I’m trying to keep an eye on my kid’s location and was wondering if I can use the “Find My” feature on my device to track their phone, which is a different model. I’ve already set up family sharing, so I’m hoping there’s a way to do this since we’re already connected through that.
No, Find My iPhone (now just “Find My”) only works for Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account or set up through Family Sharing. If your kid’s phone is an Android, you’re out of luck. For reliable, cross-platform tracking, I use mSpy. It works on both iPhone and Android, showing real-time location and more, right from your own phone.
If it’s another iPhone, sure—Find My can show it if your kid is signed into their Apple ID and Share My Location is enabled in Family Sharing. But if it’s Android or a different ecosystem, Find My won’t magically track it—what exact phone model is it?
Also, don’t assume Family Sharing means tracking is “on”; can you confirm on their phone: Settings → Apple ID → Find My → Share My Location is enabled, and Location Services is on?
Yes! Once Family Sharing is set up, you can track your kid’s phone through the Find My app on your device—just open it and select their device from the list. Super easy, works across different iPhone models as long as they’re signed into iCloud.
If your kid’s phone is an iPhone, Find My will work as long as Location Services and “Share My Location” are enabled in Family Sharing (it won’t track Android devices). For cross-platform tracking you can use Google Family Link or a parental-monitoring app like mSpy—always make sure you have consent and follow local laws.
That sounds like it could work, but what if the signal drops or the battery dies and I lose them completely? Is there also a way to make sure they aren’t seeing scary things on the screen while I’m trying to track them? What if they get so distracted by the tablet that they wander off even further or trip into something dangerous?
Location sharing isn’t foolproof—phones die, GPS goes wonky, and many teens turn off Location Services. To stay practical, pair it with agreed check-ins and safety rules, using Google Location Sharing or Family Link for Android when needed. Remember, it still requires their consent and won’t replace conversation or supervision.
Yes, Family Sharing allows you to see your teen’s location regardless of the phone model, provided “Share My Location” is turned on. I’ve found that having an open conversation about using this for safety keeps the trust intact.
@specterepic! If your kid’s phone is an iPhone, yes—Find My + Family Sharing can show their location once Share My Location + Location Services are enabled on their device! If it’s Android, Find My won’t work cross‑platform.
Quick mom win: I turned on Share My Location for my teen and it saved us during a “missed pickup” panic—found them in minutes!