How-to
How to Turn On Location Tracking on Android and iPhone
Step-by-step: turn on location tracking on Android and iPhone, allow it all the time, switch on precise location and stop the phone pausing it.
By NextLocator Team Updated 3 minute read
Quick answer
On Android, turn on Settings → Location, then give the app location permission set to Allow all the time with precise location on, and set its battery use to Unrestricted. On iPhone, turn on Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services, set the app to Always with Precise Location on, and keep Background App Refresh on.
Key takeaways
- Location must be on for the phone and allowed for the app.
- 'All the time' or 'Always' lets location update with the screen off.
- Precise location makes place alerts reliable.
- Battery savers are the most common reason tracking stops.
Location tracking on Android
Menu names differ a little between phone brands, but the steps are the same.
1. Turn on location
Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Location, or open Settings → Location and turn on Use location.
2. Allow the app all the time
Open Settings → Apps → the app → Permissions → Location and choose Allow all the time. 'Only while using the app' stops updates as soon as the app is closed.
3. Turn on precise location
On the same screen, switch on Use precise location. Without it, the app gets an area of a few kilometres, which is too rough for arrival alerts.
4. Improve accuracy
In Settings → Location → Location services, turn on Google Location Accuracy and Wi-Fi scanning. These help indoors.
5. Stop battery saving from pausing it
Open Settings → Apps → the app → Battery and choose Unrestricted. On Samsung, also remove it from Sleeping apps. On Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Realme, allow Autostart and set battery saver to No restrictions.
Location tracking on iPhone
1. Turn on Location Services
Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services and turn it on.
2. Set the app to Always
Tap the app in the list and choose Always. iPhone often asks for While Using the App first and offers Change to Always Allow later. Accept it, or change it here.
3. Turn on Precise Location
On the same screen, switch on Precise Location.
4. Keep Background App Refresh on
Open Settings → General → Background App Refresh and make sure it's on, for the phone and for the app.
Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode cuts background activity, so location updates less often while it's on. That's normal and comes back when it's off.
Check it's working
- Lock the phone and walk or drive somewhere for 10 minutes.
- On another phone in the circle, open the map.
- The location should have moved and show a recent 'last updated' time.
Still stuck? Location not updating: fixes that work.
Battery and privacy
'All the time' sounds heavy, but modern apps check less often when you're still. Most families see a small, steady battery cost. Does location sharing drain the battery?
Allowing location to an app doesn't make it public. In NextLocator, only people in your circle see you, and you can leave at any time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on location tracking on Android?
Turn on Settings → Location, set the app's location permission to Allow all the time with precise location on, and set its battery use to Unrestricted.
How do I turn on location tracking on iPhone?
Turn on Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services, set the app to Always with Precise Location on, and keep Background App Refresh on.
Why is 'Allow all the time' missing on Android?
Newer Android versions only show it on the app's permission page in Settings, not in the pop-up. Open Settings → Apps → the app → Permissions → Location.
Does turning on location tracking let anyone see me?
No. Only apps you allowed get your location, and a family app only shows it to people in your circle.
