How to Pause Your Location Sharing on Find My iPhone (Without Notifying Anyone)

Quick answer: Yes, you can pause your location on Find My iPhone. The easiest method is to turn off Share My Location in your iPhone Find My settings. You can also stop sharing with specific people or temporarily switch to Airplane Mode to “freeze” your last known spot. Want to get stealthy? Using another Apple device (like an iPad or Mac) to spoof your location works too.

Now let’s break each method down in a way that makes sense—and doesn’t raise any red flags.

You know that moment when you just want a little off-the-grid time? Maybe you’re planning a surprise for someone, or just need a break from digital eyes watching your every move. We’ve all been there. And if you’re using an iPhone, chances are you’ve wondered: Can I pause my location on Find My without anyone knowing?

Well… good news. You totally can. And the better news? I’m going to walk you through it, step by step—like we’re chatting over coffee.

First, What exactly is “Find My” and How does it work?

Find My is Apple’s built-in tracking system. Think of it like your iPhone’s GPS-powered radar. It lets you:

• Share your real-time location with family or friends
• Locate lost Apple devices (even when offline!)
• Keep tabs on AirTags, AirPods, and even Apple Vision Pro

Cool, right? But it also means others can know where you are 24/7—if you’ve allowed them.

What does “Pausing Location” actually mean?

When people say “pause your location,” they’re usually talking about temporarily stopping someone from seeing where you are—without necessarily turning off location services for everything or causing a red flag like “Location Not Available.”

It’s like putting your visibility on hold. You’re not deleting anyone, you’re not being shady (okay, maybe a little), and you’re not breaking anything on your phone.

And here’s the good news: There are a few clever, low-key ways to do it.

Why would you want to Pause Location Sharing?

Let’s get real—this isn’t always about sneaking around. Sometimes, it’s just about privacy.

Here are a few real-life examples:

• Planning a surprise birthday party and don’t want your best friend to get suspicious you’re not at work.
• Going on a solo trip and you want to enjoy it quietly without people pinging your location every few hours.
• Sharing your Apple ID with a family member (we see you, parents and kids) and needing a break from digital babysitting.

Whatever your reason—it’s valid.

Option 1: Turn Off “Share My Location” from Settings Apple ID

This is the most straightforward method. When you do this, your location will disappear from everyone’s Find My list.

Here’s How:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your name at the top (your Apple ID).
3. Tap Find My.
4. Toggle off Share My Location.

🔒 What They See: It just says “Location Not Available.” It doesn’t scream “Hey! They turned this off!”

✅ Pros:

• Simple and fast.
• Works across all apps (iMessage, Find My, etc.)

❌ Cons:

• Everyone you were sharing with will see that you’re not available anymore.
• They might get curious.

Option 2: Turn Off “Share My Location” from Location Services Settings

This one’s a bit tucked away, but it’s a quick way to pause location sharing in Find My—without messing with your entire GPS system.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
2. Tap Location Services.
3. Tap Share My Location.
4. Toggle Share My Location to off.

Now here’s what actually happens: this stops your location from being shared in the Find My app only. Your phone’s location is still working just fine for Maps, Uber, Weather, and other apps that need GPS. So it’s more of a Find My freeze than a total location shutdown.

Perfect if you want to keep using location-based features while quietly stepping out of the Find My radar.

Option 3: Freeze Location Sharing Directly from the Find My App

If you’re already in the Find My app, there’s a super quick way to pause your location without diving into settings.

Here’s how:

1. Open the Find My app.
2. Tap the Me tab at the bottom.
3. Toggle off Share My Location.

Done. Fast, clean, and doesn’t mess with other location features like Maps or Uber. Just remember—people might still see that your location isn’t being shared, so if you’re trying to be extra subtle, the decoy device trick might be your best bet.

Option 4: Stop Location Sharing only One Person

Here’s where things get really tailored. Maybe you’re fine with your partner seeing where you are. But your cousin? Not so much.

You can stop sharing with just one person—without alerting anyone else.

To do this:

1. Open the Find My app.
2. Tap on the People tab.
3. Select the person you want to stop sharing with.
4. Scroll down and tap Stop Sharing My Location.

They won’t get a notification that you did it (unless they check manually). So it’s a low-drama way to quietly step back.

Now, if they do open the app and try to check your location, they’ll see “No location found.” Which might lead to questions. But hey, plausible deniability exists for a reason.

Also read: How to Schedule a Text Message on iPhone (iOS 18 & Older)

Option 5: Use Another Apple Device as a Decoy

Now, here’s a trick that feels straight out of a spy movie.

If you own more than one Apple device—like an iPad, Apple Watch, or even an old iPhone—you can use one of them as your location broadcaster instead of your actual phone.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Grab the other device and make sure it’s connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.
2. Open the Find My app.
3. Tap Me at the bottom of the screen.
4. Tap Use This [Device] as My Location.

Now, even if you’re out driving around, your friends will think you’re chilling at home with your iPad. Genius? A little. Sketchy? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.

