HT203384: iCloud: Troubleshooting the Find My iPhone app

Learn about iCloud: Troubleshooting the Find My iPhone app
JAD21

Q: Find My Iphone says "offline" when its not

Find My Iphone keeps telling me "offline". I have tried disconnecting from wi-fi and just using cellular data and downloading the Find My Iphone app. Any other suggestions?

iPhone 5c

Posted on Feb 4, 2014 6:41 AM

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Q: Find My Iphone says "offline" when its not

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  • by ariel s,

    ariel s ariel s Feb 6, 2014 2:41 PM in response to JAD21
    Level 4 (1,702 points)
    Feb 6, 2014 2:41 PM in response to JAD21

    Hi JAD21,

     

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.  This article has steps you can take to troubleshoot Find My iPhone:

     

    iCloud: Troubleshooting Find My iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4006

    "No location available," "Offline," or "Location Services Off" alerts

    This can occur if:

    • The date on your device is incorrect. Choose Settings > General > Date & Time to check and set the date.
    • Your iOS device is currently off or not connected to a data network (Edge, 3 or 4G, or Wi-Fi). Wait a few minutes and try again.
    • Your iPad (Wi-Fi only), iPod Touch, or Mac is currently off or not connected to a Wi-Fi network.
    • Location Services is not enabled on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch (Settings > Privacy) or on your Mac (Date & Time) preferences. Learn more about Location Services on your Mac:
    • You are located in a country where Apple does not offer this feature. This feature may not be available in all countries due to technical limitations or local law.

     

    Cheers,

    - Ari

  • by jaw444,

    jaw444 jaw444 Dec 29, 2014 12:06 AM in response to ariel s
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 29, 2014 12:06 AM in response to ariel s

    Hi Ari

    i have just gone through the article and updated everything.  Location services were  not enabled so i though enabling them would solve the problem.  But no success.  The problem is exactly what it was before which is that when i want it to find my mac and play a sound letting me know where it is, it says "locating" for a long time, while the iPhone is instantly found, and then, for the MBP, it says the device is offline.  If it was offline, i wouldn't be able to go onto the iCloud website and test this problem.  What explains Find MY Phone thinking my Mac is off line when it's clearly awake an connected to the internet with wifi?  What do i  have to do to fix this, and if there is no fix, what is wrong with my system to cause this malfunction?  To be clear, location serves is enabled in Privacy settings, the box is checked.  The box is also checked for Safari.  Why is iCloud not able to see my Mac, which is accessing the iCloud website in order to reach iCloud and use Find my Phone/Mac?

  • by jennydc77,

    jennydc77 jennydc77 Mar 2, 2015 12:23 PM in response to ariel s
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2015 12:23 PM in response to ariel s

    The same thing is happening for me. I  tried these instructions but they didn't work. I wish this app would work.

  • by Not2SmartUser,

    Not2SmartUser Not2SmartUser May 26, 2015 8:02 PM in response to jennydc77
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 26, 2015 8:02 PM in response to jennydc77

    Go to System Preferences>iCloud> and make sure that "find my mac" is turned on.  you'll have to close any browsers that are logged into iCloud

  • by videl6000,

    videl6000 videl6000 Oct 6, 2015 1:53 PM in response to ariel s
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 6, 2015 1:53 PM in response to ariel s

    having the same problme with my iPhone- fortunately I found it anyway.  once I had it back I checked connection (wifi on), date and time, and location services all correct/on/functioning.  so still not sure why i was unable to locate it when I needed it, couldn't even play the sound which in this instance may have been enough

  • by videl6000,

    videl6000 videl6000 Oct 6, 2015 2:13 PM in response to videl6000
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 6, 2015 2:13 PM in response to videl6000

    I think I figured out my own problem, now I can see 2 listings for my phone, the correct one in my possession and a 2nd that still says offline, I believe it's my old phone that is being used by a family member (without cellular data).  so that answers the offline part but not why my current phone didn't show up at all

  • by Msmetta,Helpful

    Msmetta Msmetta Oct 27, 2015 5:28 PM in response to JAD21
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 27, 2015 5:28 PM in response to JAD21

    I could not locate my iPhone because it would not sound. After I located it manually, I went through all these posts to determine why sound on Find a Iphone would not sound. The iPhone was a few feet from my mac which I was using to locate the phone. Both mac and iPhone were on, had access to wifi and I found internet worked on both. Cellular and data roaming on iPhone were on. Phone had location services on. Date and time were correct.  I have used Find my iPhone several times and it always worked like a charm in the past so Canada does support this service. Mac displayed the location of my iPhone on the map. Sound would not work because message said iPhone was "offline" but, to be clear, iPhone was on and I could use safari so it had no problem accessing the internet. This is the same iPhone I successfully located previously through Find my iPhone by using sound.

     

    Can anyone make further suggestions as to why I cannot play sound to locate my iPhone?

     

    Thank you.