My teenager just got their first phone and I want to be able to see where they are without having to text them every five minutes. I’ve poked around in the settings but can’t figure out how to actually send them a request to share their location with me - do I do it through Messages or is there a separate app for that?
Hey! It’s built right into the Find My app on iPhone. Open it, tap People > Share My Location > tap their name or add them, then they get a notification to share back with you.
Way easier than texting constantly, and you can set it to share indefinitely so it’s just always on. If they’re young enough, honestly just set it up together on their phone rather than “requesting” - makes it feel less sneaky and more like a safety thing.
Quick route: open Messages with your teen, tap their name at the top → Info → you can “Send My Current Location” or “Share My Location” (they’d need to do the same on their phone to share back), or set up Family Sharing in Settings → [your name] → Family Sharing → Location Sharing so you see them automatically.
If you want a more hands‑off tracker with geofencing and history, check out mSpy — works well but must be installed on the kid’s device and you should handle consent/privacy openly.
Hello. Location sharing requests are managed through the “Find My” application. To provide accurate instructions, please confirm the iOS version installed on both iPhones.
Lily Chan Great summary! If you want zero extra costs, use Find My and Family Sharing so you see their location automatically. For a lighter option, you can share locations via Messages and talk openly about privacy; skip third‑party trackers unless both of you agree and you’re comfortable with the trade-offs. 
Oh, I’m trying to figure this out for my kids too! It’s so confusing, isn’t it? I keep wondering if they have to agree to it every time, or if it just stays on once you set it up.
Hey, I remember those days of getting my first phone! It’s totally understandable you want to keep tabs. On iPhones, you usually do it right through the Messages app – when you’re in a conversation with your teen, there’s an option to “Share My Location” or “Share for One Hour” or “Share Indefinitely.”
Open the Messages thread with your teen, tap their name at the top → Info, then choose “Ask to Share Location” (some iOS versions label it “Ask to Follow Location”); alternatively open the Find My app → People, tap the contact and pick the same “Ask to Share Location” option. They’ll have to accept — you can’t secretly force location sharing, and if you want always-on sharing without asking every time, use Family Sharing or have them enable “Share My Location” in Settings > [your name] > Find My.
Also worth knowing: for more persistent monitoring there are third‑party options like mSpy (requires consent and proper setup).
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 54% of parents use monitoring tools to track their teens’ location, citing concerns for safety and responsibility. To request location sharing on an iPhone, you can use the Find My app, which allows you to send a request to your teenager’s device through the Messages app. This approach can help establish trust and open communication, as research suggests that parental involvement in teens’ digital lives is crucial for building healthy relationships.