How to customize Find my Friends on iPhone and iPad

By Cale Hunt
last updated

Find My Friends lets you see where your friends are and, in turn, share your location with others. If you want to customize how all that works, though, you change measurement systems, request handling, send options, geofence alerts, and notifications, all from within the settings!

How to change units of distance

  1. Launch Find Friends from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Me.
  3. Swipe up on the Me menu.
  4. Tap a unit option based on your preference. For this example we chose In Kilometers.

How to enable or disable Allow Friend Requests

  1. Launch Find Friends from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Me.
  3. Swipe up on the Me menu.
  4. Toggle the Allow Friend Requests switch to On or Off.

How to change Send As

  1. Launch Find Friends from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Me.
  3. Tap Send As.
  4. Tap the account you'd like to send locations from. Add addresses at Apple's website (opens in new tab).

How to manage Geofence alerts

  1. Launch Find Friends from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Me.
  3. Swipe up on the Me menu.
  4. Tap a Geofence option based on your preference. For this example we chose Everyone.

How to manage friend notifications

Note that you must be following each other's location in order to modify friend notifications.

  1. Launch Find Friends from your Home screen.
  2. Tap a contact in your list.
  3. Tap More…
  4. Tap Notify Me.

  1. Tap Leaves or Arrives. For this example we chose Leaves.
  2. Tap Other if you want to select a different location.
  3. Tap Done.

Questions?

Got a question about Find My Friends? Let us know in the comments below!

iOS

HomeKit

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○ What's new in iOS 14
○ Updating your iPhone ultimate guide
○ iOS Help Guide
○ iOS Discussion

Cale Hunt
Cale Hunt

Cale Hunt is a staff writer at Mobile Nations. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, and accessory coverage, as well as the emerging world of VR. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user, and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.

8 Comments
  • Am I the only one that doesn't get geofence alerts? I used to get them all the time on iOS 8, but as of iOS 9, I don't get notified when someone leaves a certain location. We are all on the newest devices and newest softwares. Any help? Sent from the iMore App
  • I just tried one a couple hours ago, nothin'... Annoying. Sent from the iMore App
  • I know apple needs to fix this!!!! So annoying!!!!!!
  • Geofencing of any kind has never worked particularly well for me. I get notifications long after the "fence" has been crossed.
  • I have no distance information for anyone on my list, miles or km. Can't figure out why.
  • Have you clicked on their name to see if you can actually get their location? Maybe it just can't find them for some reason
  • I track them fine. Just no distance bubble on the right side.
  • If I set a geofence around someone, do they get notified that I have done so?