My computer does not show up in Find My.

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Level 2

166 points

My computer does not show up in Find My.

I like Find My. I once lost my iPad at the gym. I was able to include its then-current-location's street address in a message to management. I got a call the next day telling me that it had been found. It had. I asked no questions.

I recently bought a new MacBook Air* and tried to add it to my Find My Devices. My iPad and my iPhone show up on "Find My Devices" on my iPad, my iPhone and my Air, but my Air does not show up on any of them.

Here's what Find My.app shows on my Air (and also on https://www.icloud.com/find/):

Note that my Air is missing.

The following seems to illuminate the problem:

On my MacBook Air:

[Black Apple] -> System Settings... -> "Gil Dawson"

-> Devices / "Gil's MacBook Air". Note that "Find My Mac" is Off

Here's a screenshot:

Clicking anywhere on the "Find My Mac" bar does nothing.

How can I get it turned on?

Further investigation...

[Black Apple] -> System Settings...

-> "Gil Dawson" -> iCloud -> "Show More Apps..."

Note that "Find My Mac" is On

-> "Find My Mac" ->

Note that "Find My Mac" is On

Note that "Find My network" is On

-> Done -> Done

-> Privacy & Security -> Location Services

Note that "Find My Mac" is On

...I noticed nothing else amiss.

Restarted my Air -- no help.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

--Gil

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Jun 2, 2024 3:22 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

157,422 points

Jun 3, 2024 2:06 PM in response to Gil Dawson

Here you go: Sign out of iCloud on your devices - Apple Support.

Review "What happens when you sign out of iCloud on your device" with care.

Regarding Steps 4 and 5: Under normal circumstances it is not necessary to keep a copy of those data on your Mac. In an abundance of caution though, and considering the "Find My" problem is likely to be related in some way to iCloud, I recommend selecting those options when they appear.

Yes if you share data with other devices or other iCloud users in your family (for example) they can be affected. As I wrote it's a bit of a pain, and it might not even solve the problem.

When you "sign in" again, it will take a few minutes at least for all those services to repopulate from iCloud. All I can tell you from personal experience is that iCloud data has remained secure and unaltered whenever I found it necessary or helpful to sign out and in again over the course of troubleshooting a problem.

The worst that can happen is that it will turn out to be a fruitless endeavor, but at least you can tell Apple you tried it already.

I would not have expected Safe Mode to help, given the fact most of your devices are appearing in Find My.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

157,422 points

Jun 2, 2024 4:22 PM in response to Gil Dawson

Like you I can find nothing amiss.

Situations like these typically call for "signing out" of iCloud on the device in question, and "signing in" again. It's the iCloud equivalent of "turn it off and on again".

Refer to Change Apple ID settings on Mac - Apple Support, and If you sign out of your Apple ID settings on Mac - Apple Support. I realize it is an inconvenience and it certainly should not be necessary, but I think that's what Apple would suggest if you were to contact them.

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Answer 3

Gil Dawson Author

Level 2

166 points

Jun 3, 2024 1:10 PM in response to John Galt

Hi, John--

I appreciate your review of my issue.

Could you please suggest specifically how I can "sign out" of iCloud then "sign in" again? I read the articles that you referenced. They suggest how to manage iCloud features and settings, but not specifically how to "turn it off and on again".

I'm thinking that Restarting iCloud might create some disturbances in our multi-device home network, such as shared grocery lists or received message banners.

Perhaps I'll be content to wait until a new macOS version fixes the problem.

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