Summary
But with iOS 15, Apple has taken the Find My app to the next level with many new features. iOS users may view their friends’ Live Locations for the first time. The newest feature is more secure and accurate than its old versions.
I recently came across the “Live” feature of “Find My Friends” on my iPhone. And I asked myself what this feature is and how it functions. That’s why I checked out the feature and discovered how Apple has again raised the bar in location sharing.
In this guide, I’ll cover all you need about the Live function. And I’ll also throw in other interesting pieces of information, like how to troubleshoot the feature. Read on, and let’s dive into the “Live” feature.
What Does Live Mean on “Find My Friends”?
Apple has been continually improving its iOS through the years. And with the iOS 15 update on September 15, 2021, Apple introduced many new and cool features.
One is the “Live” feature on “Find My Friends.” This feature lets you track other iOS users’ locations in real-time.
Once an iOS user has permitted you to see their location, you can utilize the Live feature to view every move they make. However, you can only see the “Live” location if you’re friends with the iOS user.
The feature is extremely helpful for parents to keep track of their kids. Additionally, the feature reduces the need to refresh the Find My app to verify a friend’s whereabouts.
Advantages of Live Location
The “Live” feature is a great addition to iOS, and it has several benefits:
- Safe travels – even though other apps like WhatsApp provide the live location feature, it’s not entirely perfect. The Live feature will allow users to communicate their location with loved ones while traveling.
- Finding lost iPhone – if you lose your iPhone, the live location will help you find it.
- Child safety – as said earlier, the live feature will stop you from worrying about your child’s whereabouts. Real-time location updates are always provided.
How to Enable Live Location on Find My App?
Turning on the live location feature is a simple task. Here’s a step-by-step to start sharing your location with your friends and family:
1. Go to Settings and tap Privacy. In the Privacy settings, tap Location Services.
2. To turn on location services on your iPhone, toggle the button next to Location Services.
3. After turning on the location services, you must activate your Find My app using your Apple ID. Then, tap on your name at the Settings interface.
4. Open the Find My app. Switch the button next to Find My iPhone on.
5. Go back to Settings and go to Privacy. Once there, tap Location Services and Find My.
6. Inside the Find My menu, choose While Using This App. On the same interface, enable Precise Location for accuracy.
7. Afterward, open the Find My app. Tap Me.
8. Tap the button next to the Share My Location. Scroll down the Me interface and choose Use This iPhone as My location to ensure the device you’re using is sharing your location.
9. Restart the Find My app and tap on the ‘+’ sign beside the People section. Tap Share my location.
How to Disable Live Location on Find My App?
Once you turn on the Live Location feature, your friends and family can automatically see where you are. But if you want a little privacy, you can turn off the Live Location feature. Here’s how:
1. Launch the Find My app.
2. Tap on People on the screen’s bottom-left.
3. Choose the person you wish to block from seeing your location.
4. Once selected, a prompt will pop up. Select Stop Sharing Location.
5. If you want to stop sharing your Live Location with everyone, tap on Me. Toggle the Share My Location option off.
How to Use Find My Friends’ Live Feature to Find People
There are two ways to check someone’s Live Location. You can see a person’s Live Location if they either shared it with you or you sent a request.
1. Launch the Find My app.
2. Tap on People at the bottom of the screen.
3. Choose the person you wish to check on. Once you tap the person’s name, you’ll see their location’s complete address.
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4. You can also see other options such as Contact, Directions to their location, Notifications, and others.
Scenario B – Sending a Live Location Request
1. Launch the Find My app.
2. Tap on People at the bottom of the screen.
3. Then, tap on the person you want to send the Live Location request.
4. Scroll down and tap Ask to Follow Location. The request will automatically be sent to the person.
5. Note that the person has the right to allow or deny the request.
How to Turn Off Friend Requests on Find My Friends
Turning on the Live Location feature means everyone can add you. Here’s a simple solution to turn off friend requests:
1. Launch the Find My app.
2. Tap on Me on the screen’s bottom-left corner.
3. Find the Allow Friend Requests option.
4. To disable this choice, toggle off the button next to it. Strangers can no longer send requests to know your live location.
