Why Is My Location Not Sharing? 8 Common Fixes That Actually Work

It’s frustrating when you need to share your location and nothing updates. You might be thinking, “Why is my location not sharing?” 

GPS tracking or family location sharing is designed to work seamlessly, but in some cases, a small setting or app issue can block it without warning.

Below are the most common reasons location sharing stops working, and the simplest ways to fix it.

1. Check Your Internet or Cellular Connection

Location sharing requires a stable signal to update. If your Wi-Fi is weak during a family road trip or your cellular data is turned off, your location may freeze or fail to update.

Try turning airplane mode off and on, reconnecting to Wi-Fi, or switching to cellular data to test the connection.

2. Make Sure Location Services Are Turned On

If Location Services (iPhone) or Location (Android) is turned off, your device won’t send updates.

Open your phone’s privacy or location settings and confirm that your device is allowed to share its location.

3. Check App Permissions

Even if Location Services are enabled, the app itself needs permission to access your location.

For location sharing apps, choose “Allow Always” and allow “Background Activity” so your location can update without the app being open.

4. Confirm Device Security or Account Requirements

Before location sharing can work, some devices require:

• Passcode
• Touch ID
• Face ID

Check to see that all those are set up. 

Also, make sure you’re signed in to the correct Apple ID or Google account if location sharing is tied to a family group or contact list.

5. Update Your Software and Apps

Outdated software or older app versions can cause location sharing to stop working.

Check for system updates, app updates, and, if necessary, update Google Play Services on your Android.

6. Restart or Reset Location Settings

If something was accidentally changed, a reset can help.

iPhone Reset

• Settings
• General
• Reset
• Reset Location & Privacy

Android Reset

• Try clearing the location app’s cache

7. Check the Other Person’s Phone

If you’re still wondering, ”Why isn’t my location sharing?” the issue may be on the other device.

Your friend or family member’s phone might be off, out of battery, or they may have paused sharing. Quickly confirm that both sides are sharing and connected.

8. Consider Device Limitations or Service Outages

Some older phones and Wi-Fi-only tablets don’t have full GPS hardware. Also, location services occasionally experience temporary outages. 

If everything looks correct, you’re only other recourse may be to check the app’s service status page and then try again later.

Why Is My Location Not Sharing? A Quick Way to Test Again

With all that said, sometimes, the magic of the restart button is all it takes. You can try restarting your phone and re-opening the location sharing app to see if it’ll come back online that way.

If you’ve tried the steps above and are still left wondering, “Why is location sharing not working?” there’s only one thing left to do: call your cell phone provider to see if they can help you troubleshoot a deeper issue.

Closr: Staying Connected When You Need It Most

When you run into the question, “Why is my location not sharing?” the fix is usually simple: connection, permissions, or a quick reset. 

Once everything is set correctly, location sharing should become reliable again, helping you stay connected without any extra messages or confusion.

When location sharing is working as it should, staying connected becomes effortless. If you want an app that keeps things simple and dependable, Closr offers real-time updates, clear alerts, and privacy-focused design that helps families stay in sync.