10 Tips to Fix Find My iPhone Not Updating Location

User Concern

“While using the Find My iPhone app to track my daughter on my iPhone, I get an old location, and it does not update. She can see my location just fine. Does anyone have an idea what is happening?”

In addition to helping you locate a lost iPhone, the Find My iPhone feature also allows you to share your real-time location with family and friends when you're on the move. This feature is useful for keeping your contacts updated on your whereabouts.

However, some users have reported that Find My iPhone is not updating the location, which prevents them from using this function effectively. Don't worry. Here we will explain why Find My iPhone is showing old location and what you can do to refresh Find My iPhone location.

Why is Find My iPhone Not Updating Location for One Person?

There are several reasons why Find My iPhone is showing an old location. Here are some of the main causes:

• Weak Internet Connection: Find My iPhone needs a stable internet connection to update your location. If you have poor cellular reception or weak Wi-Fi, it might not update correctly.
• Incorrect Location Settings: If your iPhone's Privacy settings don't allow Find My iPhone to access your location, or if the feature is turned off, it won’t update your location properly.
• Wrong Date and Time: Incorrect date and time settings can affect location services. If these settings are wrong, Find My iPhone might not update your location accurately.
• Software or App Issues: Outdated iOS versions or recent updates can affect Find My iPhone's location updates. Bugs or glitches in the Find My app can also prevent it from updating the location.

How to Fix Find My iPhone Not Updating Location

If Find My iPhone isn't updating your location in real time, there are several ways to fix the issue. Here, we'll cover the 10 most effective solutions.

1. Refresh the Location Manually

The first step to try when Find My iPhone is not updating your location is to refresh the location manually. In newer iPhone models, the location should update automatically since the Find My Friends and Find My iPhone services have been combined into one (Find My). However, if it's not updating, you can manually refresh it.

Here are the steps to update the location manually:

• Unlock your iPhone and open the Find My app.
• Select the People option, which is available at the bottom of the menu tab.
• Now, choose the location of the person whom you want to be updated.
• Once you do so, the respective person’s location card should be opened and updated.

2. Restart Your iPhone

Find My iPhone may stop updating the location if the device is experiencing unknown system errors. In this case, the simplest solution is to restart your iPhone to get Find My working again.

• For iPhone X and later, press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until the power-off slider appears. Then, drag the slider to turn off the iPhone. Wait for 30 seconds, then press and hold the Side button again to power it back on.
• For iPhone 8 and earlier, press and hold the Side button until the power-off slider appears. Then, drag the slider to turn off the iPhone. Wait for 30 seconds, then press and hold the Side button to restart the device.

3. Check If iCloud and Find My Are Enabled

Find My iPhone will not update the locations when iCloud and Find My features are turned off. Here is how to turn them on:

• Go to Settings on your iPhone and click on your name. Scroll down and click Find My. Then ensure Find My iPhone and Share My Location are both enabled.

• To enable iCloud, open the Settings app and tap on your name. In case the name is not available, you might be logged out. Log in with your Apple ID and turn on iCloud.

4. Ensure to Turn On Location Services

Location Services are essential for the Find My iPhone feature to work correctly. If Location Services are turned off, your iPhone won’t be able to share or update its location. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure Location Services are enabled:

• Open the Settings app and then browsing to the Privacy > Location Services page.
• Then, turn on the toggle beside Location Services.

5. Check the Network Connection

A weak internet connection can also prevent Find My iPhone from updating the location. To ensure your network is working properly, follow these steps:

• Connect to a different Wi-Fi network with a stronger signal. You can also turn on both Wi-Fi and cellular data simultaneously to improve the connection.
• Alternatively, enable Airplane Mode from the Control Center, wait a few moments, then turn it off. Reconnect to a stable Wi-Fi network and enable cellular data.

6. Check Date & Time on iPhone

If the date and time on your iPhone are incorrect, it can prevent your device from connecting to Apple servers, which may result in the location on Find My iPhone not updating. To fix this, ensure the date and time are set correctly. Here's how to do it:

• Go to Settings > General on your iPhone.
• Choose the Date & Time option.
• Turn on the toggle for Set Automatically.

7. Force Restart Find My App

If you're still having trouble with location updates, try restarting the Find My app. This can help clear any temporary glitches or issues that might be causing inaccurate location updates.

• Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to open the App Switcher. (For iPhone 8 or earlier, double-click the Home button.)
• Swipe left or right to locate the Find My app preview. Then, swipe up on the app preview to close it.

8. Sign In with Correct Apple ID

Most Apple services, including Find My, are linked to your Apple ID. If you're not signed in with the correct Apple ID, you won't be able to use these features. Ensure that you are logged in with the appropriate Apple ID.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone. You should see your name and Apple ID at the top.
• If it's incorrect, scroll down and tap Sign Out. You'll need to enter the Apple ID password to confirm.
• After signing out, tap Sign in to your iPhone and enter the correct Apple ID and password.

9. Update iPhone to the Latest iOS Version

If your iPhone is running an outdated iOS version, this could be causing the issue. Older iOS versions are prone to bugs and system errors, which may prevent Find My iPhone from updating the location. To resolve this, consider updating your iOS to the latest version using the steps below:

• Open the Settings app and navigate to General > Software Update.
• Select Install Now if an update is available. Once you do so, the update will be downloaded.
• After the download is completed, restart the device to complete the upgrade.

10. Ultimate Way to Fix Find My iPhone Not Updating Location

As mentioned earlier, system errors can be the reason behind the iPhone not updating the location on the Find My app. If an iOS update is unavailable for your iPhone device, you can consider using the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to eliminate the system error.

It is a hight-quality tool that enables you to solve various system errors on iPhone, including black/white screen, frozen screen, boot loop, stuck on Apple logo, etc. You can use the standard mode to fix system issues without losing any data. This tool supports all iPhone models and iOS versions, even the newest iPhone 16 and iOS 18 beta.

Let’s see how to fix Find My iPhone not updating location using FoneGeek:

Step 1. Install the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery on your computer and then launch it. Then, select "Standard Repair" to begin the repair.

Step 2. Now, use the original USB cable to connect the iPhone to the computer. Wait for the program to detect the connected device.

Step 3. On the next page, press "Download" to get the matching firmware required for the fix. As the file size is big, the download process will require a while.

Step 4. Once the download is done, click "Fix Now" to begin the repair process. Once done, the problem should be fixed without any data loss on your iPhone.

Conclusion

Find My iPhone not updating location can be frustrating, but it's a problem that can be resolved easily. If you're facing this issue, try the solutions outlined above to fix it. Make sure to use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery for a quick and effective resolution of this or any other iOS system errors on your iPhone.

FAQs on Find My iPhone Location

Q1. Can I track my iPhone if it’s turned off?

Yes, if you have enabled the Send Last Location feature (available in iOS 13 and later), your iPhone will send its last known location to Apple before the battery dies. However, real-time tracking is not possible once the device is powered off.

Q2. Why is Find My iPhone not updating location for one person?

This could happen if the person’s device has a weak internet connection, location services are turned off, or they have stopped sharing their location with you. Ask them to check their settings and refresh their location.

Q3. Can someone track my location without my knowledge?

No, Find My iPhone requires your Apple ID credentials to access your location. If someone knows your Apple ID and password, they could potentially track your device. To prevent this, enable Two-Factor Authentication and regularly check your Share My Location settings.