HT203384: iCloud: Troubleshooting the Find My iPhone app

Learn about iCloud: Troubleshooting the Find My iPhone app
colleen93

Q: What do the green dot, the red dot and the grey dot on the location map mean?

Just wondering why the dot changes from green to grey?  Is that because the phone is in use?  Also, what is the red ballon stand for?

iPhone 4S

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 1:17 PM

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Q: What do the green dot, the red dot and the grey dot on the location map mean?

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  • by randers4,

    randers4 randers4 Sep 6, 2013 1:33 PM in response to colleen93
    Level 9 (62,845 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 1:33 PM in response to colleen93

    Green means it's online, gray means it's offline.  Not sure about the red balloon, haven't seen that.

  • by colleen93,

    colleen93 colleen93 Sep 6, 2013 2:21 PM in response to randers4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 2:21 PM in response to randers4

    Thank you! Another dumb question....why is it offline?  Does that happen when the phone is in use?  Trying to figure out why, and I'm really dumb when it comes to anything technical:)  Do you have to turn off the wifi to get that grey dot?

  • by randers4,

    randers4 randers4 Sep 6, 2013 2:23 PM in response to colleen93
    Level 9 (62,845 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 2:23 PM in response to colleen93

    You're welcome.  It's offline when it doesn't have a data connection to the internet, either via wifi or cellular.  To make it go offline, put your phone in Airplane mode.

  • by colleen93,

    colleen93 colleen93 Sep 6, 2013 2:28 PM in response to randers4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 2:28 PM in response to randers4

    Am I bugging you yet, LOL!  I am using it to keep track of my wild child, and he keeps telling me he hasnt touched anything but then periodically its grey again...he says it does that when hes talking on the phone...any truth to that?  Or should I assume hes switching on the airplane mode when he dosent want me to know where he is?  Again, I am so grateful for your help!

  • by randers4,

    randers4 randers4 Sep 6, 2013 2:36 PM in response to colleen93
    Level 9 (62,845 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 2:36 PM in response to colleen93

    No, you aren't bugging me at all.

     

    If his phone is using Verizon or Sprint and he is not connected to wifi, he may be telling you the truth.  I don't believe the CDMA networks these carriers use support simultaneous voice and data, meaning while he's talking the network won't have a data connection to the internet, which would be necessary for Find My iPhone to show it as being online.

  • by colleen93,

    colleen93 colleen93 Sep 6, 2013 2:42 PM in response to randers4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 2:42 PM in response to randers4

    He uses Verizon and his phone is always connected to wifi unless he switches that to off, correct?

  • by randers4,

    randers4 randers4 Sep 6, 2013 2:48 PM in response to colleen93
    Level 9 (62,845 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 2:48 PM in response to colleen93

    No, having wifi turned on only allows the phone to access wifi if it is available.  But if he's not in range of a open (public) wifi network that the phone can connect to, which is common for an iPhone where you may be travelling in a car for example, the phone would not be connected to wifi even though the setting is turned on.  So, for example, if he was travelling in a car and talking on the phone, his phone would not have a data connection to the internet (either using by wifi or his cellular data network) until the call ended.

     

    You could of course test this by having him turn off wifi on his phone while he's at home, then call him on his phone and see if it goes offline in Find My iPhone and goes back online when he ends the call.

  • by colleen93,

    colleen93 colleen93 Sep 6, 2013 2:53 PM in response to randers4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 2:53 PM in response to randers4

    Great advice!  Thanks so much:)

  • by randers4,

    randers4 randers4 Sep 6, 2013 2:54 PM in response to colleen93
    Level 9 (62,845 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 2:54 PM in response to colleen93

    You're welcome.

  • by gadgetsenorita,

    gadgetsenorita gadgetsenorita Oct 3, 2014 2:52 PM in response to randers4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2014 2:52 PM in response to randers4

    Hi,

     

    I just tried Find my iPhone from the Macbook Pro and it shows 2 green dots.  One is for the current location of my phone at home, but the other one is for a location a number of blocks away (where my phone is currently not located).  Does anyone know why this is happening?