What you can actually find out about someone's location
Finding someone's location depends entirely on what they have already shared with you or what tools they have set up to be found. You cannot track a stranger's phone without their knowledge or permission — that is illegal in most places. But if someone has given you access to their location, shared their location with you through a messaging app, or set up a device so family members can see where it is, you have real options.
The most common scenarios are finding a family member who has turned on location sharing, locating a lost phone you own, or seeing where a friend is when they have shared that information with you. Each one uses different tools and works in different ways.
Key Takeaways
- You can only find someone's location if they have shared it with you, turned on a family location feature, or you own the device yourself.
- iPhone users can share location through Find My Friends or Family Sharing; Android users can use Google Family Link or Google Maps location sharing.
- If you have lost your own phone, use Find My iPhone or Find My Mobile (Samsung) to see its location on a map.
- Messaging apps like Google Maps, WhatsApp, and iMessage all have built-in location sharing that requires the other person to turn it on.
Finding location on iPhone through Family Sharing
If you are part of an Apple Family Sharing group, you can see the location of other family members who have turned on location sharing. Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap the People tab at the bottom. You will see a list of family members who are part of your Family Sharing group. Tap on a person's name to see their location on a map.
This only works if the other person has already agreed to be part of your Family Sharing group and has location sharing turned on. If you do not see someone in the list, they either are not in your Family Sharing group or have turned off location sharing. You cannot force someone to share their location — they have to choose to do it.
To set up Family Sharing if you have not already, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. Follow the prompts to invite family members. They will receive an invitation and must accept it before you can see their location.
Finding location on Android through Google Family Link
Android users can use Google Family Link to see the location of family members, particularly children whose accounts are managed through Family Link. Open the Family Link app on your phone. Tap the person you want to locate. You will see their current location on a map, along with battery percentage and the last time their location was updated.
Family Link is designed for parents to monitor children's devices, so it works best when you have set up a managed account for the person you are trying to locate. If you are trying to find an adult family member, Google Family Link may not be the right tool — instead, use Google Maps location sharing, which works for any Android user who has turned it on.
To use Google Maps location sharing, open Google Maps on your phone. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap Location Sharing. You can see a list of people who are sharing their location with you. Tap on a person's name to see where they are on the map.
Using messaging apps to see someone's live location
Google Maps, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Telegram all let you share your location temporarily or for a set amount of time. The person you are trying to find has to start the sharing — you cannot request it without their knowledge.
In Google Maps, open a conversation with someone and tap the plus icon (on Android) or the arrow icon (on iPhone). Select Location. You can choose to share your location for 15 minutes, 1 hour, or until you turn it off. The other person will see a map showing where you are. If they have also shared their location with you, you will see theirs at the same time.
WhatsApp works similarly. Open a chat, tap the attachment icon (paperclip on iPhone, plus sign on Android), then select Location. You can share your live location for 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours. The other person will see your location update in real time during that window.
Finding your own lost phone using built-in tools
If you have lost your own iPhone, use Find My iPhone. Go to iCloud.com on any computer or another Apple device. Sign in with your Apple ID. Click Find My iPhone. Select your device from the list. You will see its location on a map. You can also play a sound to help you locate it, lock the device remotely, or erase it if you believe it has been stolen.
For Samsung and other Android phones, use Find My Mobile. Go to findmymobile.samsung.com and sign in with your Samsung account. Select your device. You will see its location on a map. You can also lock the device, erase it, or make it ring.
For other Android phones without a manufacturer tool, use Google Find My Device. Go to google.com/android/find on any computer. Sign in with the Google account connected to your phone. You will see your phone's location on a map and can ring it, lock it, or erase it.
What to do if someone will not share their location
If you are trying to find someone and they have not shared their location with you, you have no legal way to track them without their knowledge. Asking them directly is the only option. If you are concerned about a child's safety, have a conversation about why location sharing matters to you and ask them to turn it on.
If you are trying to locate an adult and they do not want to share their location, that is their right. Attempting to track someone without their permission — through spyware, location tracking apps they do not know about, or other hidden methods — is illegal in most places and can result in criminal charges.
If you are worried about someone's safety and cannot reach them, contact local police instead of trying to track them yourself. If you are a parent concerned about a teenager, have a conversation about safety and ask them to turn on location sharing voluntarily.
Understanding location accuracy and privacy
Location sharing is never perfectly accurate. Your phone's location is determined by GPS, cell tower triangulation, and Wi-Fi networks. In cities with tall buildings, accuracy might be off by 100 feet or more. Indoors, it can be much worse. If someone's location shows them at a shopping center, they could actually be in any of the stores there.
Location data also updates on a delay. When you look at someone's location in Find My or Google Maps, you are seeing where they were a few seconds to a few minutes ago, not where they are right now. If they are moving quickly, the map will lag behind their actual position.
All location sharing requires the other person's device to be turned on and connected to the internet. If their phone is off, in airplane mode, or has no signal, you will see their last known location, not their current one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find someone's location if they have not shared it with me?
No, not legally. You can only see someone's location if they have turned on location sharing with you, added you to a Family Sharing group, or you own the device yourself. Tracking someone without their knowledge is illegal in most places.
What if someone turns off their location sharing?
You will no longer be able to see their location. You will see their last known location on the map, but it will not update. If you need to find them, you will have to ask them to turn location sharing back on or contact them directly.
Does location sharing drain the phone battery?
Continuous location sharing does use more battery than normal, especially if GPS is being used constantly. Most people notice a 5 to 15 percent increase in battery drain when location sharing is turned on. Turning it off when you do not need it can help preserve battery life.
Can I see someone's location history, or just their current location?
Most built-in tools like Find My and Google Family Link show only current location, not history. Google Maps Timeline can show your own location history if you have it turned on, but you cannot see another person's timeline unless they have shared their Google account with you, which is not recommended for privacy reasons.
What if the person I am looking for is using a fake location?
Some apps and tools allow people to spoof their location — to show they are somewhere they are not. If you suspect someone is doing this, location sharing will not help you find them. Your only option is to contact them directly or, if it is a safety concern, contact local police.