A Few Words on Life 360 Location-Tracking System

Even though location tracking has become an essential part of our daily routine, it raises concerns regarding its reliability, relevance, and monitoring opportunities. Such applications as Life 360 claim to provide the most relevant location data possible. But how often does Life 360 update and why should we trust it?  

Some people still question Life 360’s system and functionality for many reasons. So, explore the Life 360’s location-tracking capabilities and potential concerns of the users and find helpful suggestions at the end of our material.

Location-Tracking System of Life 360

When Life 360 was only released, it introduced a number of outstanding features all of which constitute the unique location-tracking system. Many families and related communities were captivated by its comprehensive capabilities to monitor, store, and analyze location data, phone usage, and user motion behavior. 

The location-tracking system of the Life360 app depends on the united power of GPS, Wi-Fi, and Cellular technologies. To put it differently, the platform receives signals from satellites, Wi-Fi hotspots, and Cell towers simultaneously, calculates the distance, and identifies the coordinates of a given device. This information is transmitted and stored on the Life 360 servers, where it is thoroughly processed and passed to authorized users within the Circles* only. 

Since it is the main Life 360’s goal to ensure safety and safeguard its users by connecting them with their Circle members and emergency services, the app offers a range of features that facilitate this process. Thanks to advanced technologies, Life 360 is able to automatically detect crashes and other road accidents, reach out to the emergency services, and provide immediate support when necessary. 

*Circles are private networks or unique groups, in which users may gather to share each other’s whereabouts and receive updates about their activity, including routes, phone activity, and driving.

How Frequently Does the Life 360 App Update?

So as to ensure that Life 360 displays the most up-to-date information, there was developed an algorithm for how the app should communicate with its servers. So, when does Life 360 update your location? 

For Life 360 to operate properly, one should have the enabled GPS on the phone, a stable Internet connection, and the latest version of the app. In this case, the location-tracking platform receives updates every 2 seconds, which guarantees instant relevance of the location data. Unless the app is running, it can communicate with the server every 10 seconds. Nevertheless, even 2-second lags, which may occasionally appear, should also be enough to stay connected with your loved ones.

Life 360’s Main Location-Sharing Issues

While Life 360 offers lots of location-tracking features for family members and friends to make sure everyone is safe and digitally protected, it also comes with its own set of challenges and concerns.  

One of the main concerns regarding location sharing on Life 360 is that the app may pause its updates and suffer from delays. Though the app strives to provide accurate location information, there are instances where the data may be outdated or incorrect. Here are the most common reasons why Life 360 may not be updating location in real time: 

• disabled location sharing (either within the app or a phone);

• lack of location permissions;

• connectivity issues;

• enabled VPN;

• enabled low battery mode; 

• server overload;

• hardware malfunction;

• GPS signal interference;

Besides, the limitation on viewing sessions to five minutes is another problem that may avert its users from the app. The restricted viewing sessions pose challenges for users who require continuous monitoring and lead to discontent and a lack of flexibility in the app’s functionality. Nonetheless, this is how the system protects the battery life and server load by providing jumps from one location to another. 

How to Always Get Reliable Location Information? 

Users who rely on location-tracking applications expect them to be up-to-date and relevant. So as to maximize the accuracy of the apps and ensure that they process data correctly, one should pay attention to the following aspects. 

1. Check Your Phone

Start by checking the location settings on your device to ensure that GPS, Wi-Fi, and Cellular are constantly enabled. These technologies work together to provide the most accurate location information to Life 360. When one fails, the app may experience delays or incorrect positioning, too. 

2. Regularly Update the App and the Phone

Usually, any update contains bug fixes, optimization features, minor and major improvements, and so on. The latest software may help one to ensure that the app functions smoothly and correctly. We recommend that you set your device to automatically update apps and the phone’s system to ensure that you never miss important releases.

3. Double-Check Settings

As soon as the app/device is updated, some of the settings may clear up and turn to the default status. In order to keep track of your loved ones, do not forget to check privacy settings and proper permissions. Besides, pay special attention to the location-sharing settings, which may also get disabled by accident.

To enable location sharing on the Life 360 app, open the settings by tapping on the “Gear” icon, choose “Location Sharing”, and toggle the slider on. That’s it.

4. Check Battery Optimization Settings

Some devices have inbuilt battery optimization features that can restrict background activity for apps like Life 360 and affect the frequency of location updates. Review your device’s battery settings and ensure that Life 360 is exempted from any restrictions to ensure continuous tracking and accurate location data.

5. Always Have Additional Reliable Sources of Location Information

Those users who do not have such an option to fall out of the location-tracking process may also consider using additional platforms to stay always up-to-date. Such apps like Phone Locator are a great opportunity to try new features and promote extra safety. This can be especially crucial in emergencies when immediate access to accurate location data is vital.

By the way, Phone Locator is a promising location-sharing platform that keeps up with the latest trends in the tech industry but sticks to the classic approach proven by competing companies. Though it mainly focuses on basic monitoring features, like real-time location tracking, location history, route creation, and driving analysis, Phone Locator also provides one with AI-powered assistance and innovative phone number lookup, which are to enhance the user experience and expand the utility of the platform.  

Relying on location tracking should always be supported by additional knowledge about how it functions and which challenges it may face. Advance preparation is a major step toward more reliable and relevant monitoring, though some issues are out of the user’s area of responsibility. All in all, such apps like Phone Locator may serve as useful tools for those who value thorough yet respectful tracking.