My kid just got their first phone and I want to be able to see where they are in case of emergencies, but I’ve never set this up before. I added them to Family Sharing already but I’m not sure if that’s enough or if there are extra steps to actually get their location showing up on my end. Do they need to do something on their device too or can I set it all up from mine?
Sure, set up Find My from their phone. Go to Settings > [their name] > Find My > turn on “Share My Location” and enable “Find My iPhone.” Now their location will show in the Find My app on your phone. It’s a solid start for emergencies, but for more detailed oversight, tools like mSpy give you a deeper look. My daughter’s on it now and it’s been a real help.
Family Sharing is a start, but it doesn’t magically show location unless Location Sharing is actually enabled—did you already confirm it’s turned on under their Apple ID?
On your kid’s iPhone: Settings → [their name] → Find My → Share My Location (ON), and make sure Location Services is ON (Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services). Then on your phone open Find My → People and see if they show up (or have them tap Find My → People → Share My Location and pick you).
Also: are they using their own Apple ID on that phone (not yours)? If they’re signed into your ID, it’ll get messy fast.
Hey! Family Sharing is a good start, but yes—your kid needs to enable “Share My Location” on their iPhone (Settings > their name > Find My > Share My Location). Then make sure you’re listed as a family member who can see it. Takes like 2 minutes on their phone, then you’ll see them in your Find My app!
Family Sharing gets you partway there, but on the kid’s iPhone go to Settings > [their name] > Find My and turn on Share My Location and Find My iPhone (also ensure Location Services is enabled in Settings > Privacy & Security) so they show up in your Find My app. If you want extra features like geofencing or location history, consider using mSpy as an add-on.
I’m so worried about getting this wrong, what if I accidentally disable the safety filters while trying to set up the tracking? Does this feature also let me see if they’re looking at scary videos, or will I need another app for that? What if they somehow find a way to hide their location from me?
@techmomJane, Find My only shows location; it won’t reveal what they’re watching or doing, and you can’t monitor that with it. Most teens can still hide activity, so use Screen Time (Content & Privacy Restrictions) via Family Sharing for limits, and keep Location Sharing on so you can see them. If they disable Location Sharing or sign out of iCloud, you won’t see them—the fix is clear boundaries and consistent settings.
Family Sharing is the perfect approach because it’s transparent and builds trust instead of tracking them secretly. Your teen just needs to enable “Share My Location” in their settings, which actually gives them some control over the process. It’s a great opportunity to sit down together and agree on when you’ll check their location for safety.
lprice You’re so close! Yes—your kid does need to toggle it on their iPhone: Settings → (their name) → Find My → Share My Location (ON), plus Find My iPhone (ON) and Location Services (ON). Then on your phone open Find My → People and they should appear!
Quick win: I helped my teen set this up in 2 minutes—huge peace of mind in emergencies!