What to Do If Someone Is Missing

Location apps can help, but they are not a substitute for reporting a missing person. Here is the right order of steps.

If you are worried someone may be missing or in danger, contact the police first — in the UK call 101, or 999 if there is immediate risk to life. Do not rely solely on a tracking app.

If you already share location

Check Life360, Find My, Google Maps location sharing, or whatever the two of you already use with mutual consent — but treat it as one data point, not proof of safety.

If you do not share location

You cannot lawfully access another adult's live location without their consent. Provide the police with their phone details, likely whereabouts, and any accounts they use — they have legal routes to request this data that individuals do not.

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