If you’ve been using Apple Find My for some time, you might come into contact with two distinct messages that don’t mean the same thing. These are the “No location found” and “Location not available” prompts. So, what does ‘no location found’ mean, and how does it differ from ‘location not available’? This article will help you determine what it means and what to do if you see such error messages.
What Does “No Location Found” Mean in Find My?
Firstly, the ‘No location found’ error message is a temporary error that occurs when attempting to access location data. The term “No location found” literally means the “system” tried searching for the data but found nothing. It is caused by poor internet connectivity, GPS problems, incorrect device settings, the device being offline, out of battery, and Airplane mode.
What Does “Location Not Available” Mean in Find My?
Location Not Available is entirely different. It means that the user isn’t sharing their location with you. So here the ‘system” found that it couldn’t access the location data in existence because it wasn’t shared. The user manually disabling or restricting location sharing in their privacy settings causes this message. It can also occur when their phone is in Airplane mode or they are experiencing issues with Apple location services.
Difference Between “No Location Found” and “Location Not Available”
Looking at the two definitions, you can see that they share similarities. However, here is a table detailing the difference between no location found vs no location available to paint a complete picture.
| Item | No Location Found | Location Not Available |
| Core meaning | The system actively searched but couldn’t find location data | Location data exists, but wasn’t shared with you. |
| Cause | GPS off, poor signal, hardware issue, incorrect search criteria, location doesn’t exist | Permissions issue, user denied access, device or location services disabled, user restricted their device from sharing location, or user actively hiding their location. |
| Data state | There’s no data found at the moment. | The data is likely there, but is blocked from being displayed. |
| User control | The target person may not have control over this happening | The target person needs to change their permissions |
How to Fix No Location Found or Location Not Available
Now that you know the difference between “No location found” and “location not available”, you can take the proper steps to resolve the issue. Note that you can do the same fixes for both.
Check the Apple system status page
First, you want to make sure the problem you are facing isn’t a temporary glitch from Apple. To do so, you need to check Apple’s system status. Here’s how:
- Access any web browser on your device.
- Next, go to the official Apple system status page.
- View the list of Apple services and their current status to identify any issues at the moment.
Refresh network settings
Sometimes, the issue may be related to the network settings on your phone. Therefore, you need to refresh it to eliminate any bugs. Here are the steps to take:
- Go to Settings and then General.
- Scroll down and pick ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone.’ Click it and click “Reset” at the bottom of the page.
- From the menu that pops up, pick ‘Reset Network Settings’
- You’ll have to enter your device’s passcode to confirm the reset.
Turn off airplane mode
Sometimes we accidentally turn on Airplane mode, which disrupts all network and location services on that device. So, simply toggling it can return your location services to their optimal point. All you have to do is hit the “Airplane Mode” button from within your Settings app’s main page, and that’s it.
Redémarrez votre iPhone
Restarting your iPhone device is a surefire way to resolve issues with ‘No location found’ or ‘Location Not Available’. However, resetting depends on the type of iPhone you have. For earlier versions, you need to press and hold the single side button until the turn off button appears. However, for recent iPhones (iPhone X, 12, 13 or later):
- Press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power off slider appears
- Then drag the slider to power off.
- You can press and hold the side button again to turn the phone back on.
Activer le service de localisation
Finally, ensure that you’ve enabled location services on your iPhone and granted the necessary permissions. Turning off any aspect of this may limit its functionality. Follow these steps:
- Go to Settings on your iPhone.
- Navigate to ‘Privacy & Security’
- Then select ‘Location Services’
- Toggle it on or off.
- To ensure you’re giving proper permissions, return to your main Settings page.
- Scroll down and click ‘Apps.’
- Pick the ‘Find My app.’
- Then, click on ‘Location.’
- Select ‘While Using the App’ and toggle on the button next to ‘Precise Location’
Now let’s talk about how you can share your real time location with your friends using the Apple Find My. Remember, you need to share your location first to be able to request that they share theirs with you.
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone.
- Tap the “People” tab at the bottom.
- Click on ‘Start Sharing Location’
- Choose their name from your stored contacts.
- Finally, select how long you want to share for and then tap the send button.
How to Find Someone’s Location without Find My
If you don’t have access to the Find My app for some reason, there are other tools you can use to establish a connection legally and effectively. Remember, consent is super important. That’s why you need a tool like Localiser le téléphone to give you a solution. This specialized tracking service does not require installing any app on your phone. It allows you to find someone’s location by mobile number online and stay connected. What primarily makes LocatePhone stand out is that it tracks using Wi-Fi, network data, and GPS to offer the most precise results possible.
Here’s how LocatePhone works:
- Visit the LocatePhone website and select the country code for your target location.
- Enter their phone number and click the Locate button.
- Attendez que le processus commence.
- Once found, enter your email address to access the results.
FAQ
Does no location found mean they turned their location off?
Not usually. While turning location services entirely off on the device may lead to this, it usually indicates that they are facing a technical issue. Therefore, it’s possible that they don’t have internet access, a poor GPS signal, or hardware issues. If they’ve simply turned off their location services or stopped sharing with you, you are more likely to see the “Location Not Available” prompt.
How do I know if someone removed you from Find My?
The most direct sign is that you won’t see them anymore in your “People” list in the Find My App. If you attempt to share your location with them again, you may encounter an error. Or you might need to re-send an invitation to them.
Does no location found mean they blocked you?
No. Blocking usually leads to “Location Not Available”. In contrast, ‘No Location Found’ is more about technical failures preventing location data from being transmitted on their device, rather than your access being blocked.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between ‘No Location Found’ vs ‘Location Not Available’ helps you troubleshoot location sharing problems. Here we’ve talked about how you can share your location with your loved ones, or solve each error type. When all else fails, you can always use alternative location-tracking tools, such as LocatePhone. With the proper setup, you can remain connected to your loved ones for their safety and your peace of mind.
