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Fix Microsoft Family Safety Location Updates Not Working on Android
Question details
Microsoft Family Safety location tracking fails to update continuously on Android devices.
- Product
- Microsoft Family Safety
- Device & OS
- Android
- Scenario
- Parents or guardians attempting to track family members' locations via the Family Safety app.
- Observed behavior
- Location updates stop working or update randomly, and reinstalling the app or modifying device permissions only provides a temporary fix.
Ensure your Android device has an active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data) and that the device's main location services toggle is turned on in the quick settings panel.
Verify Location Permissions and Battery Optimization Settings
Android systems frequently restrict background apps to save battery, which can pause location updates for Family Safety.
Modern Android versions aggressively manage background processes. If the Family Safety app is not granted unrestricted battery access and "all the time" location permissions, the operating system will suspend its tracking capabilities when the app is closed.
Navigate to Settings > Apps > Family Safety on the target Android device.
Tap on 'Permissions', select 'Location', and ensure it is set to 'Allow all the time'.
Go back to the main app info page, tap 'Battery', and select 'Unrestricted' so the app can run continuously in the background.
Reinstall and Reconnect the Family Safety App
A fresh installation can temporarily clear background caching issues or authentication glitches.
Check for Microsoft Service Outages
If multiple devices fail to update locations simultaneously, it is highly likely a server-side issue requiring Microsoft's intervention.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Family Safety stop updating location after one day?
This is a known issue reported by many Android users where the background service times out or is restricted by Android's battery optimization limits. If setting battery usage to 'Unrestricted' doesn't permanently solve it, it is likely a server-side bug requiring a fix from Microsoft.
How do I force Family Safety to update my child's location?
You can try to force an update by having the target user open the Family Safety app directly on their Android device. Ensuring the app is open and connected to the internet will manually ping the Microsoft servers with their latest GPS coordinates.
Does power saving mode affect location tracking on Android?
Yes, enabling battery saver or power saving mode heavily restricts background activity and GPS polling. This will directly prevent the Family Safety app from sending continuous location updates to save battery life.
