Strange Find My Friends issue

If Person A stops sharing their location with Person B on Find My, Person B will not be notified directly that Person A has made this change. The location will simply no longer appear for Person B in the Find My app, and they won't be alerted with a notification or message. However, Person B may eventually notice that they can no longer see Person A's location when they check the app.

The change made by Person A, such as stopping location sharing, may not always be intentional. There are several reasons why this could happen, such as:

• Person A's device may not be connected to the internet, which could prevent the location sharing from updating properly.
• Person A may have reset their settings for another reason, like troubleshooting or updating their device, and forgotten to re-enable location sharing.

These factors can lead to Person B noticing the absence of location sharing without understanding the full cause.

If the location of a person on Find My is constantly moving around, it typically indicates that their device has a poor or unstable internet connection. Find My relies on GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular data to determine and share a device's location. When the connection is weak or inconsistent, the device may struggle to communicate its exact position, leading to erratic or fluctuating location updates.

Several factors can contribute to this issue, including:

1. Weak Cellular Signal – If the device is in an area with limited cellular coverage, such as indoors, underground, or in a remote location, it may not be able to send accurate location data consistently.
2. Unstable Wi-Fi Connection – If the device is connected to a weak or slow Wi-Fi network, the location updates may be delayed or inaccurate. This can happen in places with poor Wi-Fi signal strength or interference from other devices.
3. GPS Interference – GPS signals can be obstructed by tall buildings, tunnels, or heavy tree cover, causing the location to appear inconsistent or jump around on the map.
4. Low Battery Mode or Background App Restrictions – If the device is in Low Power Mode or if location services are restricted in the background, Find My may not refresh location data as frequently, leading to erratic movement on the map.
5. VPN or Location Spoofing Apps – If the person is using a VPN or location-altering software, it could cause Find My to display shifting locations.

To resolve the issue, the person should ensure they have a strong internet connection, disable Low Power Mode if active, and check that Find My has permission to access location services at all times. Restarting the device and toggling Airplane Mode on and off may also help stabilize the connection.

To use Find My and Location Services on an iPhone effectively, both your iPhone and the device you're trying to locate must have an active internet connection. These services rely on internet access to share your location with friends and family and to track the locations of devices, people, and items. Without internet connectivity on either end, the sharing and locating features of Find My and Location Services will not function properly.

If you connect to Wifi, doesn't necessarily mean you are connected to the internet. --> Internet not available WiFi and Cellular … - Apple Community

This is so frustrating. I’ve had this issue for months—almost a year—and it’s impossible to fix. I’ve found that it’s a software sync issue. Both people need to have the same updated software, or they’ll lose location sharing, which is just ridiculous. I have reached out to support, and no one can tell me what’s happening. Apple basically conditions the features of equipment you’ve paid a significant amount for on whether you update your own device, even if you don’t want to. This is manipulative behavior.

Hi, not sure what conditioning of equipment is or even a clue as to its meaning. Each generation of devices brings new hardware and new capabilities. Security and privacy issues may preclude devices on different iOS’s from performing specific functions. We would need a lot more specifics about the experience you’re having? What devices? Is your daughter a minor, what country are you in, and many more potential questions.

Not trying to be critical, but just voicing your concerns serves no function. Hi, this is not Apple Support. Apple and Apple Support do not participate in the communities here. They only moderate our posts to insure all user guidelines are followed in regard to content and user behavior. Your comments will not be reviewed by Apple. Apple will make changes based partially on the feedback they receive through their official channel, linked below .

Product Feedback - Apple

If you want to troubleshoot the issue, please start with devices, iOS versions and some examples of what you’re experiencing.