| Life360

How to Track Family Phones: A Comprehensive Guide to Family Safety and Connection

A family of four playing a board game at home.

Staying connected with family members is more important than ever. Whether you want to ensure your children’s safety, monitor your teenagers, or simply coordinate with your spouse, having a family phone tracking app can make all the difference. With numerous options, selecting the most suitable one for your family’s requirements is crucial. 

In this blog, we will explore Life360 as the top choice for family phone tracking, including the setup process and advanced features.

Choosing the Right Family Phone Tracking App

Choosing a phone tracking app for families can be challenging due to the numerous options, but Life360 stands out. Here’s why it’s the right option:

Compatibility with Multiple Devices

One significant advantage of Life360 is its compatibility with iOS and Android devices. Whether your family uses iPhones or Android smartphones, you can track their locations without compatibility issues. This flexibility ensures that you can stay connected regardless of the devices your family members prefer.

Real-Time Location Sharing

Life360 enables real-time location sharing, allowing you to see where your family members are at any time. With Life360, you can instantly check the location of your loved ones, giving you peace of mind.

Places and Place Alerts

Life360 offers geofencing capabilities, which let you set up virtual boundaries around specific areas called ‘Places’. You’ll receive automatic alerts when a family member enters or leaves these predefined zones. This phone tracking app is an excellent feature for parents who want to receive notifications when their children arrive at school, home, or other locations.

Emergency Assistance

Life360 provides a built-in SOS feature in emergencies. This feature allows family members to send distress signals and their real-time location to the rest of the family. 

How to Set Up Family Phone Tracking on Life360

Now that you’ve chosen Life360 as your family phone tracking solution, let’s walk through the process of setting it up:

  • Register for Life360 Online: For the best experience, review our plans and choose the right one for you and your family. Once you’ve selected a plan, go through the simple registration process online before downloading the app.
  • Download the Life360 App: Now it’s time to download the app from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices). Then, ensure each family member has the app installed on their smartphones.
  • Create a Family Circle: As the primary account holder, you must create a Circle. Invite your family members to join the Circle by sending them an invitation through the app.
  • Allow/Customize Location Sharing: While you can choose to only share your location while using the app, for the best performance and app usage, we recommend allowing location sharing ‘Always’.
  • Set Up Places: Define Places by selecting specific areas on the map. These can include home, school, or any other necessary location. Configure alerts to be notified when family members enter or exit these zones.
  • Enable/Familiarize Emergency Features: Familiarize your family members with the app’s SOS button and features and ensure everyone knows how to use them in an emergency. Also, be sure to enable Crash Detection so that you and your family are always ready for the unexpected.
  • Safe Driving Monitoring: If you have teenage drivers in your family, set up safe driving monitoring by turning on their location at all times. Life360 detects drives by analyzing phone location and activity to identify driving events.
  • Stay Connected: With Life360 up and running, you can now stay connected with your family members wherever they are. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you can always check their locations and receive alerts when necessary.

4 Family and Location App Features Life360 Offers

Life360 goes beyond just location tracking and offers a range of features that enhance family safety and communication:

1. Messaging and Chat 

Life360 includes a built-in messaging and chat feature, allowing family members to communicate directly within the app. Thus, there is no need for additional messaging apps.

2. Location History

You can access location history data for each family member to gain insights into their past movements. This feature can assist in understanding their daily routines and tracking your loved ones’ locations.

3. Crime Reports and Alerts

Select Life360 paid plans provide crime reports and alerts to help you stay informed about safety concerns in your area and be mindful of possible dangers. 

4. Safe Driving Monitoring

Life360 offers a safe driving monitoring feature for families with teenagers just starting to drive. You can track your teen’s driving behavior, receive reports on their speed, and be notified of any sudden stops or aggressive driving habits. This feature is available on select paid plans.

There are so many more safety features for you to explore. Check those out here.

Effortless Family Phone Tracking and Safety with Life360

Tracking family phones has always been challenging, but family locator apps like Life360 make it easier and more convenient. It lets you stay connected with your loved ones, ensure their safety, and coordinate seamlessly. Say goodbye to worrying about your family’s whereabouts – Life360 has you covered.

Life360 is an all-in-one solution for keeping track of your family and ensuring their safety. It is compatible with iOS and Android devices. With Life360, you can easily share your real-time location with family members, establish geographic boundaries to get alerts when someone enters or leaves a specific area, and access immediate emergency assistance.


Get started and download Life360. Experience the ultimate family phone tracking and safety app.

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