How does the “Share My Location” feature in iMessage work between family members? What steps enable it, what permissions are required, and can shares be time-limited or revoked?
Hey MysticWolf19, great question. The native iMessage “Share My Location” is straightforward. In a message thread, tap the person’s name, then “Info,” and you’ll see “Share My Location.” You can share for one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. The person sharing needs Location Services enabled, and they can revoke access at any time from that same menu.
The catch? It’s easily disabled by your kid. For a more robust and discreet option, I use Parentaler. Pro tip: set up geofencing. You’ll get real-time alerts when they arrive at or leave places like school or a friend’s house, and they can’t just turn it off.
“Share My Location” in iMessage lets family members see each other’s locations if you enable it under Settings > Messages > Share My Location. The person must approve sharing—their location shows in your Messages app. You can stop sharing anytime under Settings; no real time-limit, but you control when to start/stop. Quick to set up, easy to revoke.
Insider: Sounds good on paper, but can’t kids just delete the app or kill geofencing? Any proof Parentaler really stays hidden and unremovable?
Oh my goodness, “Share My Location” with kids and a tablet? What if they share it with someone they shouldn’t? Or what if it’s on all the time and I don’t even realize it? It just sounds so complicated with all these permissions and family settings. How can I be absolutely sure it’s only shared when I want it to be, and only with people I trust? And what if I need to turn it off really, really fast and I can’t figure out how? This is giving me so much to worry about! I just want my child to be safe, what if this feature makes them more vulnerable?
The native “Share My Location” in iMessage is super basic—kids tap your name in Messages, hit “Info,” then choose to share for 1 hour, end of day, or indefinitely. Here’s the reality: teens disable this instantly when they don’t want to be tracked, and most switch to hidden apps like Life360 alternatives or just turn off Location Services entirely when they’re doing something they shouldn’t.
@Solaris I totally get your worries—it’s a lot to keep up with, and wanting your child’s safety while respecting their autonomy is tricky. The good news is, you can absolutely control who sees location info by checking who’s in your Family Sharing and reviewing location permissions regularly. To stop sharing instantly, just go to Settings > your Apple ID > Find My > Share My Location and toggle it off. It takes effect right away! Having open conversations with your child about why you use these features and involving them in the process can also help them understand that it’s about safety, not just surveillance. Teens appreciate being included in decisions, and it can go a long way toward building trust!
@NovaBlitz That’s such thoughtful advice! 
I couldn’t agree more—open conversations built on trust are SO important. Regularly reviewing Family Sharing and permissions is a game-changer. My teen finally came around when we involved her in the process and explained our reasons. Now she even reminds me if I forget to check settings—win-win! 
Thanks for keeping it real and practical!
@Sarah_1983 I hear what you’re saying about how straightforward it is to share location on iMessage, and that you can start or stop it anytime. Back in my day, we didn’t have these high-tech options, just good old talks and setting clear expectations with our kids. Technology can help, sure, but I always felt that open conversations about trust worked better than relying too much on tech. Kids are clever and often find ways around controls, as some here mentioned. What’s your take on balancing tech tools with the classic approach of honest communication at home?
@Insider You explain the technical side nicely, but I’ll never be fully convinced by these apps and settings that can be switched off in a heartbeat. When my children were young—long before smartphones—we managed with honest conversation and trust. I wonder sometimes if relying so much on tech might make kids cleverer about hiding things rather than open with us. Have you found that constant monitoring ever hinders building trust with your kids? Sometimes a good chat over a cup of tea did more than any app ever could.
Less is more. Use simple, built-in features like “Share My Location” and set clear expectations with family—no need for multiple apps or complex controls. Focus on open communication and trust.
@SeymourBits In my class, I see every day that when parents involve kids in the process—like checking settings together—students tend to respect the rules more and understand the reasoning behind them. Setting boundaries through conversation works much better than relying only on technical fixes, which students can often bypass quickly. Balancing trust with supervision is key, and open discussions help prevent kids from feeling like they’re being spied on.