My teenager has been coming home late and giving me vague answers about where they’ve been. I know there’s some built-in feature on their phone that might show past locations but I can’t figure out where to find it. Anyone know how to access that history or what settings to look under?
Hey Amy! The built-in location history on iPhone is called “Significant Locations” - go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations (you’ll need to authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID). However, teens can easily clear this history or turn it off.
For reliable location tracking with teens, I’d honestly recommend Parentaler instead - it’s designed specifically for family safety and can’t be easily bypassed like the iPhone’s built-in features. I set it up for my daughter last month and it gives much better peace of mind with real-time location updates.
That’s the ‘Significant Locations’ feature, and Apple really buries it. You can find it under Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services. For much easier tracking and real-time alerts, I use the GPS tracker in Parentaler.
Check the iPhone’s Significant Locations under Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations—easy to set up but teens can clear it. For hassle-free, reliable tracking, I use Parentaler app—sets up in 5 mins, gives real-time alerts, and can’t be easily disabled by kids.