Default device for FindMy app

[DrMotownMac]

My wife has an iPhone 11 and an Apple Watch 5th generation, but she doesn't always wear her Apple Watch. When I try to find her using the FindMy app, it ALWAYS defaults to the watch location instead of the phone location. Now, I realize that I can turn off location services on the watch, and that would solve the problem. BUT, I still want to be able to find the watch in case it gets lost.

So, the question is, how do I change her default location (the PERSON'S default location, not the device's) to her iPhone instead of her Apple Watch? I tried turning off "Share my location" on her watch, but that just takes her off of the FindMy app completely. This seems like it should be a simple setting in the FindMy app, but if it is, ironically, I can't FIND it!

 

[BigBlur]

Open Find My on her iPhone and go to the Me tab at the bottom of the screen. Then tap 'Use This iPhone as My Location'.

 

[DrMotownMac]

Open Find My on her iPhone and go to the Me tab at the bottom of the screen. Then tap 'Use This iPhone as My Location'.

Thank you so much. Unfortunately, when I go to the Me tab at the bottom of the screen, her phone, like my phone, looks like the screenshot below. All it says under "my Location" is "This device and cellular Apple Watches." To me, that implies that FindMy is trying to use BOTH the phone and the Apple Watch to determine the location. I'm thinking that maybe the problem is that we have cellular Apple Watches. But it sure would be nice if this were editable! Please let me know if you have any other thoughts.

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[BugeyeSTI]

Thank you so much. Unfortunately, when I go to the Me tab at the bottom of the screen, her phone, like my phone, looks like the screenshot below. All it says under "my Location" is "This device and cellular Apple Watches." To me, that implies that FindMy is trying to use BOTH the phone and the Apple Watch to determine the location. I'm thinking that maybe the problem is that we have cellular Apple Watches. But it sure would be nice if this were editable! Please let me know if you have any other thoughts.

View attachment 1964143

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Go to settings and tap Apple ID, iCloud, Media & Purchases. Then tap find my from the list, then tap My Location, then tap this device..

 

[DrMotownMac]

Go to settings and tap Apple ID, iCloud, Media & Purchases. Then tap find my from the list, then tap My Location, then tap this device..

Thanks. Do you mean this? As you can see, The "My Location" option does not let me tap on the device. It's "This Device and cellular Apple Watches." I have a feeling that the only way to fix this is to eliminate my cellular service on the Apple Watch. I have a feeling that's the entire problem. Although it does seem strange that the two devices are LINKED in this way, and I can't choose a preferred device to take location precedence over the other.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Yes, that's the settings page I'm talking about.. I have an AppleWatch but it's wifi only and doesn't show on that screen or even give me the option to add it. It very well may be linked to the cellular ability of the watch. Maybe someone with a cellular version can chime in and verify their setting shows the same

 

[DrMotownMac]

Yes, that's the settings page I'm talking about.. I have an AppleWatch but it's wifi only and doesn't show on that screen or even give me the option to add it. It very well may be linked to the cellular ability of the watch. Maybe someone with a cellular version can chime in and verify their setting shows the same

I may have to reach out to Apple directly. But thank you so much for chiming in. I did post this same message in the Apple Support Community Forum as well, but I haven't gotten any responses. I think I might have to either make a Genius Bar appointment or call some toll-free Apple support line. I've really been trying to avoid that, but oh well.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I may have to reach out to Apple directly. But thank you so much for chiming in. I did post this same message in the Apple Support Community Forum as well, but I haven't gotten any responses. I think I might have to either make a Genius Bar appointment or call some toll-free Apple support line. I've really been trying to avoid that, but oh well.

Go into a store if possible, dealing with support on the phone or online can be a challenge..

 

[DrMotownMac]

Go into a store if possible, dealing with support on the phone or online can be a challenge..

Excellent advice. Thank you.