Live location is a great feature offered by many apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and more, allowing you to share your real-time GPS location with friends and family. However, sometimes live location can fail to work properly, leaving you wondering why your live location is not updating. There can be several reasons for live location not working.
Common reasons live location fails to update
Here are some of the most common reasons live location may not be working:
- Poor internet connection – Live location relies on having a stable internet connection, on both the sender’s and recipient’s end. Weak Wi-Fi, poor cellular data coverage, or an outage can disrupt the live location feed.
- Location services disabled – The location services setting must be enabled on your phone for live location to work. Check that location access is allowed for the app you’re using.
- Battery optimization restricting app – To conserve battery, your phone may restrict apps from running location services in the background. You may need to disable battery optimization for the app.
- Outdated app – An outdated version of the app you’re using could be the culprit. Try updating to the latest version of the app.
- Incorrect app settings – Some apps require you to manually enable live location sharing in settings. Make sure the right toggles are flipped on for sharing your location.
- Phone in airplane mode – Turning on airplane mode disables all network connections, stopping live location from working.
- Stuck without a GPS signal – If you’re indoors or between tall buildings, your phone may struggle to get a lock on a GPS satellite signal, required for live location.
- Restricted phone settings – Some device-level restrictions, like parental controls, could block access to location services on your phone.
How to troubleshoot and fix live location issues
If your live location has stopped working, don’t panic. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and get live location working again:
1. Check your internet connection
Start by ensuring you have a stable, high-speed internet connection on your phone. Restart your Wi-Fi router if needed. If using mobile data, move closer to a window or outside, where signal may be stronger. Switching mobile networks or turning airplane mode on and off can also help.
2. Confirm location services are enabled
On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and check the status. On Android, go to Settings > Location and set to High Accuracy. Also check that location access is allowed for the specific app you’re using.
3. Update the app
An outdated version of the app could be preventing live location from working properly. Go to the app store and install any available updates for the app you’re using.
4. Disable battery optimizations
Phone batteries try to restrict background location access to conserve power. Disable battery optimizations for the problematic app – on Android, go to Settings > Apps > Special App Access > Battery Optimization and select the app. On iPhone, go to Settings > Battery and turn off Low Power Mode.
5. Toggle location sharing settings
In the app you’re using, look for location sharing settings and manually enable live location sharing again. Turn the setting off and back on to retrigger it.
6. Switch to a different app
It’s possible the app itself is having technical issues. Try switching to a different app like Google Maps or Life360 to share your live location instead and see if the problem persists.
7. Restart your phone
If all else fails, restart your phone. This will clear any minor glitches that could be interfering with live location services. Turn your phone off completely, wait 30 seconds, then power it back on.
Best practices for smooth live location sharing
Follow these tips to prevent live location problems and keep your location sharing running smoothly:
- Use a stable Wi-Fi or strong LTE/5G cellular connection whenever possible.
- Keep your apps updated to the latest versions.
- Allow location access and disable battery optimizations for sharing apps.
- Ensure your phone’s operating system is also updated.
- Turn on airplane mode briefly to refresh your phone’s connections.
- Reboot your phone before sharing for long periods.
- Be aware of surroundings like buildings that may block GPS signals.
When to stop troubleshooting and get help
If you’ve tried all the standard troubleshooting steps and your live location still refuses to work, it may be time to seek further technical assistance. Here are some good times to contact support or get professional help:
- Persistent weak internet, even after switching networks/routers.
- Location services will not activate, even after rebooting your phone.
- Updating apps/OS doesn’t resolve the issue.
- Toggling settings/restarting does not help.
- Different apps still can’t access your location.
- You notice other errors or glitches on your phone.
At this point, the problem is likely beyond basic user troubleshooting. Reach out to the app developer’s support team or your phone manufacturer for assistance. For iPhone users, make a Genius Bar appointment at Apple. Android users may need to contact their carrier or phone OEM. A technician can run diagnostics, uncover deeper issues, and hopefully get live location functional again.
Useful apps for troubleshooting live location
Specialized apps can provide useful insights when debugging live location problems. Here are some top apps to try:
Net Analyzer
Net Analyzer (Android and iOS) performs network speed tests, checks signal strength, helps identify connection dead zones, and confirms if background data restrictions are enabled – highly useful for pinpointing internet-related live location disruptions.
GPS Test
GPS Test (Android) lets you view detailed information about GPS satellite signal lock and strength at your current location. Helps determine if poor GPS reception is the culprit.
Network Cell Info Lite
Network Cell Info Lite (Android) provides advanced cellular network diagnostics like tower connections, signal strength graphs, and SIM card status. Great for drilling into cellular data problems.
OpenSignal
OpenSignal (Android and iOS) maps out nearby cell towers, Wi-Fi networks, and tests mobile network performance. Useful for identifying network dead zones that can interfere with live location.
Fing
Fing (Android and iOS) scans networks and devices to analyze connectivity issues, monitor Wi-Fi signal strength, and confirm location services are active on your phone. Helps pinpoint problems.
What to do if your location is being shared without consent
In rare cases, you may notice your live location being shared without your permission. If this happens, act quickly to stop unauthorized location access:
- Open app settings and disable location access.
- Force quit the problematic app.
- Check all apps and turn off location sharing everywhere.
- Turn off location services system-wide for stronger protection.
- Restart your phone to clear out any tracking.
- Contact the app developer to report the issue.
- If you suspect a security breach, factory reset your phone.
- Change account passwords that may have been compromised.
Take unauthorized location sharing seriously, as it is a major security and privacy breach. Report it to the app maker immediately so they can investigate and fix exploits that allowed it to occur.
When live location sharing can be helpful
Although live location has its flaws, when working properly, it enables some great use cases. Here are situations where live location sharing can provide value and peace of mind:
- Travelling/vacationing – Share your location with family. They’ll know your movements on a trip.
- First dates – Share location with a friend for safety when meeting someone new.
- Ridesharing – Let contacts track your rideshare trip home at night.
- Hiking/camping – Share location in remote terrain for emergency preparedness.
- Festivals – Avoid losing friends by monitoring each other’s live location in crowds.
- Daily commute – Let family see your real-time transit location and estimated arrival.
- Emergencies – Share live location with aid and relief services to send help.
When functioning smoothly, live location provides peace of mind, convenience, and safety. While technical glitches can happen, proper troubleshooting can usually get this useful feature back up and running.