Find My on iphone

[Frankieytl]

Hi, I wonder if someone might be able to help me?

We have just bought my son a new iPhone 14. He’s on a PAYG ee SIM. I have all the location services on, mobile data is on, data roaming is on, I’ve turned off all the restrictions for now as well. When he’s attached to wifi I can find him but as soon as he’s on mobile data the app doesn’t track him? I’m out of ideas! Could it be a SIM issue rather than an iPhone issue???? Thanks in advance for any ideas…..

[Michael_D]

Hi @Frankieytl 

Welcome to the community.

I can totally understand the need to know where your son is when needed.

Have you got his phone set up as part of a family group in your Apple Account, or is it set up on your Apple ID?

Michael

[Frankieytl]

Hi MichaelHe is part of the family group with his own apple account. I’ve compared his phone set up with mine and they match completely?



Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

[Michael_D]

There are a couple of settings to check to make sure that everything is set up as it should be @Frankieytl 

On your son's phone, if you go to Settings, then Mobile Service and click Show All under the list of apps, is 'Find My' showing it has data enabled?

Another one to check on his phone is to go to Settings, then Privacy & Security and then Location Services, followed by Share My Location, is Find My iPhone and Share My Location switched on? Does your name also show in the Family section?

There is also Find My in the list of apps under the same section of Settings, then Privacy & Security and then Location Services. Is that set to While Using?

The other main thing to check is if he is able to use mobile data for apps and sites when he is not on WiFi?

Michael

[Frankieytl]

Hiya, yes all those settings are as you've suggested.
I hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it but you're right - he isn't getting text messages and he can't send imessages when on 4g..... and the apps don't seem to be working either.Is that a problem with the SIM?Thanks so much for your help on this.

[Michael_D]

It is possible, but may be something on the phone.

I know it may seem obvious but is mobile data itself switched on?

Is the software up to date on the phone?

Michael

[Frankieytl]

Hiya, yes all mobile data is switched on - for all apps as well. And I updated the software yesterday.I've also tried taking off all of the restrictions on the phone, so removed all of the parental controls to see if it was that but its still the same!

[Michael_D]

Thanks for checking @Frankieytl.

If you text AL to 150 from his phone, does the text that comes back confirm he has a data allowance?

Michael

[Frankieytl]

Hiya
it says what his current balance is and tells me where to go for more info on add ons and packs. it doesn't mention data specifically. he's PAYG if thats significant?

[Alex_H · Accepted solution]

@Frankieytl It sounds like he has no data allowance currently. With PAYG in order to use data you would need either a monthly pack which gives you access to a certain amount of data as well as minutes and texts. Or buying a data add-on would be needed.

Have you purchased a monthly pack or data add-on for the number?

Alex