Life360 is a popular family location sharing app used by over 30 million people worldwide. It allows families and friends to view each other’s real-time locations, set up location-based alerts, and more. However, sometimes the app may stop updating locations properly leading to frustration. In this article, we will explore the common reasons why Life360 may not be updating locations and provide troubleshooting tips to fix the issue.
Table of Contents
Why Is My Life360 Not Updating Locations?
There can be several potential causes behind Life360 not updating locations accurately:
Technical Issues
Problems with the device, network connectivity, GPS signal, or background app activity can prevent Life360 from updating locations properly. Issues like poor cellular reception, weak WiFi signal, low battery levels, etc. can interfere with continuous location tracking.
App Permissions
If the user has not enabled location permissions for Life360 or restricted background app activity, it will lead to no location updates when the app is in the background.
User Settings
A user may have intentionally paused location sharing or disabled it for specific circles in the app privacy settings. This would stop location updates from being visible to other circle members.
Server Outages
Sometimes server-side issues at Life360 can also temporarily impact the location updating functionality. During such outages, the app may fail to refresh locations.
Troubleshooting Tips to Fix Life360 Not Updating Locations
Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve issues with Life360 not updating locations:
1. Check App Permissions
Make sure Life360 has been granted location permissions under your device settings:
- Android: Enable location access under App Permissions. Also allow background activity.
- iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and choose “Always Allow” for Life360.
2. Check User Settings in the App
An intentional user action may have paused location sharing. Ask your family/circle members to resume sharing in the app privacy settings if disabled.
3. Restart Your Device
Rebooting your phone can help resolve any background issues impacting Life360’s performance. Restart and reopen the app.
4. Update the App
Check if you are running the latest version of Life360. Outdated versions may have bugs affecting location tracking.
5. Switch Between Cellular Data and WiFi
If your WiFi connection is spotty, try switching to cellular data instead to check if it fixes the location updating issue.
6. Delete and Reinstall the App
As a last resort, uninstall and install Life360 again if the above steps don’t work. This should clear any corrupt app data.
7. Contact Customer Support
If you continue facing “Life360 not updating” problems, contact their customer support for further troubleshooting help.
Tips to Improve Life360 Location Accuracy
Even when Life360 is working fine, you may sometimes notice minor inaccuracies in your location. Here are some tips to improve location accuracy:
- Enable high-accuracy mode in device location settings.
- Keep WiFi turned on even when not connected to allow better triangulation.
- Frequently update the Life360 app to the latest version.
- Occasionally reset app permissions.
- Maintain a strong cellular data/WiFi signal strength for better GPS connectivity.
- Avoid using Life360 with VPNs or proxy networks enabled on your device.
Conclusion
I hope this detailed troubleshooting guide helps you identify and resolve any issues with the Life360 app not updating locations for your family. Quickly trying the steps above should get location sharing working again. Also, follow the tips shared to keep improving location accuracy within the app. With a reliable location sharing platform like Life360, you can have better peace of mind about your family’s safety when they are on the move.
As a long-time Life360 user myself, I highly recommend the app to every family despite some occasional technical hiccups. It has been invaluable for my family through situations like driving in poor weather or when my child had to walk home alone from school once. If you face any persistent problems in the app, I’m always happy to help with more specific troubleshooting advice based on my experience. Stay safe!
