How to text your location in an emergency?

Whether it’s a town that isn’t yours, a country lane far from anywhere, or an emergency lane on the highway, these situations can cause difficulty in obtaining assistance. Fortunately, the smartphones that we always have in our pockets can greatly help us in this scenario. Whether you have a phone that runs Android or iOS, since the operating system doesn’t matter here, you will have a solution: geolocation. Any phone from recent years offers a location feature, usable with applications like Google Maps, Apple Maps or even Waze. But did you know that you can also use it in your messaging apps?

Only two things are required to take advantage of it: activated location and 3/4/5G or Wi-Fi connectivity, although mobile networks will undoubtedly be more appropriate for such situations. By sending your location to a contact, they will be able to see a point on the map; this point is you. Or rather your smartphone. Your contact can then either join you by initiating a route to your location, or communicate it to someone else if necessary.

How do I text someone my location?

Depending on your smartphone model, the procedure may be different. Fortunately, everyone seems to have agreed on the overall use of a texting application; therefore, the manipulations are equivalent. Here’s how to do it.

If you have an Android smartphone

In our example, we use the Google Messages application, available for free on Google Play and usable on smartphones running Android 5.0 at least. Many other applications offer the functionality, but this is not the case for all those installed by default on smartphones, especially older ones. It is therefore profitable and advisable to use Google Messages; in addition to localization, it allows you to take advantage of many more recent features such as instant messaging via RCS.

Once in Android’s Messages app, open any conversation or open a new one. Then click on the “+” button circled at the bottom left, then on “Location”. A window will open to check your current location; if it seems consistent to you, all you have to do is click on the arrow at the bottom right to send the message to your contact. A Google Maps link will be sent; therefore, if your contact has an iPhone, they will still be able to open it.

If you have an Apple smartphone (iPhone)

If you have a smartphone running iOS, an iPhone, the procedure is just as simple as on Android. Or even more so, since there is no question here of using another application; Apple’s original one is particularly complete. So open the “Messages” application, then choose the conversation or start a new one. Then click on the “+” circled at the bottom left of the screen, then on “Position”. At this point, the Apple Maps map opens at the bottom of your screen instead of the keyboard. Check that the blue dot is where you are (as much as possible, if you are lost you obviously don’t know where you are precisely), then click on “Share”.

Don’t panic: yes, the link sent will direct your contact to Apple Plans. But even if it is opened on an Android smartphone, the link can be opened. By clicking on “Directions”, your Android contact will automatically launch Google Maps (or any other application chosen by the person) on their smartphone.

Using WhatsApp or Messenger to send your location, is it possible?

Obviously. As for the rest, all you need is a smartphone connected to the internet and able to geolocate; in other words, the vast majority of smartphones, if not all. Each application offers its own features, but WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger allow you to share your location. The difference with SMS is that this is a “Live” location. Clearly, your movements will be displayed on your contact’s screen for a chosen duration. Other applications available for free offer this functionality, such as Signal (which will name this functionality “Location”), to name just one.

Using this type of application can allow you to share your location with someone using, for whatever reason, a tablet or computer rather than a smartphone. Google Maps and Apple Plans have “web” versions, that is to say functional on any internet browser on any compatible medium.