Life360 Not Updating Location? The Proven Fix

That moment of panic is all too real. You open Life360 for peace of mind, only to see a family member’s location hasn’t updated for hours. If you’re seeing that Life360 is stuck on last location or simply not refreshing, your mind might jump to the worst-case scenario. Take a deep breath—this is a very common issue, and the solution is almost always a simple settings adjustment on their phone, not a problem with the app or an emergency.

This guide provides a clear, step-by-step procedure to fix the Life360 location not updating issue on any iPhone or Android device. To ensure our solutions are accurate and reliable, every step is based on extensive hands-on testing with an iPhone 15 (iOS 17) and a Samsung Galaxy S23 (Android 14). We’ll resolve the technical confusion and restore your confidence in the app.

Start Here: The 5-Step Checklist to Fix Life360 Delays

Before diving into complex phone settings, let’s run through a quick diagnostic checklist. These five steps resolve the vast majority of issues causing a Life360 location delay and can often get you back online immediately. Remember to perform these checks on both your phone and, when possible, the phone of the Circle member whose location is not updating.

• Check Internet Connectivity: Life360 needs data to send updates. Verify that the phone has a stable Wi-Fi connection or a cellular signal with data enabled. A weak or intermittent signal is the number one cause of update failures.
• Force Restart the Life360 App: A temporary glitch within the app can stall communication. A full restart forces a fresh connection with the servers.
  • On iPhone: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button) and swipe the Life360 app card up and away to close it.
  • On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Life360 and tap Force Stop.
• Perform a Full Phone Reboot: Restarting the entire phone clears its temporary memory (RAM) and can resolve background processes that may be interfering with Life360. Turn the phone completely off, wait 30 seconds, and then power it back on.
• Check for App Updates: An outdated version of Life360 might contain bugs that have been fixed in a newer release. Open the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, search for Life360, and install any available updates.
• Address the Other Person’s Device: The issue is almost always on the device that isn’t sending its location. It’s also worth addressing a common concern: some users search for how to fake location on Life360 when they notice unusual behavior on the map. In reality, most “location glitches” are not the result of spoofing or manipulation. They are almost always caused by incorrect permissions, battery restrictions, or poor network connectivity. Before assuming someone is attempting to alter their location, always check the technical settings outlined in this guide.

The Real Fix: Correcting Background Permissions for Life360

If the checklist didn’t solve the problem, the cause is a phone permission setting. This is the critical step most people miss. The most common reason for a Life360 Circle update issue is not a GPS failure, but restrictive settings that stop the app from running when it’s not open on the screen. If the app is set to update location only “While Using the App,” it goes dormant the moment the screen is locked.

To function correctly, you must grant Life360 the proper background location permission. Follow these device-specific instructions precisely on the phone that is not updating.

iPhone: Set Location Services to “Always”

To fix Life360 location delay on an iPhone, you must allow it to access location data at all times.

• Open the Settings app on the iPhone.
• Scroll down and tap on Life360.
• Tap on Location.
• Select Always. This is the most crucial setting. If “While Using the App” is selected, Life360 will stop updating the moment it’s closed or the phone is locked.
• Ensure the Precise Location toggle is also switched ON. This prevents a Life360 GPS accuracy problem by allowing the app to use the most accurate data available.

Android: Set Location Permission to “Allow all the time”

Android’s terminology is slightly different, but the principle is identical: the app needs constant permission to provide consistent updates.

• Open the Settings app on the Android device.
• Tap on Apps (this may be called ‘Apps & notifications’ on some models).
• Find and select Life360 from the application list.
• Tap on Permissions.
• Select Location.
• Choose the Allow all the time option. This is mandatory for background location sharing and is the direct equivalent of the iPhone’s “Always” setting.

Learn More：Life360 GPS Tracker: The Complete User Guide>

Is Battery Optimization Silently Stopping Life360?

After permissions, aggressive battery-saving features are the next culprit. Modern phones are designed to freeze background apps to conserve power. While this extends battery life, it can prevent Life360 from sending the timely updates you rely on. You must create an exception for Life360 on the phone that isn’t updating.

iPhone: Disable Low Power Mode

On iOS, the main obstacle is Low Power Mode. When enabled (the battery icon turns yellow), it significantly reduces or completely disables background app refresh for nearly all applications, including Life360.

• Navigate to Settings > Battery.
• Make sure the toggle for Low Power Mode is switched OFF.

Unfortunately, iOS does not allow per-app exceptions for this mode. If reliable location tracking is a priority, Low Power Mode must be kept off on that device.

Android: Disable Battery Optimization for Life360

Android offers more control, allowing you to exempt specific apps from its power-saving rules. Features like “Adaptive Battery” can automatically restrict Life360 if it hasn’t been opened recently. Here is how to perform the essential battery optimization Life360 Android fix.

• Go back to Settings > Apps > Life360.
• Tap on Battery (or ‘App battery usage’).
• Select Unrestricted. This explicitly tells the Android OS not to limit Life360’s background processes, ensuring it can always send location updates.

• Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits.

• Ensure that Life360 is NOT on the list for “Sleeping apps” or “Deep sleeping apps.” If it is, tap and hold on it to remove it.

Decoding the Map: What It Means When a Location Is Delayed

Understanding what other Circle members see on their map can significantly reduce anxiety. A delay doesn’t make the person invisible; instead, Life360 displays clear visual cues to show it’s waiting for new data. This is what the app shows when a phone is off, has no signal, or has incorrect settings. Seeing these signs means the app is working correctly by telling you it can’t get a signal—this points to a technical issue, not necessarily an emergency.

The most important signal is the last known location. The person’s avatar will remain at the last place it successfully reported, but it will be accompanied by a timestamp, such as “Updated 2 hours ago” or “Last seen at 3:30 PM.”

Other common visual indicators include:

• A Red Exclamation Mark (!): A small alert icon may appear next to the avatar, directly signaling an issue receiving their location data.
• A ‘Location Tracking Paused’ Message: In some cases, the app may display this specific text to remove any ambiguity.
• Grayed-Out Avatar: The profile picture may appear faded or desaturated, visually indicating their status is not live.

By recognizing these signs, you can shift your mindset from “emergency” to “technical problem,” confident that you now have the tools to solve it.

Some users also wonder: does Life360 tell you when someone checks your location? The answer is no. Life360 does not send notifications when a Circle member views the map. Location visibility is mutual within a Circle, and there is no alert or history log showing who opened the app to check someone’s position.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Are Life360 Spoofers Causing Location Issues?

You may have seen discussions online about so-called “Life360 spoofers.” These are third-party tools that claim to manipulate GPS data. However, when Life360 is not updating, spoofing tools are rarely the cause. The vast majority of update delays are due to background permission settings, battery optimization, or disabled location services.

If you’re troubleshooting a stuck location, always start with the official device settings outlined above before assuming any intentional location manipulation.

Q2: What does Life360 show when a phone is off or dead?

When a phone is off, has no signal, or the battery is dead, Life360 will show that person’s last reported location on the map. This is always accompanied by a timestamp indicating when that location was recorded (e.g., ‘Last seen 2 hours ago’) and may include an alert icon.

Q3: How do I fix Life360 location delay on iPhone?

The most reliable fix is to adjust the app’s permissions. Go to Settings > Life360 > Location and ensure the setting is Always. You must also disable Low Power Mode by going to Settings > Battery and turning the toggle off.