How to use Family Sharing with Find my iPhone

[Guest Allyson Kazmucha]

 

The new Family Sharing feature in iOS 8 not only lets you share iTunes and App Store purchases but also makes it easier for you to track all the devices in your family with the help of Find My iPhone. So next time mom can't find her iPad or dad leaves his iPhone at Starbucks, anyone in your family can help find it!

 

How to track an iPhone or iPad with Find My iPhone and Family Sharing

 

 

You'll need to have the Find My iPhone app installed in order to track devices in your Family Sharing group. If you don't already have it, you can download it for free via the App Store. Each device must also be running iOS 8 or higher and support Family Sharing.

 

• Find My iPhone - Free - Download Now
  

 

The only other stipulation is that everyone's devices must have granted Find My iPhone access to be tracked. You can do this by following these directions on each iPhone and iPad you want to be trackable -

 

1. Launch the Settings app.
   
2. Tap on iCloud.
   
3. Tap on Find My iPhone.
   
4. Turn On the option for Find My iPhone.
   

 

 

Repeat the above process with every iPhone and iPad you'd like to show up in Find My iPhone through Family Sharing. Once that's done, follow these steps to track a family member's device -

 

1. Launch the Find My iPhone app.
   
2. Sign in to your individual iCloud account.
   
3. Tap on any device in order to receive more information and track it — your own devices show up at the top, followed by everyone else's.
   

 

 

Alternately, you can also pan and zoom around the map and tap on any device in order to view more information about it. That's all there is to it! Just as you've always been able to send messages and remote wipe your own devices, you can now do the same thing to any device in your Family Sharing group.

 

 

 

 

 

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