I need to CHOOSE my default location sharing device for my elderly father (cellular watch instead of phone)!
My 80 year old father is a runner and does NOT carry his phone out on runs, but always has his watch. I desperately want location settings in FIND MY to be set for his watch, instead of his phone.
[iPhone 14 fully updated to iOS 18, and an Apple watch v.8 fully updated to watchOS v.11.2]
Everything I have read says it should be a simple fix...
- Go to FIND MY
- Click on ME
- under My Location "choose the device to share from"
HOWEVER ... IT IS NOT CHANGEABLE.
In grayed out text it reads, "Sends from this iPhone and cellular Apple Watches"
or if I'm on the watch, "Sends from iPhone14 and this Apple Watch"
I NEED TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE!
Of course, if I were holding his phone and have his passcode, I could open Find My and choose his Apple Watch under devices. BUT I NEED TO BE ABLE TO FIND HIS WATCH WITHOUT HIS PHONE IN MY HAND, and WITHOUT UNPAIRING THE DEVICES FROM EACH OTHER.
Come on, Apple. It should not be so hard. THIS IS WHY SO MANY OF US HAVE THESE FOR OUR PARENTS!
I have tried NUMEROUS workarounds.
Turning off his phone does NOT auto switch location to his watch. It simply tells me the "last known" location of his phone "20 minutes ago" or however much time has passed since it was turned off.
I have toggled location services on/off hoping to reset.
I have tried using 3rd party apps (Life 360). I know for a fact it was capable before as a few years back, Life 360was using his iPad for a location and I was easily able to switch it to his phone. BUT APPLE SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN AWAY THIS ABILITY.
My current (BAD OPTION) is to use an Apple air tag and HOPE he will remember to TAKE IT WITH HIM.
My next effort will be to try to add him to "my family" and hopefully will be able to see his "devices".
DO BETTER APPLE.