How to Fix 'Find My' Not Working on iPhone or iPad: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
TL;DR: If Find My isn't working on your iPhone or iPad, check that Location Services and Find My are enabled in Settings, ensure you're signed in with your Apple ID, restart your device, update iOS, and verify your internet connection. Most issues can be resolved with these basic steps before trying more advanced troubleshooting.
I've been using Apple devices for over a decade, and like many users, I've encountered situations where Find My suddenly stops working. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to locate your device or share your location with family, only to see "No Location Found" or similar errors.
After researching Apple support forums, troubleshooting guides, and my own experience, I've compiled this comprehensive guide to help you fix Find My when it's not working on your iPhone or iPad. Let's dive into the solutions.
Why Is Find My Not Working on Your Device?
Before we jump into the fixes, it's helpful to understand why Find My might stop working. Common reasons include:
- Location Services being disabled
- Find My feature not properly enabled
- Internet connectivity issues
- Outdated iOS version
- Apple ID sign-in problems
- Software glitches
- Battery saving modes interfering with location updates
According to Apple support discussions, many users report their iPad not updating location in Find My until specifically turned on, even when the device was recently used^1. This suggests that power management settings might sometimes interfere with location reporting.
Basic Troubleshooting Steps for Find My Issues
Let's start with the fundamental checks that resolve most Find My problems. These are the first things you should try before moving to more advanced solutions.
1. Verify Find My Is Enabled
This might seem obvious, but sometimes settings get changed accidentally, especially after iOS updates. To check if Find My is enabled:
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad
- Tap your name at the top
- Select "Find My"
- Tap "Find My [device]"
- Ensure "Find My [device]" is toggled on
- Turn on "Find My network" to locate devices even when offline^6
2. Check Location Services Settings
Location Services must be enabled for Find My to work properly:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services
- Ensure Location Services is turned on
- Scroll down and tap "Find My"
- Set it to "While Using the App" or "Always"
- Verify that "Precise Location" is enabled^8
3. Restart Your Device
A simple restart can resolve many temporary software glitches that might be preventing Find My from working correctly^9.
- Press and hold the side button and either volume button
- Slide to power off when prompted
- Wait 30 seconds, then press and hold the side button to restart
4. Check Your Internet Connection
Find My requires an active internet connection to transmit location data. Ensure you're connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. If you're having connection issues, try:
- Toggling Airplane mode on and off
- Moving to a different location with better signal
- Connecting to a different Wi-Fi network
Advanced Solutions for Persistent Find My Problems
If the basic steps didn't resolve your issue, try these more advanced troubleshooting methods.
5. Update Your iOS Version
Outdated software can cause compatibility issues with Find My. Apple frequently releases updates that fix bugs affecting location services^9.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- Download and install any available updates
- Restart your device after updating
6. Sign Out and Back Into Your Apple ID
Sometimes, authentication issues with your Apple ID can prevent Find My from working properly^9.
- Go to Settings > [Your Name]
- Scroll down and tap "Sign Out"
- Restart your device
- Sign back in with your Apple ID
- Re-enable Find My in your settings
7. Reset Location & Privacy Settings
If location permissions have become corrupted, resetting them might help:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap "Reset"
- Select "Reset Location & Privacy"
- Enter your passcode if prompted
- Confirm the reset
Note: This will reset all your location permissions for apps, so you'll need to grant them again.
8. Check Date & Time Settings
Incorrect date and time settings can interfere with location services. Ensure your device is set to update automatically:
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time
- Toggle on "Set Automatically"
Comparison: Find My Issues and Their Solutions
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "No Location Found" | Location Services disabled, device offline | Enable Location Services, check internet connection |
| Location not updating | Background app refresh disabled, low power mode | Enable background refresh, disable low power mode |
| Can't enable Find My | Apple ID issues, restrictions enabled | Sign out/in Apple ID, check screen time restrictions |
| Location inaccurate | Precise location disabled, poor GPS signal | Enable precise location, move to area with better signal |
Case Study: Resolving iPad Location Update Issues
I recently helped a friend whose iPad wasn't updating its location in Find My, despite being used regularly. The device would only show its location when actively being used, which defeated the purpose of Find My for tracking a potentially lost device.
After going through the troubleshooting steps, we discovered that the "Find My network" setting was disabled. This feature allows your device to be located even when offline by using other Apple devices nearby^6. Once we enabled this option, the iPad began updating its location consistently, even when not in active use.
This case highlights the importance of checking all Find My settings, not just the main toggle. Many users don't realize that the Find My network setting is separate and equally important for continuous location tracking.
