9. How to Change Which Device Shares Location on Find My

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How To Change Which Device Shares Location On Find My

Easily manage the devices that share their location with you in the Find My app. Whether you want to add a new device, remove one that you no longer use, or simply switch which device is sharing its location, the process is simple and straightforward. In just a few steps, you can ensure that you always have access to the location of the devices that matter most to you.

Adding a Device to Find My Shared Location

To add a new device to Find My Shared Location, you’ll first need to make sure that the device is signed in to your iCloud account. Once you’ve done that, open the Find My app on the device and tap on the "Me" tab. From there, tap on "Share My Location" and then "Share with Friends and Family". You’ll then be able to select the devices that you want to share your location with.

Identifying the Target Device

To change which device shares its location on Find My, you must first identify the target device. This can be done by checking the list of devices linked to your Apple ID.

Here are the steps to identify the target device:

Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Click on the “Devices” tab.
A list of all devices linked to your Apple ID will be displayed. Find the device you want to change the location sharing settings for.

The target device’s name will be displayed, along with its battery level and location. If the device is offline, it will be marked as “Offline”.

Once you have identified the target device, you can proceed to change its location sharing settings.

Additional Tips

If you don’t see the target device in the list, it may not be linked to your Apple ID. You can add a device to your Apple ID by signing in to iCloud.com and clicking on the “Find My” icon.
If the target device is offline, you won’t be able to change its location sharing settings. You’ll need to wait until the device comes back online.
If you’re having trouble changing the location sharing settings for a specific device, you can contact Apple Support for assistance.

Accessing Find My

To access Find My, you can use any device that has the Find My app installed. This includes iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and Macs. You can also access Find My from iCloud.com.

On iOS devices:

Open the Find My app.
Sign in with your Apple ID.
Select the device you want to track.

On Mac:

Open the Find My app.
Click on “All Devices.”
Select the device you want to track.

On iCloud.com:

Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
Click on “Find My iPhone.”
Select the device you want to track.

Selecting the Devices Tab

Now that you have opened the Find My app, it’s time to select the “Devices” tab. From there, you’ll be able to see all of the Apple devices that are currently associated with your iCloud account.

Selecting a Specific Device

Once you are on the “Devices” tab, you’ll see a list of all of your Apple devices that are linked to your iCloud account. If you only have one device linked to your account, it will be the only one listed. If you have multiple devices linked to your account, you’ll need to select the specific device that you want to share your location from.

Getting More Details About a Device

To get more details about one of your devices, simply click on its name in the “Devices” list. This will open up a new page that will show you more information about the device, such as its location, battery life, and whether or not it is currently online.

Device	Last Seen	Battery
iPhone 12	1 hour ago	78%
Apple Watch	2 hours ago	55%
MacBook Air	3 days ago	30%

Choosing the Device to Adjust

To begin, you must decide which device’s location sharing settings you want to modify. This can be done by opening the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Once the app is open, follow these steps:

Click on the “People” tab at the bottom of the screen.
Select the person whose location settings you want to adjust.
Tap on the “Share My Location” button.
Choose the device you want to adjust the location sharing settings for.

Selecting the Device

There are several factors to consider when choosing the device for which you want to adjust the location sharing settings. First, you need to decide if you want to share your location with all of your devices or just a specific device. If you want to share your location with all of your devices, then you should select the “All Devices” option. If you want to share your location with only a specific device, then you should select the name of that device.

Device	Description
All Devices	Shares your location with all of your devices.
Specific Device	Shares your location with only the selected device.

Once you have selected the device you want to adjust the location sharing settings for, you can proceed to the next step.

Disabling Location Sharing

Unfortunately, there is no way to disable location sharing on Find My for an individual device. The only option is to disable location sharing for the entire account. If you want to do this, you can follow the steps below:

Steps:

1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. Tap on the “Me” tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap on the “Find My iPhone” or “Find My Mac” option.
4. Tap on the “Share My Location” option.
5. Toggle the “Share My Location” switch to the “Off” position.

Once you have followed these steps, location sharing will be disabled for your entire account. This means that none of your devices will be able to share their location with other people.

If you ever want to enable location sharing again, you can follow the same steps and toggle the “Share My Location” switch to the “On” position.

Additional Information

In addition to the steps above, there are a few other things that you can do to protect your privacy when using Find My.

Use a strong password for your Find My account.
Enable two-factor authentication for your Find My account.
Only share your location with people that you trust.

Device	Location
iPhone	On
iPad	Off
Mac	On
Apple Watch	On
AirPods	Off

Confirming the Change

Once you’ve selected the desired device, double-check to ensure that it is indeed the one you want to share its location. Confirm the device name, model, and any other identifying features to avoid any confusion or unintentional location sharing.

To confirm the change, simply follow the prompts on your screen. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID and password or provide other verification measures to ensure that you are the authorized user.

After completing the confirmation process, the selected device will become the primary location-sharing device for Find My. If you wish to change the location-sharing device again in the future, simply follow the same steps outlined above.

