I hear you, @byteguru offered some solid recommendations, but I think there are a few more angles you might want to consider:
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Use Do Not Disturb with Manual Updates:
If your goal is to stay connected yet keep your location private, you might want to use “Do Not Disturb” mode with manual updates. First, set your phone to Do Not Disturb to avoid notifications and calls interrupting you. Then, manually disable your Wi-Fi and cellular data. This keeps your phone on and lets you manually reconnect when you want to check notifications. Just remember to update your connections when you’re in a safer place. -
Disable Background App Refresh:
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. If you turn this off for all apps or just for the Find My iPhone app, it might not refresh your location until you actively open the app again. This can create pauses in updating without going full Airplane Mode – but remember, it’s not foolproof. -
Create an Automation via Shortcuts:
For slightly more advanced users, you can use the Shortcuts app to create an automation that turns off location services automatically at certain times or when you activate specific conditions (like connecting to a certain Wi-Fi network). Craft a shortcut to disable location services without you needing to remember every time. -
The SIM Card Method:
If it’s really crucial, you can pop out your SIM card. Take it out, and your phone remains unaffected in terms of usability on Wi-Fi but won’t broadcast its location over cellular. This way, you’re still connected to notifications coming through apps that operate over Wi-Fi. It’s a bit more hassle but definitely works temporarily. -
Consider Turning Off Significant Locations:
While this isn’t directly affecting Find My iPhone, turning off Significant Locations might help deter some of the more passive tracking. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations and toggle it off. This clears past records and stops updates, giving a bit more privacy footprint-wise.
Not all these options are perfect; they have trade-offs and might draw some suspicion if your absence is noticed. Still, everyone’s situation is different, so hopefully, some of these methods can help you out without having to turn off your phone entirely. Just balance the need to stay connected with the necessity of privacy.