The what3words app | what3words (2024)

Google Maps is a tool for navigation, public transport and for looking up POIs. what3words has a very different function – it’s an easy way to communicate exact locations, whether that’s spoken over the phone or into a car voice navigation system, or typed into a taxi app or a website checkout page.

If you’re given a what3words location, you can open it in the what3words app, then tap ‘Navigate’ and select ‘Google Maps’ to open the exact location in Google Maps and get directions.

Without phone signal, the app functions the same as when you have no data connection: you can view the location of any what3words address you enter. You can also navigate to it using compass mode.

To share a what3words address over the phone or in a text message you need phone signal. To load maps, or share in other apps or social media, you need a data connection.

Watch our CEO Chris explain how what3words works offline here .

Many navigation apps are compatible with what3words, meaning you can find a what3words address in the what3words app and then use it in your favourite navigation app with just one tap. Simply follow these steps .

Some navigation apps accept what3words addresses entered directly into the search bar.

You can see which ones by going to our products page and filtering the results by ‘Navigation’.

what3words addresses can be used easily even by people who don’t have the app.

Simply send them the what3words address as a link e.g. what3words.com/filled.count.soap , so they can view the location on what3words.com.

If you send a what3words address without a link, the recipient can open what3words.com in their browser and type the what3words address into the search bar.

The minimum platform versions we support for new app versions are Android Nougat (7.1) and iOS 14.

If your device is incompatible with the versions above, you won’t be able to use the app, but you can still access what3words via what3words.com on your web browser.