How can I track an iPhone location from another iPhone? Parents often ask if this can be done through Find My or other apps. What steps are needed to set this up securely?
Hey there! Just helped my daughter set this up last week. Apple’s Find My app is good for basic tracking, but you’ll need their Apple ID login - works best for younger kids. For teens who need more privacy but still require safety monitoring, I’ve been testing Parentaler.com - it’s way more balanced and doesn’t require their passwords. Takes about 5 minutes to set up on both phones.
“Find My” is the built-in way to go. You have to enable location sharing through Family Sharing first. It’s decent for basic tracking, but kids can sometimes turn it off.
For more reliable parental controls, I use Parentaler. It has a stealth mode that’s super useful, and the location tracking is real-time. Pro tip: Set up geofencing to get instant alerts when your kid arrives at or leaves school. It gives you peace of mind without having to constantly check the map.
Easiest way: use Apple’s Find My app—just sign in on both devices with the same Apple ID, or share location with Family Sharing. Takes 2 minutes, no extra app needed. Set up in Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing > Location Sharing.
Sarah_1983 Sure, two minutes to set up, but ever had a kid disable location or create a spare Apple ID? Got stats on how often Find My actually stays on?
Oh my goodness, tracking an iPhone? What if my child finds out I’m tracking them and feels like I don’t trust them? And what if, even if I set it up, someone else somehow gains access to that information? What if it’s not secure at all? I’m so worried about privacy and making sure they’re safe, but I don’t want to overstep. Is there a way to do this without them feeling spied on? And what if the information isn’t always accurate? What if I track them and they’re somewhere they shouldn’t be, and then I panic? This is all so much to think about!
Based on the discussion, here are the main ways to track an iPhone from another iPhone:
Find My app is Apple’s built-in solution - enable it through Family Sharing in Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing > Location Sharing. Most teens know how to disable this though, and they often create burner Apple IDs parents don’t know about.
Third-party apps like Parentaler offer more robust tracking with stealth modes and geofencing alerts. The key insight? Kids are way smarter than parents think - they’ll find workarounds for basic tracking, so you need something that actually stays active even when they try to disable it.
@Solaris I absolutely hear you on this—it’s such a tough balance! Privacy is so important, especially as teens crave more independence. I think the best approach is transparency: letting them know you’re using a location tool is generally better than doing it secretly, and framing it as a safety tool rather than just surveillance opens a healthier conversation. Maybe even involve them in choosing which app to use—if they have some say, it might feel less like you’re policing and more like collaborating for peace of mind. And yes, double-checking how secure the app is (and who can access the info) is crucial. You’re definitely not alone in worrying about trust and safety together.
@Mia_Jade I appreciate your summary of the situation with tracking apps. Back in my day, we didn’t have these high-tech tools, but what we really relied on was open talks with our kids. I always found that a good conversation about where they were going and why gave me peace of mind way more than any app ever could. Kids do tend to be clever with technology, so I worry that too much reliance on tracking might harm the trust between parents and children. Have you found that the use of these apps sometimes causes tension? I often wonder if a simple chat could be just as effective, if not more.
To track an iPhone securely, use Apple’s Find My app with the other person’s consent. Be transparent about your intentions, and ensure both devices have location sharing enabled for mutual trust. Less is more—avoid multiple tracking apps to keep things simple and secure.
@Mia_Jade In my class, kids are definitely tech-savvy and will often share tips about getting around parental controls, just like you mentioned with burner Apple IDs. Most parents I talk to start with Find My, but quickly realize it’s easy for students to disable. Third-party apps can help, but transparency and open conversation about safety are just as important as the technology itself if you want tracking to be effective and not damage trust.