Cross-Platform Screen Time and Online Safety
As an iPhone user for over 5 years, Look, I'm a fan of the built-in location sharing feature, which makes finding friends and family just a breeze. However, when I tried to share my location through text last week, an error popped up showing "Share Location Unavailable. Please try again later." I was at a loss at that time but now I get rid of it.
Cause I know thousands of users are facing this problem, I'd like to share my experience of how I fixed it in this guide. Let's get started!
The "Share Location Unavailable" typically appears when you share your location in the Messages app on iPhone. It means your device is unable to share its location with others currently.
So, why does it say share location unavailable? The answer is it could be due to various reasons, including:
iCloud Data Syncing Problem: If your iPhone is newly set up or you switched to another Apple account recently, your iCloud data may not sync. This is the main culprit of the "Sharing Location Unavailable" issue.
Poor Network Connection: Location sharing also depends on internet connection to work effectively. If your WiFi or cellular data is disabled or the internet connection is poor, you will see the error.
Wrong Location Settings: The location sharing feature depends on location service and Find My before they can share the location. Once these settings are disabled, your phone won't be able to track your location and send it to others, and this could result in "Share Location Unavailable."
Outdated iOS Version: Outdated iOS often has bugs that could affect the iCloud data syncing rate and location service.
Now, try these fixes I used to solve this issue last week. As a friendly reminder, the first two have the highest success rate and the rest are general troubleshooting tips with luck.
First thing first, make sure your iPhone is connected to a stable internet connection. Although I didn't solve the issue this way, I found that when I disconnected my iPhone from a network, the "Share Location Unavailable" error appeared. Therefore, always have an online iPhone to make your iPhone function well.
This is arguably the most effective way to fix this issue. In fact, many iPhone users have reported great success with this method in Apple Community.
The method involves checking your iCloud data syncing status, especially if you've just set up a new device or changed your Apple account. Since iCloud plays a crucial role in Find My iPhone's location sharing, an incomplete data sync can cause "Share Location Unavailable" to persist.
To resolve it, you'll need to complete the data syncing process by following this common prompt:
Location service is one of the main brainboxes behind location sharing. As such, you have to ensure the service is activated before you start sharing your location on your iPhone. Only this, iPhone location sharing not working can be fixed.
To fix the "Share Location Unavailable" error, you also have to ensure your Find My iPhone is enabled. Doing this will enable your device to track your location accurately and efficiently.
After enabling location services and Find My, you have to activate "Share My Location," otherwise, the location will be unavailable to share. Allowing "Share My Location" means you're granting your device permission to share your location with others.
To enable this setting, just turn on the "Share My Location" switch in Find My settings.
According to a user, since iOS 17, Apple has required a passcode on your iPhone in order to access the full function of Find My, such as Lost Mode. If you don't set up a passcode for your device, then Find My will be affected, which may lead to iPhone location sharing not working as well.
And several users shared that they solved "Share Location Unavailable" by creating the passcode.
So, you can also use this method for luck. To create a passcode for iPhone, go to "Face ID & Passcode" in iPhone settings. Then, set a passcode or Face ID.
Honestly speaking, except for this error, I also encountered various location sharing problems on the iPhone. Due to this, I've been looking for alternatives to share my real-time location. And the following are two I opt for when iPhone location sharing is not working:
With Google Maps, users can share their locations with selected contacts for a specified duration or indefinitely. As it's available on both Android and iPhone, it facilitates location sharing across systems. Here's how to share location on Google Maps iPhone:
Note: Before getting started, make sure "Location Services" are enabled on your iPhone.
If you need to track the whereabouts of your loved ones through location sharing, like me, I recommend using AirDroid Parental Control. With it, you can share your location indefinitely without any glitches.
It also has location history, so you can easily review your past movements. Want to learn more about AirDroid? Here's how to use it:
When you share your location on an iPhone, does it notify the person?
Yes. If you share your location through mmessages, the person will get a message such as "XXX started sharing location with you."
And the person can directly see a banner showing "XXX shares location with you" if you share your location through Find My.
How to send the current location on iPhone?
Easy! Here's how to send your current location on an iPhone using Messages:
Can an iPhone share location with an Android?
Yes, an iPhone can share location with Android devices using the iCloud Find My web version, Google Maps, AirDroid Location Tracker, WhatsApp or other social media apps.
How to see who you share your location with on iPhone?
You can see who you share your location with on your iPhone by using either Find My or Settings. Here, we outline the steps on Find My:
So far, we've explained the causes of the "Share Location Unavailable" issue on iPhone and provided solutions to fix it. As long as you follow our guide one by one, the problem should be resolved in an instant. However, if you've tried all the troubleshooting steps and the issue persists, consider alternative location-sharing methods.
Leave a Reply.