Share Location iPhone Not Working? The Best 7 Fixes!

by Aria Ford

Updated on 2024-02-28

179 views

5min read

Find My iPhone does a really good job when it comes to tracking iPhone location. However, there are instances where you enable the “Find My” feature on a family member or friend’s iPhone and it keeps showing “Location Not Available”. This can be annoying. But you don’t need to be worried.

To help you out, we’ve created this comprehensive guide explaining the most effective ways to fix location sharing not working” on iPhone.

Part 1: Why is Location Sharing Not Working On iPhone?

If location is not shared on iPhone, it might be a result of one of the following:

  • Your iPhone’s Location Services are off, so it can’t share its location.
  • Weak GPS signals can cause problems with location tracking. Make sure there’s a clear view of the sky for better reception.
  • Keep your iPhone’s software updated to avoid compatibility issues with location services.
  • Check app settings to grant location permissions if needed.
  • Turn off Airplane mode to enable location services and sharing on iOS devices.

Part 2: How To Fix Share Location Not Working On iPhone

It’s easy to fix share location working on iPhone problem. This section covers seven different methods you can use to resolve the problem without requiring advanced knowledge.

Main Reason Solution Operating Difficulty Success Rate
Disable Location Services Method 1 star 50%
Disable Find My iPhone Method 2 star 50%
The iCloud account is not logged in Method 3 starstar 60%
Find My has a bug Method 4 star 30%
The iPhone system has a temporary bug Method 5 star 60%
GPS signal is not accurate Method 6 starstar 90%
External or internal damage to the iPhone Method 7 starstar star 95%

Method 1: Enable Location Services & Share My Location

One of the quickest ways to fix location sharing not working on iPhone is to turn on location services and share location.

Most times, people forget to turn on these features on their iPhones, which causes location sharing not to work. Below are the steps you can use to enable location services and share my location features on iPhone:

Step 1: Open the “Settings” app and go to “Privacy & Security”.

Step 2: Tap on “Location Services” and turn on the toggle next to it if it’s disabled.

location Services | share location iphone not working

Step 3: On the same page, select “Share My Location” and turn it on if it’s disabled.

Method 2: Allow Permission To Find My iPhone

If location services & share my location are enabled, then you might have forgotten to give Find My iPhone permission to track your iPhone location. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and follow the steps below to check whether Find My iPhone is granted permission to share the device’s location.

Step 1: Tap on your “Name” at the top side of the screen.

Step 2: Select “Find My”.

fFind My | share location not working

Step 3: Tap on “Find My iPhone” and turn on the toggle next to “Find My iPhone and other “relevant” choices displayed on your screen.

Method 3: Sign In To Your iCloud Account

Another way to approach the share location on iPhone not working issue is to sign into your iCloud account. Yes, this is because Find My app usually relies on your iCloud to gather information about the user’s location.

So, if you forgot to log in to your iCloud account after signing it out on your device, use the following steps to sign back into your iCloud account on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open your “Settings App”. If you haven’t signed in to any iCloud account on the iPhone, tap on the text that says “Sign in to your iPhone.” However, if you’re already signed into iCloud, but with a different account, tap on your Apple ID name.

settings App | iphone share location not working

Step 2: Enter the correct Apple ID credentials and tap on “Sign In” to log in to your iCloud account (f you have an existing iCloud account, first sign out, then sign in to your iCloud account).

  • Once you complete the above, you should see a  blank screen with the text “Signing in to iCloud…” . Wait for the process to finish.

Step 3: Next, you’ll be requested to enter your iPhone’s passcode.

enter your iPhone's passcode | share location on iphone not working

Step 4: Once you enter the “Passcode”, your iCloud account will be signed in on the iPhone, and you should be able to share your location.

Method 4: Force Quit Find My

Sometimes, the Find My app might be experiencing issues that are compromising its operation. You should try force quitting the app to get rid of bugs that could be causing the problem.

Method 5: Restart iPhone

If the problem still persists, you can resort to restarting your iPhone. This will help give your device a fresh start and troubleshoot issues that might be causing your iPhone not to share location.

Step 1: Press and hold down “Volume Up” button and “Side” button until the power off screen appears.

volume up | can't share location iphone

Step 2: Swipe the toggle that says “Slide to power off” to the right to turn off your iPhone.

Step 3: Wait for a few seconds, then turn on your iPhone again.

Method 6: Change Your Location On iPhone

If the location sharing does not still work, don’t panic. The ultimate solution is to use the powerful iWhere iPhone Location Changer to create a virtual location that can’t be tracked on your iPhone.

The iWhere iPhone Location Changer is a professional location changing all that allows you to change your iPhone location without moving from your current location. Whether you intend to switch to another location or maintain the current one, this tool provides you access the advanced features to get the job done smoothly.

Moreover, iWhere iPhone Location Changer supports different location spoofing modes like the one-stop mode, multi-stop mode, and joystick mode. And you have the option to customize your iPhone speed to move at different speeds, ranging from 1 m/s to 50 m/s.

Key Features

  • Easily change location on your iPhone without notifying you using a computer.  
  • Spoof iPhone location using different modes, such as one-stop mode, joystick mode, etc.
  • Allows you to easily change location when playing competitive AR games like Pokemon Go and Monster Hunter Now.
  • Supports customizable speed, which allows you to move at different speed ranges.   

The following steps explain the procedures for using iWhere iPhone Location Changer:

Step 1: Start the iWhere iPhone Location Changer app on your computer and connect your iPhone to the computer. Then, authorize the connection by selecting “Trust” on your iPhone.

  • Click on the “Start” button to proceed.

start button | can't share location on iphone

Step 2: Click on “Modify Location.”

modify location | shared location iphone not working

Step 3: A map will be loaded on your screen. You can check your current location either by dragging the map or zooming in/out the map.

modify location 2 | why is share my location not working on iphone

Step 4: Scroll to the top-left side of the Map and type the “Destination” you want to switch to into the “Search Bar”. Click on “Confirm Modify” to enter your choice and wait for the tool to change your iPhone location. This only takes a few seconds.

modify location 3 | iphone shared location not working

Method 7: Contact Apple Support

contact apple support | iphone share my location not working

If none of the above solutions worked, your final option is to directly contact Apple support for assistance. The support team could guide you on how to fix the issue, as they will have a better understanding of the problem and its cause.  You can contact Apple Support via this link.

FAQs

Q: How do I stop sharing my location with someone once I’ve shared it?

For iPhone

1. Open the “Settings” > Tap on your Apple ID (your name) > Select “Find My.”

2. Tap on “Share My Location.”

3. Under “People,” tap on the person you want to stop sharing your location with.

4. Tap on “Stop Sharing My Location.”

For Android

1. Open the “Settings” > “Location.” > “Location sharing.

2. Under “Shared with,” tap on the person you want to stop sharing your location with.

3. Tap on “Remove.”

Q: Can I share my live location with someone for a specific period of time?

Yes, Finy My app offer the feature to share your live location with someone for a specific period of time, allowing you to set a time limit for how long they can track you.

2. Open the Find My app and select the People tab.

3. Tap the Add button “+”.

4. Choose “Share My Location,” then input the name or phone number of the recipient.

5. Click “Send” and decide whether to share your location for one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely.

Conclusion

If you ever happen to experience share location not working on an iPhone, the solutions discussed in the above guide can always come to your rescue. Besides, you don’t need to be tech-savvy to operate. Just follow the provided steps, and share location not showing error will be fixed in no time.

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