Change default device for find my location

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Level 1

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Change default device for find my location

Is there anyway in iOS 15 to change the device that is used as a default location? I have a child with an iPad as part of my family sharing, who also has an Apple Watch SE that’s as setup with family setup. I can’t seem to find a way to associate the child’s iPad to the Apple Watch.

I would like the watch to be used as the default (or insertion to the iPad) for location sharing. I know I can see the watch in the devices section of find my, but I want it to be used in the People section of the Find My app. Any ideas? TIA!

Posted on Sep 26, 2021 5:24 PM

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Answer 1

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javaliga

Level 10

119,857 points

Sep 26, 2021 7:30 PM in response to Hngry_J

See the 'Change your sharing device' section in:

Find friends and share your location with Find My - Apple Support

"To change the device that you're sharing your location from, open Find My on that device. Select the Me tab, then choose Use this [device] as My Location."

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Answer 2

Hngry_J Author

Level 1

22 points

Sep 27, 2021 6:02 AM in response to javaliga

Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately, because the child’s watch was setup using family sharing, it doesn’t show up in find my as a location sharing option (the way a watch does when it’s paired with a user’s iPhone). It’s signed in with their iCloud ID, and is sharing its location, but there doesn’t appear to be a way for the find my app to link the person and the device together, even they are both signed in with the same iCloud ID.

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Answer 3

Oct 21, 2021 6:58 PM in response to javaliga

Thank you for providing that link - but when my wife selects the "Me" tab, it shows iPhone AND cellular Apple Watch. That is just fine - so long as both the Apple Watch and the iPhone are in the same place. If they aren't - it defaults to the Apple Watch, not the iPhone.

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Answer 4

Hngry_J Author

Level 1

22 points

Oct 24, 2021 9:32 AM in response to jlblodgett

I wish it would default to the apple watch, as the iPad that it is currently using remains at home, and as a result, does not allow certain Home automations to trigger (i.e. when no one is home-based automations). And because the Apple Watch was setup using Family Setup, there doesn't appear to be any way to "link" it to the iPad, even though both are signed in with the same Apple ID.

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Answer 5

Oct 21, 2021 6:56 PM in response to Hngry_J

I have this question, too.

My wife's Find My shows her iPhone and her cellular Apple Watch as the default. When I look for her on my Find My app - it defaults to the Apple Watch. Occasionally she uses a different watch (she is a runner, and uses a Garmin watch when she runs) - but the Find My still defaults back to the Apple Watch.

I can find her device on the Find My app - but I'd prefer if the "People" tab defaulted to her iPhone, not her Apple Watch.

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Change default device for find my location

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