What Does Live Mean on Find My iPhone: Discover My, formerly known as the separate applications Find My iPhone and Find My Friends, is an essential pre-installed Apple app that allows you to locate your friends and personal Apple devices by accessing GPS coordinates. You may have noticed the “Live” label beneath friends who are sharing their location with you. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the implications when someone’s location is live.
Understanding Live Location on iPhone
Have you ever wondered what the “live” designation means on Find My iPhone? The Find My app enables you to share your location with friends and vice versa. In this section, we will delve into the details of what Live Location signifies on an iPhone and how you can effectively utilize it. If you’re interested in learning more tips and tricks about using your Apple devices, make sure to subscribe to our free Tip of the Day. Now, let’s delve into the world of Find My Live tracking.
Significance of “Live” on Find My iPhone
Within the Find My app on Apple devices, you will come across a small tag stating “Live” under the contacts who have chosen to share their locations with you. The live feature enables you to observe the other person’s real-time location without having to manually refresh the app. This functionality empowers you to effortlessly keep track of your family or friends as they run errands or easily locate them in busy festivals or large malls. It proves particularly beneficial if you have children who enjoy outdoor activities or tend to wander with their friends.
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How to View Live Location on Find My
To view someone’s live location on Apple’s Find My app, you must first share your location with the contact, ensure they accept the request, and then have them share their location with you. To accomplish this, refer to our article on sharing your location with Find My. Once you have successfully shared your location with your friends or family, and they have reciprocated, follow the steps below:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone.
- Tap on “People” at the bottom left corner.
- Select the desired person’s name whom you wish to track.
- You will notice the “Live” tag beneath the person’s name and their address location. As they move, you will be able to monitor their progress on the map.
Enabling Live Location in Settings
Facing difficulties in viewing your friends’ Live Locations? Prior to being able to view a contact’s Live Location in the Find My app, you need to ensure that all the necessary settings are enabled on your iPhone. Although most of these settings are activated by default, follow the steps below to ensure they are correctly configured:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on “Privacy & Security.”
- Select “Location Services.”
- Toggle on the Location Services option. The toggle switch should turn green when enabled.
- Return to the Settings menu and tap on your Apple ID information.
- Choose “Find My.”
- Activate the “Share My Location” option. The toggle switch should turn green when enabled.
- Access the “Find My iPhone” option.
- Toggle on the “Find My iPhone” switch. The toggle switch should turn green when enabled.
- Once again, go back to Settings and reopen “Privacy & Security.”
- Select “Location Services” again.
- Scroll down and tap on “Find My.”
- Choose “While Using the App.”
- Toggle on the “Precise Location” option. The toggle switch should turn green when enabled.
- Lastly, open the Find My app.
- Tap on “Me” at the bottom right corner.
- Activate the “Share My Location” option. The toggle switch should turn green when enabled.
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Pro Tip: Find My Live vs. Now
If you encounter the term “Now” displayed instead of “Live,” it indicates that the app is currently not actively tracking the contact’s location. Instead, it shows you their last known location, and you will not be able to track their movements in real time. Typically, this occurs due to slow connectivity issues on either end of the GPS. However, the app will automatically update and synchronize once the connection is restored.
By following the steps outlined above, you should now be able to view your friends’ Live Locations, as long as both parties have a stable internet connection and are actively sharing their locations.