You can add people to Find My iPhone through the Find My app or iCloud settings

To let someone track your iPhone's location, you use Apple's Find My app (on newer iPhones) or iCloud.com (on any device). The person you add needs an Apple ID, and you both need to be in the same iCloud Family Group or you need to send them a direct invite. Once they accept, they can see your device's location on a map in their own Find My app.

The process takes about five minutes and works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. You stay in control — you can remove someone's access anytime, and they won't be notified when you do.

Key Takeaways

  • The easiest way to share location is through a Family Group in iCloud, which lets up to six people see each other's devices automatically.
  • If you don't want a Family Group, you can invite someone directly through the Find My app, and they'll get a notification to accept.
  • The person you add must have an Apple ID and their own Apple device to see your location.
  • You can remove someone's access at any time, and they won't receive a notification that you've done so.

Adding someone through a Family Group

If you already have an iCloud Family Group set up, family members automatically see each other's device locations in Find My. To check if you have one, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. If you see family members listed there, location sharing is already on.

To add a new family member to your group, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > Add Family Member. They'll receive an invitation on their device. Once they accept and sign in with their Apple ID, their devices will appear in your Find My app automatically. Family members can be anyone — they don't have to be related to you.

Inviting someone directly without a Family Group

If you don't want to create a Family Group, you can invite a single person to see your location. Open the Find My app, tap the People tab at the bottom, then tap Share My Location. Choose "Share for One Hour," "Until End of Day," or "Indefinitely." Then select the person from your contacts or enter their phone number or email address.

They'll get a notification asking them to accept the invitation. Once they do, they can see your device's location in their Find My app. This method works for one person at a time, so if you want multiple people to see your location, you'll need to send separate invitations to each one.

Sharing location through iCloud.com

If you're on a computer or prefer using the web, go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Find My, then click Devices or People depending on what you're trying to do. To share your location, click People, then click the plus icon and enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to invite.

They'll receive an invitation via email or notification. The process is the same as inviting through the app — they accept, and then they can see your location in their Find My app or on iCloud.com.

What the person you add can see

When someone has access to your location, they see your device on a map in the Find My app. They can see your current location and, if you're moving, they can watch your location update in real time. They cannot see your location history, what apps you're using, or any other information on your device — only where it is right now.

If your device is offline or turned off, they'll see the last known location. If you turn on location services but disable Find My, they won't be able to see you anymore.

Removing someone's access

To stop sharing your location with someone, open Find My, tap the People tab, find the person's name, and swipe left on it (or right-click on a computer). Tap Remove or Delete. They will no longer see your location, and they won't receive a notification that you've removed them.

If you want to stop sharing with everyone in your Family Group, you can turn off location sharing in Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > Location Sharing. This removes access for all family members at once.

Troubleshooting common problems

If someone can't see your location, first check that Find My is turned on. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure it's enabled. Then go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My and confirm that Find My iPhone (or Find My [Device Name]) is on. If location services are off, no one can see you.

If the person you invited hasn't received a notification, ask them to check their email or Messages app — the invitation might be there. They may also need to update their device to the latest iOS or iPadOS version. If they're using an older device, they might not be able to use Find My at all; the app requires iOS 13 or later on iPhone, or iPadOS 13 or later on iPad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see someone else's location without them knowing?

No. If you want to see someone's location, you have to send them an invitation through Find My, and they have to accept it. They'll know you can see them because they accepted your request. There's no hidden or secret way to track someone without their knowledge or consent.

What if someone shares their location with me but I don't want to see it?

Open Find My, go to the People tab, find their name, and swipe left (or right-click on a computer). Tap Remove. You'll no longer see their location. They won't be notified that you removed them.

Can I share my location with someone who doesn't have an iPhone?

No. The person you share with needs an Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch) and an Apple ID. If they have an Android phone, they can't see your location through Find My. Some third-party apps like Google Maps let you share location with Android users, but that's a separate service.

Does sharing my location drain my battery?

Location sharing uses some battery because your device is constantly sending its location to Apple's servers. The impact is usually small — similar to having location services on for maps or weather. If battery life is a concern, you can set invitations to expire after one hour or at the end of the day instead of indefinitely.

Can I share my location with a group chat?

Not directly through Find My. You can share your location in Messages by opening a conversation, tapping Details, and selecting Share My Location, but that's a separate feature from Find My. Messages location sharing works differently and has its own time limits.