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iPhone does not recognise home as familiar location

I’ve seen that a new issue I’m experiencing had posts a year or more ago but I cannot see a solution. I’ve tried all of the recommended fixes and the latest update last night to 18.2.1 has restored Face ID but I still have the hour’s delay on stolen device protection when I try to set up a new appearance. My home location consistently shows me as one house down the street. I’ve deleted and reinstalled contacts. I’ve added a correct My Card in contacts. Has Apple resolved this issue please or has the community found a solution?

Thanks.

iPhone 14

Posted on Jan 18, 2025 12:59 AM

Reply
2 replies

Jan 18, 2025 1:19 AM in response to FrozenAppleTV

FrozenAppleTV wrote:

My home location consistently shows me as one house down the street.

Familiar locations typically include your home, workplace, and certain other locations where you regularly use your iPhone. If you choose, you can set up Stolen Device Protection to always require these additional security measures, even when your iPhone is in a familiar location.


To turn on Stolen Device Protection, you must use two-factor authentication for your Apple Account and set up or enable the following on your iPhone: a device passcodeFace ID or Touch ID; and Significant Locations* (Location Services).



About Stolen Device Protection for iPhone - Apple Support (IN)

Jan 18, 2025 1:26 AM in response to FrozenAppleTV

Simply adding a location to your contact card (e.g., marking it as "Home") does not automatically make it a "Familiar Location" in the context of iPhone's location-based learning and features.


Why Adding "Home" to the Contact Card Isn't Enough:

  1. Trust and Validation: Adding an address to your contact card can be done manually or by anyone with access to your phone, but the iPhone uses activity-based learning to validate locations it deems "familiar."
  2. Behavior-Based Learning: iPhones utilize machine learning and location tracking (if enabled) to recognize patterns of frequent visits. It identifies "Familiar Locations" based on where the phone spends significant time during specific periods, like overnight stays or long durations.


What You Can Do:

  1. Spend Time at the Location: Use your iPhone at your new address consistently, especially during the hours you'd normally be home (e.g., evening and night). Over time, the iPhone will learn this as a familiar location.
  2. Enable Location Services:
    1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and ensure it's turned on.
    2. Make sure "Significant Locations" (under System Services) is enabled. This helps the iPhone learn frequently visited locations.
  3. Ensure GPS Accuracy: Poor GPS accuracy can delay location recognition. Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi, as this improves location precision indoors.


By doing this, the iPhone will naturally associate the address with your routines, and over time, it will classify it as a "Familiar Location."

iPhone does not recognise home as familiar location

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