Steve Panther
Level 1 (105 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Find My Phone: device is offline?

Even though my device (Macbook Pro) is connected online via wifi Find My Phone says it's offline.

 

Why?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Aug 21, 2015 8:53 AM

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Steve Panther

Q: Find My Phone: device is offline?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 21, 2015 9:06 AM in response to Steve Panther
    Level 9 (60,769 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 21, 2015 9:06 AM in response to Steve Panther

    my device (Macbook Pro) is connected online via wifi

    There are several different degrees of connected-ness.

     

    Your Mac Pro could be seeing your local Wi-Fi, but not have started to get an IP Address.

     

    -- To Test, ¿What is its IP Address from System Preferences > Network? (if 169.254.xxx.yyy, it is not yet connected to the Internet)

    Forcing it to get something off the Internet will force it to get a valid local IP Address.

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Aug 21, 2015 9:07 AM in response to Steve Panther
    Level 10 (188,109 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 21, 2015 9:07 AM in response to Steve Panther

    have you tried:

    Get help using Find My iPhone - Apple Support

  • by Steve Panther,

    Steve Panther Steve Panther Aug 21, 2015 10:56 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 21, 2015 10:56 AM in response to lllaass

    OK. Thanks. I am online I see that I do have an IP address. It's just still showing up as offline. I'd say the system is iffy.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 21, 2015 11:34 AM in response to Steve Panther
    Level 9 (60,769 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 21, 2015 11:34 AM in response to Steve Panther

    What is the status of your connection to iCloud?

     

    Is the location of your Wi-Fi Router known to Apple? (or are you way out in the woods like me?)

  • by Steve Panther,

    Steve Panther Steve Panther Aug 21, 2015 12:20 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 21, 2015 12:20 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Like I said. It's hit or miss. Before I was "offline" even though I wasn't. Now it finds my macbook in San Francisco even though it and I am in Florida. So much for technology.

    Thanks

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 21, 2015 12:34 PM in response to Steve Panther
    Level 9 (60,769 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 21, 2015 12:34 PM in response to Steve Panther

    ¿Is the location of your Router known to Apple?

     

    System preferences > Date&Time > Time Zone [√] set Time Zone using current "Location" [where "location" in this context is the geographical Lat and Lon known for the Wi-Fi Router providing your current Internet connection] If your Time Zone changes to California, Apple does not know your Router's "Location" correctly.

     

    My funny story:

     

    I live far enough off the road that travelers cannot see my Wi-Fi signal just by driving by. My Router's location was "Unknown" for many months, and there appeared there was nothing I could do about it.

     

    Then we had a garden party, and accidentally invited a number of friends with iPhones. Now the geographical locations of both my Routers is well know, and they are shown as about 100 feet apart.