “Submit”.
When your contact receives the message with the location on WhatsApp, all they have to do is click on it and see the location.
Sharing Your Drive with WhatsApp
Another great feature of Waze is that you can share your drive with your friends on WhatsApp. Imagine you are going to a meeting, but your friends are getting impatient. To put their mind at ease, you can share your exact location and estimated time of arrival in real time so they can predict your arrival. Here’s what you need to do:
- Open the Waze app on your device and enter your destination.
- Select “Share drive” before you start driving.
- Then select “More options” to skip choosing from your Waze contacts.
- Select WhatsApp from the drop-down menu.
- Confirm by tapping “Send” on WhatsApp.
Not only can you share your ride with someone from the start, but you can also share your ride mid-ride. Tap the ETA bar at the bottom of the screen and select “Share drive”.
When your contact clicks on the link you sent, you’ll get a notification on the screen so you can make sure they’re now tracking your Waze driver.
While WhatsApp is a common choice for sharing locations and drives from Waze, you can do the same with other apps.
Facebook and Waze are also seamlessly integrated (Facebook now owns WhatsApp) and you can now use Facebook Messenger as one of the sharing options.
Even if the person you’re sharing with is temporarily offline, you can send them a text message with your location. When they’re back online, they can click the link.
How to Message Your Friends on Waze
Note that you can send a location and share your drive without using another app. Waze prioritizes your Waze contact when you select these actions.
There are two other features in Waze that support it as a social navigation app: You can send a message to a friend or send “Beep Beep” as a way to say hello.
These options are available in the “My Waze” section of the app. Clicking on the “My friends” option will show your contact list and you can message them or tap on the “Beep Beep” option, provided they are online.
Monitoring Your Waze Drivers with WhatsApp
As you can see, sending your Waze location and ETA via WhatsApp is relatively simple. You can choose to use other messaging apps or just Waze if you prefer, but WhatsApp is usually the best friend. All you really need is a stable internet connection for both apps to run smoothly.
Sharing your ride with your friends on WhatsApp is a great way to let them know where you are without using your phone while driving, which can be dangerous and in some cases illegal.
Have you ever sent a location or shared a Waze drive via WhatsApp? Let us know in the comments section below.