It’s a perfect “pause” without making it look like you did anything at all.

✅ Pros:

• Super stealthy.
• No “location unavailable” warning to anyone.
• Great for long-term pausing.

❌ Cons:

• Requires another Apple device.
• Battery life matters—don’t let the decoy die!

Option 6: Turn On Airplane Mode (Quick & Temporary)

This is your go-to move if you just want to vanish for a few minutes.

Steps:

• Swipe down and tap Airplane Mode.
• Or go to Settings and toggle it on.

Your location stops updating. It’ll show your last known spot—and stay frozen there.

🚨 Important: This also kills Wi-Fi and mobile data. So, no texts, calls, or notifications until you turn it back off.

✅ Pros:

• Quickest method.
• No changes to location settings.

❌ Cons:

• Very short-term.
• You’re totally offline during this time.

Option 7: Turn Off Location Services entirely

Okay, this one’s more like a hard reset.

Turning off Location Services altogether means none of your apps—including Find My—can access your GPS.

How to do it:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
2. Tap Location Services.
3. Toggle it off at the top.

Great if you want complete off-the-grid mode. But be warned: It’s a bit heavy-handed. Maps won’t work. Uber can’t find you. You won’t get weather updates. So this one’s more for the “don’t want anyone or anything tracking me” days.

Comparing Location Pause methods

Method	Notifies Others?	Hides from Everyone?	Duration	Needs Extra Device?
Share My Location Off	No	Yes	Until re-enabled	No
Stop Sharing with Specific People	No	No	Until re-enabled	No
Use Another Device	No	Yes (from real phone)	As long as needed	Yes
Airplane Mode	No	Yes (temporarily)	Short-term	No
Turn Off Location Services	No	Yes	Until re-enabled	No

How do I make Find My iPhone stay in one spot?

If you want your location on Find My iPhone to appear as if you’re staying in one place—even when you’re not—the trick is to set another Apple device (like an iPad or older iPhone) as your location source.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Make sure the other device is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.
2. Open the Find My app on that device.
3. Tap Me at the bottom.
4. Choose Use This [Device] as My Location.

Once you do this, anyone checking your location will see that device’s location—not wherever you’re actually going. It’s a clever way to “freeze” your location in one spot without turning anything off or raising red flags. Just don’t forget to switch it back when you’re done!

Also read: How to Turn Off Find My on Your Apple Devices

A quick story: When I needed to “Go Dark”

A while back, I was planning a surprise birthday for my best friend. I had to sneak around town picking up balloons, cake, and yes—her favorite Thai noodles. She’s the kind of person who always checks where I am. (Out of love, I swear.)

So I used the “Use This iPad as My Location” trick. Left it charging at home. Meanwhile, I was running around like a party-planning ninja.

She never suspected a thing. And when she walked into the party later that night? Totally shocked.

Moral of the story? Sometimes you’re not being sneaky. You’re being thoughtful. 😊

A few Extra tips to Keep it Low-Key

• Turn off “Find My iPhone” only if you’re selling your device. This isn’t the same as location sharing.
• If you’re in a shared iCloud Family, double-check whether location sharing is tied to parental controls.
• Don’t forget about apps like Life360 or Google Maps—they might still track your location even if Find My doesn’t.

FAQs about Pausing Location on Find My iPhone

Q: Will Apple notify others if I stop sharing my location?
Nope. Apple doesn’t send notifications when you turn off sharing or stop sharing with someone. But if they check, they’ll notice.

Q: Can I fake my location with third-party apps?
Technically yes, but Apple doesn’t allow GPS spoofing apps on the App Store. You’d need a jailbroken phone—which opens up a can of worms (and security risks).

Q: What if I pause my location, then lose my phone?
Yikes. That’s why Find My iPhone still works even if location sharing is paused. Just don’t turn off the whole Find My feature.

Q: Does Low Power Mode stop my location updates?
Not really. Your phone will still update your location unless you actively turn it off.

Q: Can I pause location on Apple Watch too?
Yes. If your Apple Watch is cellular-enabled, it shares location independently. Turn off sharing from your Watch or unlink it in your settings.

Q: Can I pause location sharing just during certain hours?
Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t offer a schedule feature for location sharing. You’d need to manually stop and start it again.

Q: What does “Location Not Available” mean to them?
It could mean your phone is off, in airplane mode, or out of signal. Or yes… you stopped sharing. But Apple doesn’t spell it out.

Q: Does turning off Find My Location affect my ability to find my phone if I lose it?
If you turn off Location Services or Find My iPhone, yes—it’ll affect your ability to track your phone if it’s lost. Use this option with caution.

Final thoughts

Look, we’re not saying you need to hide from everyone all the time. But knowing you can control when and how your location is shared? That’s empowering.

Whether it’s a surprise party, a solo adventure, or just a break from being “seen,” your iPhone gives you the tools to step off the radar—without blowing your cover.

So go ahead, pause that location.

And enjoy a little you-time.