Find my iphone app

[lisaross]

I have this app setup on my phone. If I were to loose my phone - would I go online to find out where it is?

Also, I am getting my son an iPhone - he has his own email /password for apple - how would I be able to track where his phone is if needed? Can I locate him by using the findmyiphone app on my phone if we have different accounts?

 

[descovy]

I have this app setup on my phone. If I were to loose my phone - would I go online to find out where it is?

Also, I am getting my son an iPhone - he has his own email /password for apple - how would I be able to track where his phone is if needed? Can I locate him by using the findmyiphone app on my phone if we have different accounts?

If you have different accounts, you will have to use the Find My Friends app (free) to locate your sons phone.

My whole family uses 1 iTunes account, mainly so we can share music and apps (no need to buy things more than once) so we can use find my phone.

I'm sure there's a way to log into find my phone from a computer, but what i do if I want to find my phone is log in from someone (anyone's!) else's iphone/ipad with my iTunes account. From there, I can track where it is on a map, or even send a loud beeping sound (handy if it's lost in the house!)

If it is truly missing, I can send a note that will appear on the lock screen, "this belongs to "descovy" call me at xxx-xxxx.

And if I really think it's stolen, I can wipe all my personal info off the phone.


My daughter once left her iphone at school. I checked in that evening and noticed it was moving up the freeway I set off the loud alarm, and left a message to call me. I just kept setting off that stupid alarm every 5 min while I watched it move up the freeway. Shortly I got a phone call. The guy said he was the husband of the school janitor, and she had taken it home for "safekeeping" and would leave it in the office that morning. I thanked him profusely "what else could I do? Sure enough, 6am the phone returned to the school.

The app can't protect you from a smooth criminal, but it may be enough to detract a petty theft, or help a Good Samaritan help you out!

I work in the cash office at Target. When an iphone is turned in, the first thing I look for is a message from the owner. If you leave me a number I can call you! It's worked several times over!

 

[lisaross]

So everyone uses the same emal and same password?

 

[lisaross]

Also if I use the app in my phone then I need to login with my sons apple I'd and password right?

 

[ericstac]

same as descovy. we have 4 iphones and 5 ipads on one itunes acct and is setup to share apps, movies and music. we use find my phone almost daily lol. either to find a kids missing iphone or see where a family member is at.. i love the app.

 

[lisaross]

How can I set up his phone in my account ?

 

[descovy]

So everyone uses the same emal and same password?

In my house yes...

It is my email address (I was first! Lol!) and a password that everyone can remember.

(My iTunes password is not my email password!)

I do not have a credit card tied to my iTunes account. We just use iTunes gift cards. I buy them in $15 increments when they are on sale (10% off this week at Target!).

My kids know to pay me the nearest dollar for a song/app they want to buy, but even if they forget, they can't cause too much damage on $15 or less in my iTunes account.

 

[descovy]

How can I set up his phone in my account ?

I googled... This article says it better than I can here...

http://www.mobiledevicepartners.com/how-to-use-same-itunes-account-for-different-family-members/

 

[wenrob]

We all have different iCloud/iTunes accounts and have no problem logging onto each other's Find My Phone to find each other. If we are all on one account our phones/iTunes get cluttered up with each other's stuff. We can still use the other's IDs to download from each account if we want. We used to share one account for Find My Phone but after iOS 7 came out if you do that you have to all stay logged to that account which can get messy IMO. If you want everyone on one page Find My Friends is the way to go but to shut down or send a message you need Find My Phone. And yes, you can log in from any device or computer to do it.
For a great place to get tutorials on the variety of ways to set things up you can go to iMore.com. They have step by step for just about everything.

 

[lisaross]

Wow thanks . I am thinking I don't need us to share apps or music - the main thing is I want to be able to find his phone if need be - am I correct in thinking I can login on the findmyiphone app with HIS I'd and password?

 

[descovy]

Wow thanks . I am thinking I don't need us to share apps or music - the main thing is I want to be able to find his phone if need be - am I correct in thinking I can login on the findmyiphone app with HIS I'd and password?

Yes.

 

[wenrob]

Wow thanks . I am thinking I don't need us to share apps or music - the main thing is I want to be able to find his phone if need be - am I correct in thinking I can login on the findmyiphone app with HIS I'd and password?

Yes, you can. I do it all the time using my 17 year old DD's account. She's a new driver and it just keeps me calm being able to see where she's at. (she knows I do this, lol) I made a short cut in my keyboards with her and DH's emails so all I have to do is type one or two letters and it pops up. (you have to remember to backspace the space after you put it in though or it won't work)

 

[wenrob]

Also, I wanted to add that if you wanted to access his apps or say he wanted access to your movies or whatever you just log in iTunes as the other person or turn on home sharing. Usually my DD and DH use my account to buy apps since that was the main one for the longest time. They use their own accounts for music because I hate my iTunes library being cluttered with music I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, lol.

 

[ericstac]

Wait, so each family member can have their own iTunes account and we can all share each other's downloads?

How? I thought my phone and ipad could only download from one iTunes acct, so how would it download stuff that they purchased?

 

[wenrob]

Wait, so each family member can have their own iTunes account and we can all share each other's downloads?

How? I thought my phone and ipad could only download from one iTunes acct, so how would it download stuff that they purchased?

You just log out of your account and into theirs. You used to be able to do it any time but they've recently changed it to only being able to do it every 90 days. You can also turn on home sharing and do it that way. It works for us because we all prefer our own libraries.

eta: If you use/buy from iTunes frequently then logging in with your family's separate ID is probably not a good fit and you'd be better off using Home Sharing or creating a family account to use. It works for us because it's not something that happens all that often.

 

[lisaross]

i think itunes is sooo confusing - i'm not even how to find my account right away. I use itunes from my laptop - thinking of purchasing the ipad air this holiday season - is it easier to use on Apple?

 

[wenrob]

i think itunes is sooo confusing - i'm not even how to find my account right away. I use itunes from my laptop - thinking of purchasing the ipad air this holiday season - is it easier to use on Apple?

I'm not sure what you mean? An iPad works essentially the same as an iPhone when it comes to iTunes Store, iCloud, Find My Phone etc.

 

[monorailsilver]

We love this app too!!!

We are all on the same iTunes account so it makes life easier for us.

My husband will send me a text "are you at Wendy's" Ooopppsss....

 

[lisaross]

from my computer - when i go onto itunes - where do i go to login under my apple id? can i log-in without having my phone attached to the computer at that moment?

I'm not sure what you mean? An iPad works essentially the same as an iPhone when it comes to iTunes Store, iCloud, Find My Phone etc.

 

[wenrob]

from my computer - when i go onto itunes - where do i go to login under my apple id? can i log-in without having my phone attached to the computer at that moment?

First, what is it that you want to do? That will help to know if you actually need to go into iTunes or if you can do things on your phone. I don't know if you need to connect your phone as I'm not sure what you want to do.

To log into iTunes you click on store, enter your ID and then it will ask for your password. If you have an iTunes library you should already be logged in though.