With SOS Emergency via Satellite it is possible to contact emergency services in case of emergency in locations where there is no mobile or Wi-Fi network available. In addition, you can also share your location via the Find My app in combination with a satellite connection.
This feature allows you to proactively share your location in the Find My app for iPhone when you are somewhere without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. This feature works in conjunction with Satellite SOS Emergency Alert and has been available in the Netherlands and Belgium since iOS 16.4.
Send location via satellite in Find My
iPhone 14 (Pro) and later users can use the Find My app to share their location via satellite when they’re out of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. This lets you proactively update your location in areas without coverage. The feature works in conjunction with Satellite Emergency SOS.
Link location data and contacts
Before you can share your location with friends via satellite, you need to before If you go out of range of the mobile network or a Wi-Fi network, activate some settings.
- Set the iPhone you have with you as the iPhone that shares your location. To do this, open the Find My app and open the “Me” tab. Then make sure “Share My Location” is turned on. If your iPhone is not currently sharing your location, tap “Use This iPhone as My Location.”
- Then add the contacts you want to share your location with. We have explained step by step how to share your location with others via the Find My app in this Find My manual.
Send your location via satellite
You can use the Find My app to share your location via satellite when you’re not connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi network. To share your location via satellite with a friend, you must already be sharing your location with that person in Find My.
- Make sure you are outdoors and have a direct view of the sky and horizon. If you are under heavy tree cover or surrounded by other obstacles, you may not be able to connect to a satellite.
- Open the Find My app and tap ‘Me’ at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap “Send My Location” (under “My Location via Satellite”) and follow the onscreen instructions. If you need to turn left or right to connect to a satellite, your iPhone can help you do that. Follow the onscreen instructions.
It may take a few minutes to send your location via satellite. Continue following the on-screen instructions until the message is sent. You can send your location once every 15 minutes. When you send your location via satellite, you will not see your friend’s location in the Find My app. Unfortunately, it is not possible to automatically update your location this way.
Please note! The feature is only available if there are no mobile or Wi-Fi networks available and you have a SIM card (physical or eSIM) installed.
Check location sent via satellite
To see a friend’s location sent via satellite, you need iOS 16.1 or later on your iPhone. When contacts send you their location via satellite, a satellite icon will appear next to their photo and Satellite Location will appear in the text in the Find My app. Their most recent location can be viewed for 7 days.
Availability of location sharing via satellite
It is not possible to share your Find My location via satellite everywhere. Since iOS 16.4 you can use the function in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States. Check this Apple Support article for information about the availability of SOS satellite emergency notification in other countries.