Common Mistakes That Prevent Find My From Working
Based on Apple support discussions and troubleshooting guides, here are the most common user errors that cause Find My issues:
- Assuming Find My is fully enabled – Many users toggle on the main Find My switch but miss the "Find My network" option that enables offline finding
- Not checking Location Services – Find My requires Location Services to be enabled at both the global level and for the Find My app specifically
- Overlooking software updates – iOS updates often include fixes for location service bugs, yet many users delay updating
- Ignoring battery-related settings – Low Power Mode can disable background location updates, causing Find My to stop working^2
- Not verifying Apple ID status – Authentication issues with your Apple ID can silently break Find My functionality
Step-by-Step: How to Properly Set Up Find My on a New Device
If you're setting up Find My on a new device or want to ensure it's configured correctly, follow these steps:
- Sign in with Apple ID: Go to Settings > [Your Name] and ensure you're signed in with the correct Apple ID
- Enable Find My: Navigate to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My [device] and toggle it on
- Enable Find My Network: Turn on "Find My network" to allow offline finding
- Enable Send Last Location: Turn on this option to have your device automatically send its location when the battery is critically low
- Configure Location Services: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and ensure it's enabled, then scroll to Find My and set it to "While Using the App" or "Always" with Precise Location on
- Check Share My Location: If you want to share your location with friends and family, enable "Share My Location" in the Find My settings
When to Contact Apple Support
If you've tried all the troubleshooting steps and Find My still isn't working, it might be time to contact Apple Support. Consider reaching out if:
- You've followed all steps but still get "No Location Found"
- Find My options are grayed out and can't be enabled
- The issue persists across multiple devices with the same Apple ID
- You suspect a hardware issue with your device's GPS or connectivity components
Apple Support can run remote diagnostics and help identify deeper issues that might not be resolvable through standard troubleshooting^3.
Checklist: Fix Find My Not Working on iPhone/iPad
- Verify Find My is enabled in Settings > [Your Name] > Find My
- Check that Location Services is turned on (Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services)
- Ensure Find My has location permissions set to "While Using the App" or "Always"
- Confirm "Precise Location" is enabled for Find My
- Restart your iPhone or iPad
- Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data)
- Update to the latest iOS version
- Sign out and back into your Apple ID
- Disable Low Power Mode if enabled
- Reset Location & Privacy settings if issues persist
- Contact Apple Support if problems continue
FAQ: Find My Not Working on iPhone and iPad
Why does my Find My location say "No Location Found"?
This usually means your device is offline, Location Services is disabled, or Find My isn't properly configured. Check your internet connection and ensure Location Services and Find My are enabled in Settings.
How do I refresh my location in Find My?
The Find My app automatically updates your location periodically. You can force a refresh by closing and reopening the app, or turning Airplane mode on and off to reset your connection.
Why is my Find My location not updating?
This could be due to disabled background app refresh, Low Power Mode, internet connectivity issues, or software glitches. Ensure Background App Refresh is enabled for Find My in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Can Find My work if my iPhone is turned off?
Yes, if you have "Find My network" enabled, your device can be located even when powered off using Bluetooth signals detected by other Apple devices nearby^6.
Why can't I turn on Find My on my iPhone?
If the Find My toggle is grayed out, you might have restrictions enabled, be signed out of your Apple ID, or have a managed device. Check Screen Time restrictions and ensure you're signed in with your Apple ID.
How accurate is Find My location?
With Precise Location enabled, Find My is typically accurate within several meters. Accuracy depends on GPS signal strength, Wi-Fi positioning, and cellular tower triangulation.
Conclusion: Get Find My Working Again
Find My is an essential feature for Apple device users, providing peace of mind that you can locate your devices if they're lost or stolen. When it stops working, it can be frustrating, but most issues can be resolved with the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide.
Start with the basic checks: ensure Find My and Location Services are enabled, restart your device, and check your internet connection. If those don't work, move to more advanced solutions like updating iOS, signing out and back into your Apple ID, or resetting location settings.
Ready to fix your Find My issues? Start with step 1 in our checklist above and work your way through until your Find My is working properly again. If you've tried everything and still have problems, don't hesitate to contact Apple Support for further assistance.
Glossary
- Find My Network: Apple's crowd-sourced network that allows devices to be located even when offline by using Bluetooth signals from nearby Apple devices
- Location Services: The system-level feature on iOS that manages location data for all apps and services
- Precise Location: A setting that allows apps to access your exact location rather than an approximate area
- Send Last Location: A feature that automatically sends your device's location to Apple when the battery is critically low
- Background App Refresh: Allows apps to update content in the background, including location data for Find My
