Getting started
with Life 360
on your device
Setting up Life 360 for Android takes about four minutes if you know where to start. Most people get stuck on permissions - location access needs to be set to "Always allow," not just "While using the app," or the tracker stops updating when your screen turns off.
Once that's sorted, the Life 360 tracker starts logging real-time position reliably. Location Sharing & Safety features like crash detection and SOS alerts become available after your first circle is created with at least one other member.
- Android 8.0+
- iOS 14+
- Family circles
- Live location
- Drive detection
Four steps from download
to a fully working setup
Each step below covers a specific action - not a vague suggestion. Follow them in order and the Life 360 tracker will be running correctly before you close the app.
Install and create your account
Download Life 360 for Android from the Play Store or from the App Store on iOS. Use an email address you check regularly - account recovery goes there. Skip the trial prompts on first launch; you can revisit them once the basics work.
Set location permissions correctly
Go to your device settings, find Life 360 under app permissions, and set location to "Always." Battery optimization must be turned off for this app specifically. Without both of these, the Life 360 tracker will show stale or missing locations.
Create a circle and invite members
Tap the circle icon and name your group. Send invite links via text - they work across platforms. Each person accepts on their own device. Location Sharing & Safety features activate automatically once two or more members are in the same circle.
Configure alerts and check-in options
Open the Places tab and add addresses like home or school. The app sends a notification when someone arrives or leaves. Crash detection and SOS are under the Safety tab - review those settings together with your circle members so everyone knows how they work.
Questions that come up during setup get answered in the same session - no need to wait for a follow-up. Family-Tracking has been running these group onboarding sessions since 2015, and the format has stayed the same because it works.