Imagine never wondering where your loved ones are again. With Apple’s Find My app, you can quickly locate devices and even track the people who matter most—all from your iPhone. Whether you’re keeping tabs on your kids or meeting up with friends, this guide walks you through everything you need to know about using the Find My app to share and track locations in real time.
Here’s how you can set up location sharing with family and friends using the Find My Device.
Getting Started with Location Sharing on iPhone
Before diving into location sharing, make sure Location Services on your iPhone are switched on.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Turn on Location Services.
- Tap Share My Location.
- Ensure both Find My iPhone and Share My Location are active.
Now that you’ve activated location services, you’re ready to share and set up tracking.
Setting Up Find My for Real-Time Location Sharing
All it takes is a few taps to start sharing your location with family or friends. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Find My app.
- Tap the Me tab.
- Turn on Share My Location.
- If you’re using multiple Apple devices, you can select which one is used for sharing by checking the device listed under From.
Sharing Location With Friends
Want to keep track of friends or find out when they arrive somewhere? Sharing your location is quick and simple.
- In the People tab, press Add.
- Choose Share My Location.
- Type in your friend’s name or phone number, or pick from your contact list.
- Choose how long you want to share your location—whether it’s for just an hour, the rest of the day, or indefinitely.
- Hit Send, and your friend will receive the request.
Once you share your location, they also have the option to share theirs with you.
Sharing Your Location With Family
If you’re looking to share your location with family members, this requires setting up Family Sharing, which makes it even easier.
To do that, follow these steps:
- Open Settings and tap your Apple ID.
- Select Family Sharing.
- Tap Location Sharing and press Share Location.
With Family Sharing, everyone you add to the group will have the option to see each other’s locations. The cool thing is that each member can opt in or out without affecting the rest of the group.
Also, be aware: kids or teens under Screen Time restrictions may not be able to modify these settings on their own.
Requesting Someone Else’s Location
Sharing is a two-way street. If someone hasn’t shared their location with you yet, you can ask for it.
To do this:
- Open the Find My app.
- Tap the People tab.
- Select the name of the person you’ve shared your location with.
- Tap Ask to Follow Location.
The other person will get a request, and when they approve, you’ll be able to see their location on the map.
Responding to Location Requests
When someone asks to see your location, you’ll receive a request notification.
- Tap their name under People.
- Choose Share to allow them to see your location.
- Or, hit Don’t Share if you want to decline.
You can also cancel any ongoing requests by simply choosing the cancel option.
Set Location-Based Notifications
One of the most helpful features of the Find My app is setting up location-based notifications. This allows you to know when someone leaves or arrives at a specific place. You can set these notifications up for yourself or others.
- Open Find My and go to the People tab.
- Select the person you want to set the notification for.
- Tap Add and then choose Notify Friend.
- Choose between I Arrive or I Leave.
- Pick the location and adjust the range to customize a distance around that point.
- Save by tapping Add.
You can set up to 25 notifications for different friends and locations, making this feature perfect for ensuring the kids get home safely or knowing when a friend leaves work for a meet-up.
Tracking Locations in Find My
Whenever someone shares their location with you, you’ll see them listed under the People tab with a pin on a map indicating their current spot. From here, you can stay updated on their movements.
If they’re currently sharing their location with you, you’ll see Can see your location under their name. If not, it will say No location found, meaning they’re out of range or have location sharing turned off.
Stopping Location Sharing
There may come a time when you want to stop sharing your location, and the process is quick.
To stop sharing with everyone:
- Go to the Me tab.
- Turn off Share My Location.
To stop sharing with a specific person:
- Open the People tab.
- Select their name, and tap Stop Sharing My Location.
Lastly, if you no longer want to allow Friend Requests from others, you can also turn this option off in the Me tab.
Remember, deleting the Find My app won’t automatically stop location sharing. You’ll have to disable it manually first.
Wrapping Up
The Find My app isn’t just for finding lost devices; it’s the perfect tool for keeping tabs on the people that matter—whether to meet up or simply ensure everyone’s safe. By setting up location sharing and notifications with family and friends, everyone can stay connected in real-time. So, take a few minutes today to set it up and enjoy that extra layer of peace of mind.
If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to share your experience or drop a comment below. Stay safe and connected!