How to Share Your Location on iPhone via the Find My App

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. . *

I go for a lot of solo hikes and even go camping on my own sometimes. When I go, I always let someone know where I'm going. So how do I share my location using my iPhone? The Find My app makes this extremely simple and gives my exact location so that I can share it with anyone I choose. This article will show you exactly how to share your location with someone using the Find My app.

Why You'll Love This Tip:

  • This simple trick will make your location known only to those you want to share it with.
  • Choose to share your location temporarily or indefinitely, depending on your circumstances.
  • Share your location and get your friend to share theirs back so you can both keep track of each other, no matter how far apart!

Sharing Location with Find My App

System Requirements

This tip works on iPhones running iOS 16 and later. Find out how to update to the latest iOS.

For this tip, you'll need to have Find My iPhone set up. Make sure Find My iPhone is turned on, and that the Share My Location toggle is also enabled. 

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How to Set Up Location Sharing

Important Note

Remember that when you share your location with your friends, that doesn't automatically mean their location will be shared with you. Be sure you're both sharing locations with each other in order for it to work both ways!

Here's how to share your location using the Find My app on your iPhone:

  1. Open the Find My app.

    Open the Find My app.
  2. If you already have sharing set up, your screen will look like this. Tap on the People tab. If not, remember to set up Find My iPhone before continuing.

    If you already have sharing set up, your screen will look like this. Tap on the People tab.
  3. Tap the plus sign.

    Tap the plus sign.
  4. Tap Share My Location.

    Tap Share My Location.
  5. Enter the name of the person you'd like to share and select them from the results list.

    Enter the name of the person you'd like to share and select them from the results list.
  6. Tap Send.

    Tap Send.
  7. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Select the timeframe that you'd like to share your location for.

    A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Select the timeframe that you'd like to share your location for.
  8. Tap OK. You'll now see the list of people you're sharing your location with.

    Tap OK. You'll now see the list of people you're sharing your location with.

When you no longer want someone to have access to your location, you can stop sharing location without notifying in iMessage.

How to Find Your Friends

Before you can use your Find My app to find your friends, make sure that they have followed the above steps to share their location with you.

  1. Open Find My.

    Open Find My.
  2. Tap People.

    Tap People.
  3. Tap the name of the person you want to locate. The map will snap to their location and you will be able to track them as they move.

    Tap the person’s name that you’d like to check their location. The map will snap to their location and you will be able to track them as they move.

And that's that! It's such a simple way to let people know where you are, whether you're getting together with friends or just want someone to know your location for safety reasons. And once your friend has found you after you got lost wandering Costco, maybe you can help them out by finding their lost phone using your Find My app. Next, find out how to share a location in Apple Maps.

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Author Details

Erin MacPherson's picture

Author Details

Erin MacPherson

Erin is a Web Editor for iPhone Life and has been a writer, editor, and researcher for many years. She has a degree in communication with an emphasis on psychology and communication, and has spent many of her professional years as a coach in various business and specialty fields. Erin officially joined the ranks of iPhone and Apple users everywhere around nine years ago, and has since enjoyed the unique and customized feel of Apple technology and its many gadgets. When she’s not working, Erin and her son enjoy outdoor adventures, camping, and spending time with their eclectic collection of pets.