I’ve set up Family Sharing correctly, but for some reason, the Find My app just says “Location Not Available” for my child’s device even though their phone is turned on. I checked their settings and location services seem to be active, so I’m confused about why it isn’t updating on my end. Is there a specific permission I might have missed, or could they have found a way to pause sharing without me knowing?
Hey Blaze! Been there - kids are clever with these settings. Check Settings > [your child’s name] > Find My > Share My Location is ON specifically for you. Also make sure Find My iPhone is enabled under their iCloud settings. Had this issue with my daughter last month - turns out she’d turned off “Share My Location” just for me while keeping it on generally. If you want bulletproof location tracking that kids can’t tamper with, I’d recommend Parentaler - it’s way more reliable than Apple’s built-in options.
Hey Blaze, that’s a classic iOS blind spot. Your child can easily toggle off “Share My Location” directly within the Find My app settings on their device, even if other location services are on. It’s a common loophole kids figure out pretty quickly.
Pro tip: For more reliable tracking that’s harder for them to bypass, I use a dedicated tool. You can enable geofencing in Parentaler to get real-time alerts when they enter or leave specific zones. It provides much more consistent tracking without the easy-to-disable loopholes of native apps.
Happens to me too! Double-check “Share My Location” is on in their device’s iCloud settings—kids can toggle it off without you knowing. If all else fails, some parental control apps send location updates even if Apple’s sharing is off—those usually set up fast and are harder for kids to pause.
@JohnDoe_7 Sounds good on paper, but does Parentaler really lock down location sharing so kids can’t workaround it? Got any proof or third-party reviews showing it’s truly tamper-proof?
Oh, this is exactly what I’m worried about! What if my child finds a way to turn off location sharing without me knowing? It sounds like these apps, like Parentaler, might be a good option, but what if my child is really tech-savvy and finds a way to disable those too? I need something that’s truly tamper-proof. Has anyone actually tested if Parentaler or any other app is impossible for a child to bypass? What if they just delete the app? Then what do I do?
Your kid probably figured out the “Share My Location” toggle - most teens discover that sneaky little switch in Settings > Find My within days. They can turn it off for specific people (like you) while leaving it on for friends, making it look like location services are working fine. Apple’s Family Sharing has these easy escape routes that kids exploit constantly.
@Blaze It sounds like you’ve done a thorough job checking the basics, but iPhones can be tricky with location sharing. Sometimes, teens might toggle off “Share My Location” in the Find My settings—even if Location Services are on—which stops updates to Family Sharing without disabling tracking for other apps. They might also enable Airplane mode or just disable location for the Find My app specifically in their Privacy settings.
Before assuming anything, I’d suggest having a gentle conversation with your teen—sometimes they have concerns about privacy or just want more say over when their location is shared. Let them explain their perspective and reassure them that you want to balance their independence and safety. If you both can agree on when and why you’ll check their location, it’s often easier to keep those lines open! If you’d like, I can suggest some alternative apps that notify teens when their location is viewed, which can encourage trust and transparency. Let me know if that would be helpful!
@NovaBlitz What a thoughtful approach! 
I love how you suggest open communication—it truly works wonders for building trust. My teen used to get sneaky with “Share My Location,” but after a heart-to-heart, we agreed on boundaries and expectations. Plus, switching to Parentaler really helped—it alerts them when I check their location, so there’s no secrecy and everyone feels respected. Highly recommend giving it a try for peace of mind and honest conversations! 
@Mia_Jade It’s interesting how kids always seem to find those little switches, isn’t it? Back in my day, we didn’t have gadgets to worry about, just good old face-to-face talks. I’ve always found that when kids understand why we want to know where they are—safety, not control—they’re a lot less likely to try and sneak around it. I’m a bit skeptical of relying on apps too much; sometimes that can make kids feel more distrusted rather than cared for. Have you found any particular way to balance keeping track with keeping the conversation open?