Find My is built into your iPhone and opens from the home screen like any other app
Find My is Apple's location and device tracking tool. It comes pre-installed on every iPhone and sits on your home screen alongside Mail, Messages, and other standard apps. You do not read it separately — it is already there, though you may need to look for it if you have reorganized your home screen or moved it into a folder.
The app icon shows a green circle with a radar-like symbol inside. On your home screen, swipe through your pages or use the search function to locate it. Once you open Find My, you can track your own devices, share your location with family members, and see where your iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, or Apple Watch are at any moment.
Key Takeaways
- Find My is a built-in app on every iPhone — you do not need to read it from the App Store.
- The app icon is a green circle with a radar symbol and appears on your home screen or in your apps folder.
- If you cannot find it on your home screen, use Spotlight search by swiping down and typing "Find My".
- Find My requires you to be signed into your Apple ID to track devices or see location information.
- The app has two main tabs: "Devices" to locate your own devices and "People" to see family members you have invited to share location.
Searching for Find My on your home screen
Start by looking at your home screen pages. Swipe left and right to move between pages, or pinch inward with two fingers to see all your pages at once in a grid view. Find My usually appears on the first or second page, but if you have reorganized your apps, it may be further down.
If you have created folders on your home screen, Find My might be inside one — check folders labeled "Utilities," "Tools," or "Apple Apps." Tap the folder to open it and look for the green radar icon inside.
Using Spotlight search to find the app quickly
The fastest way to locate Find My is through Spotlight search. Swipe down from the top of your home screen (on any page) or swipe down from the middle of your lock screen. A search box appears at the top.
Type "Find My" into the search box. The app appears in the results when ready. Tap it to open the app. This method works even if you have no idea where the app is stored on your phone, and it is faster than scrolling through multiple home screen pages.
What to do if Find My does not appear in search
If Spotlight search shows no result for Find My, the app may have been hidden or removed. On some iPhones, particularly those set up for children or with restrictions enabled, Find My can be hidden from view.
Go to Settings, then tap Screen Time. If Screen Time is turned on, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and check whether apps are restricted. If Find My is listed under Hidden Apps, tap it and select "Don't Hide" to restore it to your home screen. If you do not see Screen Time restrictions, the app should be visible — try restarting your iPhone and searching again.
Opening Find My from Settings if the app will not launch
In rare cases, the Find My app may not open when you tap it. You can still access Find My features through Settings. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Find My. From here you can see your device location, enable or disable location sharing, and manage which devices are linked to your Apple ID.
This Settings route does not give you the full Find My interface, but it lets you check your device location and adjust sharing settings if the app itself is not responding. If this happens repeatedly, restart your iPhone or check that you are signed into your Apple ID in Settings.
Making sure you are signed into your Apple ID
Find My only works when you are signed into your Apple ID on your iPhone. If you open the app and see a message asking you to sign in, tap the prompt and enter your Apple ID email and password. Your Apple ID is the account you use to read apps, back up your phone, and use iCloud services.
If you do not have an Apple ID, you can create one for free at appleid.apple.com or during the iPhone setup process. Once you are signed in, Find My will show you your devices and any location-sharing settings you have configured.
Pinning Find My to your dock for faster access
If you use Find My regularly, you can add it to your dock — the row of apps at the bottom of your home screen that stays visible on every page. Open your home screen, press and hold the Find My icon, then tap "Add to Dock." The app now appears at the bottom of every page, giving you one-tap access without searching.
You can rearrange dock apps by pressing and holding one and dragging it left or right. If your dock is full, remove an app you use less often by pressing and holding it and selecting "Remove from Dock."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Find My if I do not have an Apple ID?
No. Find My requires an active Apple ID to function. If you do not have one, create it at appleid.apple.com or during iPhone setup. Once signed in, you can track your devices and share location with family members.
What if Find My is not on my iPhone at all?
Find My comes pre-installed on all iPhones running iOS 13 or later. If it is truly missing, go to the App Store, search for "Find My," and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. It is free and made by Apple.
Does Find My work if my iPhone is turned off?
No, but if your iPhone is off, Find My can show you its last known location before it powered down. This information stays available for a limited time through iCloud.com or another device signed into your Apple ID.
Can someone else see my location through Find My?
Only if you have invited them to share your location. Open Find My, tap the "People" tab, and you will see everyone you have shared with. You can stop sharing at any time by tapping a person's name and selecting "Stop Sharing My Location."
Why does Find My ask for location permission when I open it?
Find My needs permission to access your iPhone's location services to show you where your devices are. Tap "Allow" or "Allow While Using the App" when prompted. You can change this later in Settings under Privacy > Location Services.