How To See Someone’s Location On iPhone [Guide for Any Case]

IOS users have many options to see someone’s location, from methods provided by Apple (Find My, iMessage, Maps) to general phone trackers and social media features. These methods are essential to know. Why?

Have you ever been curious about where your friends are at a specific moment? Wondering if your teenage child is telling the truth about their location? Or want to stay calm about your partner’s whereabouts? We’ve got you! You can now track someone’s location on your iPhone with any option, perfectly fit for your goal.

Apple has masterfully integrated unique location services and features for location sharing in its top-selling product – iPhone. Apart from that, dedicated apps and services can be used for the same aim, so in this article, we will review some of the most valuable and practical options that will help users conveniently get to know someone’s geoposition on an iOS device.

This article is for informational purposes only. Tracking someone’s location without their knowledge or consent may be illegal and is a violation of personal privacy. Always ensure that location sharing is mutually agreed upon and used ethically and responsibly. HeyLocate does not promote or support any form of unauthorized tracking. Please consult your local laws and regulations before using any location services.

Way 1: Use Find My iPhone

Find My is an app developed by Apple Inc. for iOS and macOS devices. It doesn’t require any downloading since it comes already installed on the gadgets and allows free tracking of cell phone locations. However, it must be activated to make the app play its part. If you want to use it with your friends’ iPhones, they need to accept the invitation. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Open Find My iPhone on your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.
2. Tap the People tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap the Start Sharing Location icon at the bottom of your screen.
3. Enter the recipient’s iCloud email address or phone number from your contact list, and tap Send.
4. Your friend will receive a message with a link to enable Find My on their phone. Tap “Accept” to allow it access to your location information. Once you have accepted the person’s invitation, you can view their location as many times as you want, as long as the function is enabled.

Note: You can also tap “Notifications” to be informed on when they leave, arrive, or are not at a specific location.

Additionally, you can check out Apple’s official website for more information.

Way 2: Use iPhone Messages

Apple’s iMessage lets iPhone and iPad users exchange messages within iOS devices. What’s beneficial for us is that it also enables users to request or share locations with each other. However, it is important to note that this function is not something Apple offers by default, so to use it, you will have to turn on a certain setting for your iMessage app.

Steps to use this method:

1. From the home screen of your iPhone, open the Messages app and select a certain conversation where you intend to send your location.
   
2. Go to the top portrait icon or the name of the contact at the top of the screen and select Request Location or Share My Location.
   In the first case, a person will get a notification requesting their location. They can give their permission or not.
   
   The second option can encourage them to do this when you share your location with them as well.
3. There are various options for sharing location time: For 1 hour, Until End of Day, Indefinitely. Pick the one that corresponds to your choice.
   

Alternatively, you can tap the plus sign next to the message bar. It will show you the menu with items that you can share in this conversation. Select Location and you’re good to go!

Note: The other person will have to accept the sharing to access your location. Once they have done so, you will be able to see the geopositions of each other. Bear in mind that you can deactivate the sharing at any time.

After sharing, the location will be seen on the map within your chat. Tap on it to see the details.

Way 3: Use Apple Maps

With the help of Apple Maps, a person can share their location with you in any of the messengers and once you open the sharing, their geoposition will be available to you in the Maps app itself.

1. To begin the process, the person should first open the Apple Maps app.
2. Then, they should scroll down a bit, find Share My Location option and tap it.
3. After they do it, a menu will appear, revealing all of the sharing possibilities and suggestions.
   
4. After they pick a suitable way and send the location to you, its preview will be visible in your chats. Once you tap it for more detailed information, you will be taken to the Apple Maps app and will see the geoposition just like in Way 2.

Note: If you open the Apple Maps sharing from an Android device, a website will be opened instead of the app.

Way 4: Use Phone Number Tracker

As we’ve mentioned in the introduction, there are many third-party tracking services that are compatible with the iOS. Most of the options are well-designed, user-friendly, and use the same or similar procedure. The most common usage process is as follows:

1. Enter the target phone number. You may be asked to create an account and pay a fee first.
2. Form a customizable text message with a link that will be sent to the user to request the location.
3. Once the person on the other end clicks it, the geoposition of their phone will be sent to you.

One of the outstanding examples of such tools is GEOfinder.mobi. This is a web service operated and owned by ERSTEN GROUP LTD. It was registered in the United Kingdom for the sole purpose of tracking a phone location by phone numbers. With their unique technology and their highly trained staff, they have been providing some of the best results in this field.

