How to share your location without internet on an iPhone

With the number of public Wi-Fi stations going up and the prices of a mobile data connection going down, there are few instances where most smartphone users feel deprived of total connectivity. And yet, there may be instances when you’re trapped in an unfamiliar location without any form of internet connectivity, or in need of some help.

If you have an iPhone, there is a simple way to get help. And no, we’re not talking about the satellite connectivity feature on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series. All you need is an active SIM card that can send an outgoing SMS. Here’s how to do it.

How to share out your exact location

On any iPhone, open the Compass app (one of the pre-installed apps on the device) and you should see a line in the lower half of the screen that states your latitude and longitude. Simply hold on this line and a ‘copy’ button should appear on top. Tap on it, and you now have your precise latitude and longitude copied to the clipboard.

ALSO READ: How to set up eSIM on iPhone

You can now send this to any of your contacts with an SMS message, which should work as long as you have an active SIM, even if you don’t have a working internet connection. Keep in mind that in areas where internet connectivity and call quality can get sketchy, SMS messages may have a higher chance of going through.

How others can use this information

Any contact(s) you send your latitude and longitude to can use this information to precisely track you down. They can simply copy and paste the latitude and longitude line into Google Maps on their smartphones and instantly begin navigating to your location. Alternatively, in case of an accident or similar event, they can forward this information to concerned emergency services who can respond quicker.

However, in case you just need someone to come pick you up if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, do not forget to add more context as to what is to be done with the coordinates you send. A sample message could be something like:

“I am in an emergency. Please input my coordinates in Google Maps to find me – (latitude. longitude)”. Feel free to add any more relevant details if needed.

That is how you can use your iPhone in an emergency to get help. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more tips and tricks.