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Find my IPhone constantly tracking

When find my iPhone is turned on on my new iPhone 11, the gps status icon repeatedly shows up in the status bar. When I go to check what’s using my location find my iPhone has the purple icon next to it. I have almost all location services turned off other than essential ones. Why is find my iPhone using my location when I’m not requesting it?

iPhone 11, iOS 13

Posted on Apr 11, 2020 3:22 PM

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Posted on Apr 30, 2020 1:39 PM

I don’t think you’re understanding what we are describing. The issue is that we are NOT actively using Find My IPhone. Our phones aren’t lost and we’re trying to find them. Yet, FMI is constantly active and tracking location. It drained my battery unbelievably to the point I’ve just turned the feature off. I’ve had 6 different iPhones and have never experienced this until now. I realize you might not be familiar with this, but this is what we are experiencing. Just because the FMI feature is set to “on” it should not be constantly tracking the phone. Only when you activate it from another device or in app.

12 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 30, 2020 1:39 PM in response to deggie

I don’t think you’re understanding what we are describing. The issue is that we are NOT actively using Find My IPhone. Our phones aren’t lost and we’re trying to find them. Yet, FMI is constantly active and tracking location. It drained my battery unbelievably to the point I’ve just turned the feature off. I’ve had 6 different iPhones and have never experienced this until now. I realize you might not be familiar with this, but this is what we are experiencing. Just because the FMI feature is set to “on” it should not be constantly tracking the phone. Only when you activate it from another device or in app.

May 4, 2020 2:11 PM in response to deggie

FYI it is not the “find my” app using resources and System services do not appear in battery usage.


Not sure what’s difficult to understand here, the arrow has always appeared on older iOS / devices When it is tracked. I just tried it.

on this device it is constantly updating my location. Every unlock almost.

If I lose my phone, I will then track it. If Apple must automate tracking then on power down would suffice.


Apr 30, 2020 1:35 PM in response to Andy1385

What is IF? If you turn off Find My under location settings and lose your iPhone you will not be able to find it and anyone who steals it will be able to use it as Activation Lock will not kick in. And please top with the TLAs. You are the one tracking yourself when the Find My app does that, it is so it can give you a last known location if you lose it or it is stolen. It did the same thing in the past but didn't display that.


If you truly don't wish to be tracked and are that worried about it do not carry anything with you that connects with satellites, cell towers, WiFi, beacons, etc. Or turn your iPhone off (not asleep, off) when not using it. But while you are using it you can be tracked.


Of course everyone could always be tracked long before cell phones.

Apr 30, 2020 1:48 PM in response to deggie

No, that’s the thing it doesn’t log it under battery usage. But I can tell you that the icon is not occasionally. It’s in between constant and often, whatever that term would be. I can also tell you that after disabling the feature my battery life has gone to excellent. Also, when the feature is turned on and the GPS icon is active, Find My is the only thing with the purple icon next to it, every time. Now I realize other apps use location but I’m talking about when I’m not even using other apps, and regardless they are all set to “only while using the app”, and no other apps have the purple icon. That’s why Apple hasn’t been helpful in the brief amount of time I have to be on the phone with them unfortunately. The battery usage isn’t logging it, yet Find My is the only actively tracking GPS program when turned on (aside from actually using maps etc)

Find my IPhone constantly tracking

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