Find My App Not Working: Why & How to Fix (Step by Step)

In the world of technology, the “Find My” app is a helpful tool for finding lost devices. Whether it’s your phone, laptop, or car, this app can help you find it.

Like any technology, the “Find My” app can have problems. Sometimes, it might not be able to find your device’s location, or it might show the wrong location. It might also not update your device’s location, which can be frustrating.

In this article, we will talk about why the “Find My” app might stop working and how to fix it. We will also give some tips on how to avoid these problems in the future.

Why is My Find My App Not Working?

Here are some of the reasons why the Find My app might not be working:

The device is turned off or has no battery.
The device is not connected to the internet.
Find My is not enabled on the device.
Location Services is not enabled on the device.
The device’s date and time are not set correctly.
There is a problem with the Find My app itself.

How to Fix Find My App not Working

1. Check Your Internet Connection

The “Find My” app relies heavily on a stable internet connection to communicate with your devices and display accurate locations. If you’re facing issues, start by ensuring that your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network or cellular data. Sometimes, a weak or unstable connection can lead to the app’s malfunctioning.

Use websites like speedtest.net to know how strong your internet connection is.

2. Enable Location Services

For the “Find My” app to work effectively, your device’s location services must be enabled.

How to Enable Location Services on Your Device

Open the Settings app.
Tap on Privacy & Security.
Tap on Location Services.
Toggle the switch next to “Location Services” to turn it on.

If you want to allow only certain apps to use your location, tap on “Allow Apps to Request Location” and then toggle the switch next to the apps you want to allow.

3. Verify iCloud Settings

The “Find My” app relies on iCloud to sync and display device locations.

Ensure that you’re signed in to your iCloud account and that “Find My” is enabled in your iCloud settings. Sometimes, toggling the “Find My” setting off and then back on can help resolve issues.

4. Update Your Software

Outdated software can lead to compatibility issues, causing the app to malfunction. Check if there are any available updates for both your device’s operating system and the “Find My” app itself. Keeping everything up to date can often resolve bugs and glitches.

5. Set the Device’s Date and Time Correctly

The Find My app uses the device’s date and time to calculate the location of your device. If the device’s date and time are not set correctly, the app may not be able to locate your device accurately.

6. Restart the Device

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix problems with the Find My app. To restart your device, hold down the power button until you see the power off slider. Then, slide the power off slider to turn off your device. Wait a few seconds, then turn your device back on.

7. Check Location Permissions

Ensure that the “Find My” app has the necessary permissions to access your device’s location. Head to your device’s settings and grant the app the required permissions.

8. Sign Out and Sign Back In

If none of the above steps seem to work, signing out of your iCloud account and then signing back in can refresh the app’s connection to your account and potentially resolve any underlying issues.

9. Contact Apple Support

If all else fails, don’t hesitate to reach out to Apple Support for assistance. They have the expertise to guide you through more advanced troubleshooting steps and provide solutions tailored to your situation.

Why is Find My iPhone Not Showing Location

There are a few reasons why Find My iPhone might not be showing the location of an iPhone. Here are some of the most common ones:

Location services are turned off. Find My iPhone needs location services to work, so make sure they are turned on. You can do this by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and making sure that the toggle is turned on.
The device is not connected to the internet. Find My iPhone uses the internet to communicate with Apple’s servers, so the device needs to be connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data in order to work.

The device is turned off or has a low battery. If the device is turned off, Find My iPhone will not be able to track its location. Similarly, if the battery is low, the device may not be able to update its location as frequently.
The device is in Airplane Mode. When Airplane Mode is turned on, all wireless connections are disabled, including location services.
The device is in a location with poor GPS reception. If the device is in a location with poor GPS reception, such as a tunnel or a tall building, it may not be able to determine its location accurately.
The device is not enrolled in Find My iPhone. If the device is not enrolled in Find My iPhone, you will not be able to track its location. You can enroll the device by going to Settings > Find My > Find My iPhone and turning on the toggle.

If you have checked all of these things and Find My iPhone is still not showing the location of the iPhone, you can try the following:

Restart the device. Sometimes a simple restart can fix the issue.
Force quit the Find My app. To do this, press and hold the Home button and the Power button until the Apple logo appears.
Update the device’s software. Apple often releases software updates that fix bugs and improve performance. You can check for updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Contact Apple Support. If you have tried all of the above and Find My iPhone is still not working, you can contact Apple Support for help.

Why Can’t I See My Daughter’s Location on Find My iPhone?

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to see your daughter’s location on Find My iPhone. Here are some of the most common ones:

She has turned off location sharing. Your daughter can turn off location sharing for Find My iPhone in her settings. To check if this is the case, ask her to open the Settings app, tap her name, and then tap Find My. Make sure that the toggle next to Share My Location is turned on.
She has turned off Find My iPhone. Your daughter can also turn off Find My iPhone entirely in her settings. To check if this is the case, ask her to open the Settings app, tap her name, and then tap Find My iPhone. Make sure that the toggle next to Find My iPhone is turned on.
She is not connected to the internet. Find My iPhone needs an internet connection to work, so if your daughter’s phone is not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data, you will not be able to see her location.
Her phone is turned off or has a low battery. If your daughter’s phone is turned off, you will not be able to see her location. Similarly, if the battery is low, the phone may not be able to update its location as frequently.
Her phone is in Airplane Mode. When Airplane Mode is turned on, all wireless connections are disabled, including location services.
Her phone is in a location with poor GPS reception. If your daughter’s phone is in a location with poor GPS reception, such as a tunnel or a tall building, it may not be able to determine its location accurately.

If you have checked all of these things and you are still unable to see your daughter’s location on Find My iPhone, you can try the following:

Ask her to check her settings. Make sure that she has turned on location sharing and Find My iPhone in her settings.
Restart her phone. Sometimes a simple restart can fix the issue.
Contact Apple Support. If you have tried all of the above and you are still unable to see your daughter’s location, you can contact Apple Support for help.

Conclusion

The “Find My” app is a reliable companion in our tech-driven lives, but like any technology, it can encounter errors. The next time you find yourself frustrated with the app not working, remember this troubleshooting guide. With a few simple steps, you can often get the app back on track and resume its invaluable assistance in keeping your devices safe and sound.