Skip to content

What is the difference between ‘No location found’ and ‘No location available’?

  • by
  • 5 min read

Apple is known for making high-quality hardware with rather well-optimised software supporting their devices. That said, as well made as Apple’s software is, it isn’t perfect and can run into errors from time to time. While these errors are usually pretty self-explanatory, sometimes they can leave the user a bit confused. 

In this article, we’re comparing the no location found vs no location available error codes and telling you everything you need to know. 

Also read: How to fix the ‘Cannot Verify Server Identity’ error on iPhone?


What does “No location available” mean?

“No location available” is an error you might see when using Apple’s Find My network to locate a lost Apple device. The error generally indicates that the GPS location of the device isn’t traceable at the moment which could be either due to the presence of low or no GPS signal or cellular coverage. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the GPS on the device you’re trying to locate isn’t enabled. It merely indicates that the signal isn’t strong enough for the Find My network to pinpoint the device’s location. 


What does “No location found” mean?

While this error sounds very similar to the aforementioned one, it indicates that there’s no signal from the device you’re trying to locate whatsoever which means the onboard GPS is most likely turned off. In some cases, it can also mean that the device itself is offline, not on a network or completely powered off. Other common causes include the following:

  • iCloud account was removed from the device.
  • The location isn’t being shared.
  • The device ran out of battery.
  • Find My network isn’t working properly. 

How to fix the “No location Found” error?

If you’re getting this error on your phone, here are eight solutions you can try to resolve the problem. 

Restart your device 

One of the first things you should do is try and restart your iPhone or Apple device to see if that resolves the issue. Restarting your device can solve many seemingly random issues that would be tricky to debug.


Check your internet connection

You need a stable internet connection to be able to access your device’s location on the Find My network. Check to see if your device has an active internet connection. If you’re connected to a WiFi network, ensure you have enough signal strength and speed. If you’re on mobile data, check to make sure that you’ve got good network coverage and that it’s actually enabled. 

Photo by Framesira / Shutterstock.com
Photo by Framesira / Shutterstock.com

Check Location Sharing

Next up, check to see if Location Sharing is enabled on your iPhone. Since the Find My network largely depends on your device’s GPS, having the location-sharing options and the GPS itself enabled is crucial to the network being able to locate your device. 


Check the date and time settings

Check to see if the date and time settings on your Apple device are set according to your local region. If your iPhone or iPad is working in another timezone, there’s a possibility that its features would be limited including internet access and connectivity to the Find My network. 

Check out our detailed guide on how to change the date and time settings on iPhone here

Check Apple’s server status

Another rather popular reason for the error is a server outage at Apple’s end. Even if the servers are live, high traffic such as when pre-orders for a new iPhone open, can cause such errors. Check Apple’s Service Status site for any problems and try again later to see if that helps. 


Log out and log in again to the Apple Cloud

This is a bit of a long shot, but logging out of your iCloud account and adding it again can sometimes fix such issues. 

Why is my iPhone hotspot not working? 12 fixes
  • Open iPhone settings and head over to iCloud.
  • Tap Sign out. 
  • iCloud will ask you if you want to keep your notes, Safari data and other information on your phone. Tap Delete from My iPhone.

Now, wait for some time before restarting your iPhone. Once done, log in to iCloud again and test Find My. 


Reset Network Settings on your iPhone or iPad

If the issue pertains, you can also try resetting the network settings on your iPhone, including carrier and WiFi settings. 

Go to your iPhone or iPad’s settings and follow the steps mentioned below to reset network settings.

How to fix 'Safari Can't Find Server' issue?
  • Tap on General.
  • Scroll down to the next page and tap on Reset.
  • Then tap on Reset Network Settings.

If you want to know what happens when you reset your iPhone or iPad and what the different reset options mean, check out our guide here.


Update your iPhone

Finally, update your device to the latest available software update to see if that resolves the issue. 

How to fix 'Safari Can't Find Server' issue?
  • Tap on General.
  • Then tap on Software Update.
  • If an update is available, you’ll see that on the next page.
  • Tap on Download and Install to proceed.
You can also check out our guide here to update your iPhone or iPad using iTunes

Also read: 6 ways to fix ‘com.apple.mobilephone error 1035’ on iPhone

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: yadullahabidi@pm.me.

>