Change default device for find my location to Apple Watch SE with family setup

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Change default device for find my location to Apple Watch SE with family setup

My child's watch with cellular is setup using Family Sharing settings. However, when using Find My to locate my child, it defaults to their iPad. While I can locate the watch through "devices", how can I set up the watch to be the default device for "people"?

I tried to look for an option on the watch to 'enable this device to be the default location' everywhere in settings, but cannot find a way. It seems Family Sharing hides or disables this option from even being seen?

Is there a way to change the default device from the family sharing iPad to family sharing Watch? If so how? The help articles linked in other similar posts do not seem to address this specific scenario. Thank you.

Posted on Oct 29, 2022 10:10 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

AntPit Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 31, 2022 06:43 PM in response to kamote0628

Thank you for the follow up.

I confirmed the watch is updated to latest software watchOS 9.1 as of today.

Answers to your questions below:

Are you using the People tab when searching for your child? Yes - I am using the people tab when searching for my child. This location is linked to their iPad location.

If you use the Devices tab, are you able to locate the Apple Watch? Yes - when I switch to the Devices tab I can locate the Apple Watch.

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Answer 2

AntPit Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 1, 2022 08:32 AM in response to jeffd55

Hi jeffd55,

Yes, during initial setup I followed the steps in article you linked exactly as prescribed. It appears that the Apple Watch is correctly linked/identified to my child. I can tell this because under the “devices” tab in Find My the watch shows up under the child’s name.

unfortunately I am unable to make the watch the “default” device location for the “people tab”.

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Answer 3

kamote0628

Community Specialist

Oct 31, 2022 05:59 PM in response to AntPit

Hi AntPit,

We appreciate you reaching out to us. We understand that Find My defaults to showing your child's iPad instead of the Apple Watch.

We’d like to gather additional details that may help us be in a better position to assist you.

Are you using the People tab when searching for your child?

If you use the Devices tab, are you able to locate the Apple Watch?

While we are waiting for the details above, we recommend that you check for a software update for the Apple Watch.

While it isn't inherently assured that an update will resolve the issue, updating to the latest software version for your child's device can help isolate potential software issues.

Update your Apple Watch

Take care!

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