Find My not updating someone's location? Here's why, and the fixes

The dot hasn't moved in hours, or it says "2 hr. ago" while you know they've left. A location that isn't updating is the viewer's side of a sharing problem: something on the other phone stops it from sending fresh positions. This guide covers Find My on iPhone, Google Maps and Life360, with the exact checks for each. Apple labels follow the iPhone User Guide for iOS 27 (iOS 26 reads the same), checked 7 November 2026.

First: is it really stuck?

1. Look at the time stamp under their name. "Now" or Live means it's current (what "Live" means). "15 min. ago" while they sit still at home is normal: a phone that doesn't move has nothing new to report often.
2. Refresh your view. In Find My, pull down on the People list and tap their name again. In Google Maps, tap their icon, then More > Refresh (Google).
3. Check your own connection. Your phone also needs the internet to load their new position.

If the time keeps getting older while they're clearly on the move, work through the causes below.

Why a location stops updating

Apple's baseline: "Most Find My features are only available if you're connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network" (Apple). And for a friend you can't see, Apple says to "ask them to make sure they're sharing their location and that Location Services is on in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Find My" (Apple).

Fix Find My not updating: checklist for the other person's iPhone

Send them these steps:

1. Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services: on.
2. In the list, Find My: allowed, with Precise Location on (Apple).
3. Find My > Me: Share My Location on; Sharing From shows the iPhone they carry. If not: Use This iPhone as My Location (Apple).
4. Find My > People > your name: not paused with Hide Location.
5. Airplane Mode off, and mobile data or Wi-Fi working (open a web page to test).
6. Turn off any VPN briefly to test.
7. Restart the phone and open Find My once.
8. Update iOS (Settings > General > Software Update).

A cellular Apple Watch can take over sharing when it's on their wrist and away from the iPhone, which can make the location jump between devices (Apple).

Fix: "Find My Friends not updating" (older name)

Find My Friends was merged into the Find My app; the People tab is the same thing. Everything above applies. If someone still has a very old iPhone that can't run a current iOS, Apple notes that some location sharing options need iOS 17 (Apple).

Fix Google Maps location not updating

Google says people you share with can always see "your device's recent location even when Google apps aren't being used" plus battery level (Google). If a contact's location looks old:

1. Tap their icon on the map, then More > Refresh.
2. Ask them to check that location is on for their phone and that Google Maps may use it.
3. If sharing has issues for more than 24 hours, Google suggests verifying age and recreating the share with Until you turn this off.

On Android, battery-saving settings can slow updates for any app; Life360's own checklist asks for Power saving and Data saver off (below), and the same test helps for Google Maps. Full steps: Google Maps location sharing.

Fix Life360 not updating location

Life360's help center says: "If you are having trouble locating someone in your Circle, the problem is likely with their phone connection and signal" (Life360). Its checklist, for the person who isn't updating:

• Logged in on one device at a time; phone on; app updated.
• Good cellular data; avoid mobile hotspots and in-car Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Open the app after the battery has died, and "Open Life360 every two days to prevent the app from entering 'sleep mode'."
• No VPN ("it will interfere with accuracy"); avoid parental control or security apps.
• iPhone: Location On and set to Always, Wi-Fi on, Airplane Mode off, Low Power Mode off, Data Mode Allow More Data, Physical Activity permission on.
• Android: Location on with Use Precise Location, Wi-Fi on, Airplane Mode off, Data saver off, Power saving off, Physical Activity permission on.

For network error messages after a phone change, Life360 suggests resetting the password, logging out, restarting the phone, logging back in and tapping the Check In button a few times to refresh (Life360).

Fix WhatsApp Live Location not updating

WhatsApp Live Location only updates while the sharer's phone is online and the time they chose hasn't ended (WhatsApp). If it froze, ask them to check the share is still running in the chat and that WhatsApp has location access. Steps: WhatsApp location.

When "not updating" is a battery choice

All location apps balance freshness against battery. A phone that's still for an hour sends fewer updates, by design. That's why a stale time while someone sits at a desk is usually fine. Our battery guide explains the trade-off.

Warden (top pick): know they arrived without watching a dot

Refreshing a map to see whether someone is home is the worst way to know. Warden turns it around:

1. Place alerts: add home, work or school, and the circle gets an alert when someone arrives or leaves.
2. Locate now: ask for a fresh position on request when you need one.
3. Battery modes: each person chooses Precise, Balanced or Battery saver. Warden updates about every 30 seconds to 3 minutes while moving and every 5 to 30 minutes while still.
4. Battery level and low-battery alerts, so a dying phone isn't mistaken for a problem.
5. "Paused" is shown as "Paused", not as a frozen dot.

It works in one circle across iPhone and Android, and everyone switches sharing on themselves.

Your own location isn't updating for others

If friends tell you your dot is stuck, go through the iPhone checklist above on your own phone, especially Use This iPhone as My Location. If Share My Location won't turn on, see share location unavailable.

FAQ

Why is Find My not updating someone's location?

Their phone can't send a new position: it may be off, offline, in Airplane Mode, sharing from another device, or Location Services for Find My is off or limited. Ask them to check Find My > Me and Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Find My.

How do I refresh someone's location on iPhone?

Pull down on the People list in Find My and tap their name again. Find My then loads the newest position their phone has sent.

Why is someone's location stuck in one place?

Often their phone is still, off or offline, or another device such as an iPad at home is their sharing device. If the time under their name keeps getting older, the phone isn't reporting.

Why is Life360 not updating location?

Life360 says it's usually the other phone's connection and signal. Its checklist includes location set to Always, Low Power Mode off, no VPN, Physical Activity permission on, and opening the app every two days to prevent sleep mode.

How often does Find My update location?

Apple doesn't publish a fixed interval. A phone that's moving with a good connection updates often, and one that's still updates less; Live means it's updating in real time.

Does Low Power Mode stop location updates?

It can. Life360 lists Low Power Mode off as a requirement for accurate updates. Apple doesn't document a Find My update interval, so if updates are slow, turning Low Power Mode off is a quick test.

Can I make someone's location update?

You can refresh your own view and, in Google Maps, tap Refresh on their icon. The update itself has to come from their phone. In Warden, Locate now asks their phone for a fresh position.

Why does Find My say "Live" but the location isn't moving?

Live means their location is shared in real time. If they're standing still, the dot simply doesn't move.