If you keep encountering the “Location Not Available” error while tracking someone’s location in iMessage or Find My on your iPhone, there are a few steps you can take to resolve the issue. Start with these steps on your own device before asking the person you’re trying to track to take any action:
Quit and Relaunch Find My or Messages
Sometimes, the Find My or Messages app may encounter a bug, leading to the “Location Not Available” error. To resolve this, force quit and relaunch the app:
- On iPhones with Face ID: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the App Switcher. Locate the Messages or Find My card and swipe it up and off the top of the screen to close it. Then return to the Home screen and reopen the app.
- On iPhones with a Home button: Double-press the Home button to bring up the App Switcher. Find the Messages or Find My card and swipe it up to close it. Go back to the Home screen and relaunch the app.
By force quitting and relaunching the app, you can often resolve temporary glitches that might be causing the “Location Not Available” error.
Please note that these steps are intended to be performed on your own iPhone. If the issue persists, the next steps will involve actions that the person you’re trying to track needs to take on their device.
Restart Your iPhone
If closing and opening the app you were using didn’t work, you may need for you to start you iPhone rather. To reboot your iPhone just go to your settings app and then tap General > Shut down. When the screen turns black, hold it for a few minutes and then hold your finger on the side and the top option until you are able to see your Apple logo.
How do I fix “Location Unavailable” On the iPhone of someone else
If the two suggestions below didn’t work then you’ll have to shift your focus to your loved ones’ iPhone. Help them with the fix below in a phone call. You can also share this article with them, and ensure they follow the steps provided in the section.
Turn off Share My Location and on
Enabling or disabling Share My Location in the Find My preferences can help to make an iPhone signal its location a second time. To do this you need to go into the Settings by tapping the user’s initials at the very top. Next, choose the option to Find Me. Switch the switch next to Sharing My Location off, then turn it switch it on.
You can share the location via a message and Search My Again
Then, turn off and enable location sharing within the Messages app as well as the Search My app:
- For Messages Start a conversation with the individual you wish to discuss your place with. Click on the profile picture on the right side of chat, and then select to stop sharing my location. Then, click Share My Location..
- On Find My Go into the People tab, then tap on the name of the individual you wish to communicate your current location, and choose to to stop sharing your location. After that, return to the People tab and click the Add (+) icon, Share My Location then select the contact.
Restart the iPhone
The simplest way to do this can be found in Settings > General > Shut down. After that, hold and press on the Top and the Top button to reboot the iPhone.
Make sure you know the Date and Time
An error in the date or time may cause problems when it comes to location sharing. To verify this check the General tab in Settings, then Date and Time. If the time or date is incorrect, switch off the toggle next to Automated Set to obtain the exact day and hour from the Apple servers. If this doesn’t work then deactivate the switch, then set it to the right date manually.
Change to Cellular Data
Spotty Wi-Fi could also be in the equation, so consider making use of mobile or cellular data instead. To do this, access an iOS’s Control Center (swipe down from the top right of the screen or swipe upwards from the bottom in the event that you’re using an iPhone has the home button) and then tap to the Wi-Fi icon to deactivate it.
If data from cellular is in use The iPhone will begin to use it. If not, tap on the Cellular icon on the right to enable it. Make sure that you don’t experience any issues with data connectivity in your iPhone also.
Sharing your location isn’t always Smart
Location tracking is a double-edged weapon. While it can provide valuable functions such as location sharing within iMessage as well as Find My, various third-party applications and services could also track your location to serve malicious reasons. Find out how to block unwanted tracking of your location on the iPhone to safeguard your privacy while making use the benefits of location tracking.