After giving it a try, I can say for sure that the service is nice and simple to use. What makes this website even more attractive is the fact that there’s no need to install an app or download any files. This makes it convenient for users with different technology backgrounds. The procedure was exactly as described above and trouble-free.

The only drawback is that there is no free trial period that can give users a chance to test and evaluate the quality of this service. Anyway, GEOfinder is definitely my personal favorite. However, if you’d like an alternative, you can also check out Scannero, Life360 or Detectico.

Note: In all of the cases the cost of subscription varies depending on your region, so we highly recommend checking the official websites for more details.

Way 5: Use Phone Tracker or Parental Control Apps

In case you need continuous tracking or more information, for instance, about your child’s online activities, we’ve got another review for you! These are dedicated phone trackers and parental control apps. In this kind of services, the process as well as the amount of data received can vary greatly. Still, we tried our best to make the most universal guide:

1. Visit the website or/and get the app from the App Store/Google Play on your phone.
2. Sign up by entering your email and creating a password.
3. Install the same app on your child’s device.
4. Customize the settings: set screen time limits, block specific apps, and etc.
5. Once everything is set up, you’ll be able to take advantage of all of the functions!

Note: Nuances can be present in any service and should be explained thoroughly on the companies’ websites.

Based on my experience, I recommend Parentaler as a strong option worth considering. After testing, I found it to offer a wide range of reliable and impressive features, such as real-time location tracking, app and website blocking, screen time management, call and SMS monitoring, and many more.

As expected, the process fitted into our instruction and was extremely smooth, giving me fast and precise data. Additionally, you can try CocoSpy, Eyezy, uMobix, and many more. Most of them are paid – check the price on their websites.

Note: Tracking should always be done with the child’s knowledge and consent to ensure trust and transparency.

Way 6: Use Messengers Sharing

Many third-party messaging apps on the iPhone, for example, WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook Messenger, allow users to share their live location with others just like iMessage. To see someone’s location using these apps, the person must first choose to share their location with you through the chat.

• Most commonly, the location sharing can be done by tapping the pin (or plus sign) next to the message bar. Then, the person will be presented with a choice of what to share. Location/Geoposition should be selected and sent to you.

Once shared, you can view their real-time geoposition directly within the conversation, often by tapping a map preview or location pin.

It’s important to remember that location sharing is always voluntary and can be stopped at any time by the person sharing. Additionally, both users need to have internet access and location services enabled for the feature to work properly.

Way 7: Use Social Media Sharing

A lot of social media platforms include features that let users share their current location with friends or followers. When someone posts their location, you can often view it via their stories, posts, or specifically designed map sections. However, location sharing and tagging is entirely up to the user’s discretion, so you’ll only be able to see their whereabouts if they choose to share it with the public.

We have designed full guides on how to view locations on most popular social media sites including Instagram location trackers overview, seeing location on Snapchat or tracking someone through Facebook.

Bonus Way: Use IP Location Tracker

Our final method is using an IP location tracker to estimate someone’s general location based on their IP address. These tools work by analyzing the IP information tied to someone’s internet activity, such as when they open an email or click a specially created link.

If you’re willing to try this kind of tracking, here’s what you should do:

1. Choose a tracking website such as IPLocation.net, or Grabify.
   
2. Сreate a custom tracking link or get a ready one through the platform. This link is disguised to look like a normal message or webpage.
   
3. Send the link via SMS, WhatsApp, or any messaging app.
4. Once the person taps the link, the tool will capture details like their IP address, approximate location, device type, and other technical information.
   

If you know the user’s IP address already, there are services that will give you information directly based on it, for example, KeyCDN tools.

Note: Using IP tracking tools should always be done ethically and with the other person’s knowledge and consent.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of great ways to find someone’s location on an iPhone, whether you’re using built-in Apple features, messenger tools, or even more advanced tracking services. Our research has shown that regardless of your circumstances, there’s a method that suits your needs.

In my opinion, the most effective options are professional websites and apps designed for tracking. However, if it doesn’t appeal to you for any reason, I’d choose Find My or Location sharing through messengers, since it’s a nice and free way to stay updated on the whereabouts of your loved ones.

Just remember: while technology makes location sharing easier than ever, privacy and consent are key. Always use these tools responsibly, ethically, and within the boundaries of the law. If done right, location tracking can strengthen trust, ensure safety, and offer peace of mind for everyone involved.