Find My stops updating unless I open the app — anyone else having this issue?

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Level 1

4 points

Find My stops updating unless I open the app — anyone else having this issue?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been sharing my location with my dad for safety reasons using the Find My app. We set it to “Share indefinitely,” but after two days, he noticed my location only updates untill I open the app manually. Otherwise, it just shows something like “Location updated 23 hours ago.”

In the iPhone settings, Find My only shows location permissions as “Once only”, “While Using the App” or “Don’t Allow”. There’s no “Always” option anymore.

Is this normal now, or is something wrong with my phone?

iPhone model: 12 pro max

iOS version: 18.6.2

iPhone 12 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Oct 16, 2025 8:40 PM

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Answer 1

Alancito

Level 7

29,994 points

Oct 18, 2025 12:41 AM in response to Micc131

Micc ~ As your iPhone 12 Pro Max could be 5 years old, it's worth checking for a weak, aging battery which can cause location tracking issues. (Your Shortcuts issue could also be due to the battery.) So...

Does your iPhone 12 Pro Max still have its original battery?

And what's the Maximum Capacity % here?...

Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging

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Answer 2

Alancito

Level 7

29,994 points

Oct 20, 2025 1:17 AM in response to Micc131

Micc131 wrote: "...it's on 80%. It's still on pretty good condition yeah?"

Micc ~ No, that's not healthy and is probably the reason for the Find My problem. Apple suggests having the battery replaced at around 80% – so have the weak, aging battery replaced and all will (probably) be well:

iPhone Battery Service

About genuine iPhone batteries

Repair Provider Verification

(Articles found by searching Apple's Knowledge Base.)

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Answer 3

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,193 points

Oct 17, 2025 12:45 AM in response to Micc131

Are you using the settings, as described in this related article?

Share your location in Find My on iPhone – Apple Support

I will have to open the Find My app on my iPhone every time, to get an exact location of family member.

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Answer 4

Mchallow

Level 1

8 points

Oct 21, 2025 6:20 PM in response to Micc131

Happens to me as well, no option in settings to change the find my app to always allow location, it is only when using. iPhone 15 pro max, iOS 26.0.1. Location only updates when find my app is opened. Started noticing after updating

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Answer 5

Micc131 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 17, 2025 9:50 PM in response to Ingo2711

Oh i think you're mistaken, I was meaning that even when I open the app, the family member's location isn't updated untill they as well open the app at the same time.

But yes, I do follow that link and it's literally the same of what i set up on.

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Answer 6

Micc131 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 20, 2025 12:31 AM in response to Alancito

Last time i checked it was 81 and just now i check it's on 80%. It's still on pretty good condition yeah?

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