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Gavin Eadie2

Q: Find my Friends needs both parties to have an Internet connection

Nowhere does it say Find my Friends needs both parties to have a live Internet connection (WiFi or cellular) at the time they want to find a friend.  That may be obvious to most, but I've just helped someone who didn't realize that.  You must have an active connection to iCloud to ask for another's location, and they need the same to get the request (and send back their location) ..

iCloud

Posted on Jun 1, 2016 3:12 PM

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Q: Find my Friends needs both parties to have an Internet connection

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  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jun 1, 2016 3:21 PM in response to Gavin Eadie2
    Level 10 (103,346 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 1, 2016 3:21 PM in response to Gavin Eadie2

    Sorry, but I feel it's very obvious, of course not everyone always sees the obvious but that doesn't mean it needs to be in big letters on the tin.

  • by Gavin Eadie2,

    Gavin Eadie2 Gavin Eadie2 Jun 1, 2016 3:36 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 1, 2016 3:36 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    .. it's not even in little letters on the tin !

     

    Your feeling it's very obvious isn't the point; I think it's obvious too (which also isn't the point).  Increasing the odds of finding someone who wanders, for whatever reason (dementia is one example), requires a cellular data plan for both the finder and the findee because neither is going to be able to use WiFi as they wander and search.  And I know that the small print says you shouldn't rely on FmF (or FmP) for such purposes (a dedicated GPS tracker would be better), but it can help .. I've just been through setting this up for a couple approaching 70.  You're right, not everyone always sees the obvious ..

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jun 1, 2016 3:44 PM in response to Gavin Eadie2
    Level 10 (103,346 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 1, 2016 3:44 PM in response to Gavin Eadie2

    It most certainly is mentioned if you care to look.

    Get help using Find My Friends - Apple Support

  • by Gavin Eadie2,

    Gavin Eadie2 Gavin Eadie2 Jun 1, 2016 8:13 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 1, 2016 8:13 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    But that document is 'after the fact.'  Pushing your metaphor over the edge, I contend there's nothing on the tin .. there is, however, as you rightly point out, a note inside the tin, once you open it and find there's no sardines inside.  But this is getting silly and unproductive.

  • by KupunaKane,

    KupunaKane KupunaKane Jun 6, 2016 6:07 AM in response to Gavin Eadie2
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 6, 2016 6:07 AM in response to Gavin Eadie2

    SO, at the expense of sounding like i missed the obvious, what does the other person need in order to be followed? I've added someone who accepted my invitation. He lives out of state (He's east coast, I'm wast coast). But he continues to come up as "Location not available" I've done some research, but clearly I'm missing something.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jun 6, 2016 6:09 AM in response to KupunaKane
    Level 10 (103,346 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 6, 2016 6:09 AM in response to KupunaKane

    From the Apple page I linked to:

     

    You might not see your friend's location for these reasons:

    • Your friend might need to correct the date on their device. Tap Settings > General > Date & Time.
    • The device is off or isn't connected to cellular or Wi-Fi.
    • Your friend turned on Hide My Location in Find My Friends.
    • Your friend turned off Location Services in Settings > Privacy > Location Services or in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Find Friends.
    • Your friend isn't signed in to Find My Friends on the device being located.
    • The device is in a country where Apple doesn't offer this feature. This feature might not be available in all countries due to technical limitations or local law.

    A device's previous location will be available for 2 hours. After 2 hours, "Location not available" appears.