How to Use Find My App to Find Missing Devices
The “Live” function’s versatility is its main positive quality. Aside from finding your friends, you can also look for lost Apple devices. You can use this functionality to your advantage with these easy steps:
1. Open your Find My app.
2. Tap on Devices at the bottom of the screen. You’ll see a list of devices connected to your Apple Family or Apple ID.
3. Tap on the device you want to search for, and the app will show you where the device is.
4. You can configure the Find My app to play a sound or send a text message to the lost device. Additionally, you can lock your device so people will not tamper with your data, like deleting your Facebook messages.
How Can I Fix Find My Friends’ No Location Issue?
One of the main issues iOS users can encounter with the Find My Friends app is “No Location.” The “No Location” makes your iPhone unable to find the GPS coordinates of people you’ve permitted to share your location.
There are several underlying reasons why you’re having a “No Location” issue. Here are some of these reasons and how to resolve them:
1. Incorrect Date and Time – the Live Location feature also uses your friend’s date and time. Once any of the two is put incorrectly, the No Location issue will pop up.
To fix this, simply go to Settings, General, and choose Date & Time. Choose the Set Automatically option, and check if the date and time on your device are correct.
2. Disable Location Services– sometimes, it’s the obvious reasons that’ll hamper your Live Location feature. For example, having your Location Services turned off.
You can easily turn it on by going to Settings, Privacy, and then tapping on Location Services. Toggle the button beside the Location Services.
3. iOS Not Updated – the “No Location” error will sometimes pop up when you don’t update your iPhone.
To update your device, go to Settings, tap on General, and then go to Software Update. Afterward, install any updates available.
Difference Between iOS 15 Find My App and iOS 14 and Older
The iOS 15 brings a lot of updates for you, especially with the Find My app.
First, Live Location in iOS 15 modifies how you see your friends. Before iOS 15’s Live Location feature, the location of your friends on the Find My app would intermittently update.
Now, you can easily monitor the whereabouts of your friends and family in real time. Apple thinks the new Find My app update would make it simpler for consumers to get in touch with one another.
Another great thing about the iOS 15 Find My app is you can easily find devices that are turned off. However, this feature only works when your device is close to another Apple device.
Additionally, if your iPhone got stolen and erased, it will still appear in the Find My app. The feature is closely tied to your Activation Lock, which needs your Apple ID and password.
Lastly, with Separation Alerts, the Find My app can notify you if an iPhone or iPad is left behind. The notification will be sent on one of your other devices.
FAQs:
1. How accurate is the Live feature of Find My Friends?
The Live Location feature’s accuracy is approximately 20 feet, but that depends if you have a strong satellite connection. A weaker connection can reduce the distance to 100 or even 1,000 feet.
2. Can you still get tracked when your iPhone is turned off?
Yes, you can still get tracked.
As long as the person is added to your People list in your Find My app, they can still know your location. Additionally, nearby Apple devices such as iPhones and Macs will aid in your precise location.
3. Is sending a current location the same as sharing a Live Location?
No, they’re completely different.
If you share your current location, it will reflect where you currently are. On the other hand, sharing Live Locations will show your exact and accurate location while you’re moving.
4. Can you use the Find My app to know if someone’s using their iPhone?
Actually, you can. Go to your People list on your Find My app and check if ” Online ” is near the person’s name.
But the feature will only work if they’re connected to the internet. Otherwise, the word “Offline” will appear next to their name.
Sharing Live Location Hassle-Free
The Find My Friends’ Live Location feature greatly increases the security of iPhones. Generally, the Live Location feature will provide peace of mind by checking your friends and family’s whereabouts in real-time.
Like this article? Learn more from other articles I’ve written about other apps like Spotify and Snapchat:
- Fixing the Snapchat app when it keeps crashing
- How to restore a temporarily locked Facebook account
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How frequently do you check on the real-time locations of your friends and family? Is there anything else about this feature that needs to be clarified? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