Enabling Location Sharing

To enable location sharing on Find My, follow these steps:

Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Click on the “Me” tab.
Under “My Devices,” select the device you want to share your location with.
Scroll down and tap on “Share My Location.”
If prompted, confirm your Apple ID and password.
Choose who you want to share your location with (e.g., Family, Friends, or specific contacts).
Select the duration you want to share your location for (e.g., 1 hour, 1 day, indefinitely).

Choosing the Right Duration for Location Sharing

Duration	Description
1 hour	Temporarily share your location for an hour after enabling.
1 day	Share your location for 24 hours after enabling.
Indefinitely	Continue sharing your location until you manually turn it off.

Consider the following factors when choosing the sharing duration:

Privacy concerns: For sensitive situations or locations, choose a shorter duration.
Purpose of sharing: If you’re sharing location for tracking during an activity, choose a duration that covers the activity’s duration.
Battery life: Enabling location sharing may impact battery life. Choose a shorter duration or disable location sharing when not needed.

Selecting the New Device to Share

To change which device shares its location on Find My, you’ll need to select a new device to share its location. Here’s how:

1. Open Find My on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

If you’re not already signed in, you’ll need to sign in with your Apple ID.

2. Click on the “Me” tab.

This is located in the bottom-right corner of the window.

3. Click on the “Share My Location” button.

This is located in the top-right corner of the window.

4. Click on the “Share With” button.

This is located in the bottom-left corner of the window.

5. Select the new device you want to share your location with.

You can select multiple devices if you want.

6. Click on the “Share” button.

Your location will now be shared with the selected devices.

7. You can also share your location with other people by sending them a link.

To do this, click on the “Copy Link” button and then send the link to the person you want to share your location with.

8. If you want to stop sharing your location, you can do so at any time by following these steps:

a. Open Find My on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
b. Click on the “Me” tab.
c. Click on the “Share My Location” button.
d. Click on the “Share With” button.
e. Uncheck the box next to the device you want to stop sharing your location with.
f. Click on the “Done” button.

Troubleshooting Location Sharing Issues

If your devices aren’t sharing their location, try these troubleshooting tips:

1. Check that all your devices are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.

2. Make sure that location services are turned on for your devices. To do this, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

3. Check that you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

4. Restart all of your devices.

5. If you’re still having trouble, try signing out of iCloud on all of your devices and then signing back in.

If you’re having trouble sharing the location of a specific device:

1. Make sure that the device is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.

2. Check that location services are turned on for the device. To do this, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

3. Make sure that the device is signed in to the same Apple ID as the other devices that you’re sharing your location with.

4. If you’re still having trouble, try restarting the device.

5. If you’re still having trouble, you can contact Apple Support for help.

If you’re seeing an error message when you try to share your location, the error message will provide more information about how to fix the issue.

Here are some of the most common error messages that you might see:

Error Message	Solution
“Location sharing is not available.”	Make sure that location services are turned on for your device. To do this, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
“Your device is not connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.”	Make sure that your device is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
“Your device is not signed in to iCloud.”	Sign in to iCloud on your device. To do this, go to Settings > iCloud.

Optimizing Location Tracking

Efficient location tracking relies on optimized settings. To enhance accuracy and battery life, follow these steps:

1. Enable Precise Location

Precise location allows Find My to pinpoint your device’s location accurately. Ensure this setting is enabled in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.

2. Calibrate the Compass

Compass calibration improves the accuracy of location tracking. Calibrate the compass in Settings > Privacy & Security > Compass Calibration.

3. Use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enhance location tracking accuracy even when GPS is unavailable. Enable them in Settings > Wi-Fi and Settings > Bluetooth.

4. Reduce Refresh Rate

Short refresh rates drain battery power. Adjust the refresh rate in Find My > Me > Share My Location > Track My Location to minimize battery impact.

5. Allow Background App Refresh

Background app refresh ensures Find My operates smoothly even when closed. Enable it in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

6. Set Location Timer

Specify how long you want to share your location in Find My > Me > Share My Location > Track My Location.

7. Share with Specific Users

Only share your location with trusted individuals. Select contacts in Find My > Me > Share My Location > Share My Location With.

8. Emergency Notifications

Set up emergency notifications to receive alerts when Find My detects your device is moving.

9. Offline Finding

Enable offline finding to locate your device even when it’s not connected to the internet. This allows Find My to leverage nearby Apple devices.

10. Detailed Location Information

Access detailed location information, including the time your device was tracked and its movement history, by selecting “Show All” in Find My > Me > Share My Location.

How to Change Which Device Shares Location on Find My

If you have multiple Apple devices, you can choose which one shares its location with Find My. This is useful if you want to keep track of a specific device, such as your child’s iPhone or your work laptop. Here’s how to change which device shares location on Find My:

Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Tap on the Devices tab.
Select the device that you want to share its location.
Tap on the Share My Location toggle switch to turn it on or off.

You can also choose to share your location with other people. To do this, tap on the People tab in the Find My app and then tap on the Add button. Enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to share your location with and then tap on the Send button.