Troubleshooting Life360: Why It Shows Walking Instead of Driving and How to Fix It

Comprehensive Guide to Resolving Life360’s Incorrect Driving Status

If you’ve been relying on Life360 to monitor someone’s driving speed, but the app persistently displays their activity as walking, you’re not alone. This mismatch can be frustrating, especially when you are confident that they are still behind the wheel. The root cause often lies in the configuration of the app’s Driver Detection Mode, or in other technical factors affecting its accuracy. Fortunately, there are effective steps you can take to correct this issue and ensure that Life360 accurately reflects the person’s driving status.

Understanding Why Life360 Might Show Walking Instead of Driving

At the core of this problem is the activation state of the Driver Detection Mode within the Life360 app. Without enabling this feature, the app cannot properly differentiate between walking and driving activities. As a result, even if the individual is on the road, the app may default to showing that they are walking. Ensuring both the driver and the monitor have activated Driver Detection Mode is essential for accurate tracking.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Correct the Issue

1. Enable Driver Detection Mode on Both Devices

This is the primary and most critical step. Both the person being tracked and the person monitoring must activate Driver Detection Mode within their respective Life360 apps. Follow these detailed instructions:

• Launch the Life360 app on your device.
• Tap on the Settings icon located at the top right corner of the screen.
• Select Driver Detection from the menu options.
• On the subsequent screen, toggle the switch to activate Driver Detection Mode.

Once both parties have enabled this feature, test the app again to see if it now correctly identifies the activity as driving.

2. Allow Sufficient Time for the System to Recognize the Drive

Life360 requires a minimum distance and time to confirm driving activity. Typically, the driver needs to be at least 850 meters away from the monitor before the app updates the status to driving. Immediately after departure, the app may still display walking. Therefore, give it around five minutes to let the system process the movement data and update the status accordingly.

3. Ensure the Driver Is Moving at a Suitable Speed

Life360 differentiates between walking and driving based on speed thresholds. If the vehicle’s speed remains below 15 mph, the app might continue to label the activity as walking. To resolve this, request the driver to increase their speed slightly above this threshold or wait until they naturally accelerate. Once the speed exceeds 15 mph, the app should update the activity to driving.

4. Check and Disable Battery Saver or Power Saving Modes

Battery conservation modes can interfere with the app’s ability to accurately detect activity. Specifically, Driver Detection Mode may not function correctly when Battery Saver Mode is active. To prevent this, verify if Battery Saver is enabled:

• On Android devices, go to Settings > Battery and toggle off Battery Saver.
• On iPhones, access Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode and disable it.

Note that if your device’s battery level is below 11%, Driver Detection Mode might still be inactive despite disabling Battery Saver. Keep your device charged to avoid this limitation.

5. Confirm Network Connectivity and GPS Signal Strength

Stable internet connection and strong GPS signals are vital for accurate activity detection. Check that both devices have:

• Good network signal strength (preferably 4 bars or more).
• High GPS accuracy (indicated by a high number of satellites or bars).

If either device experiences poor connectivity, move to an area with better reception. This ensures real-time data transmission and enhances detection accuracy.

6. Verify if the Driver Is Engaged in a Phone Call

When the driver is on a call, the app may not accurately detect movement due to network and sensor limitations. This can cause Life360 to mistakenly record activity as walking. To confirm whether this is the case:

• Attempt to contact the driver via phone call.
• If the line is busy or the call is ongoing, wait until it ends before rechecking the app.

7. Clear App Cache to Improve Performance

An overloaded cache can cause the app to behave erratically, including misidentifying activity. Clearing the cache can restore proper functioning.

• For Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Life360 > Storage > Clear Cache.
• For iPhone: Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Life360 > Offload App, then reinstall the app if necessary.

8. Keep the Life360 App Updated

Outdated versions of the app may contain bugs affecting activity detection. Regular updates ensure you have the latest features and fixes. To update:

• Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
• Search for Life360.
• If an update is available, tap Update.

Conclusion

By systematically applying these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to correct the inaccurate display of walking instead of driving on Life360. Remember, both users need to enable Driver Detection Mode, maintain good network conditions, and ensure their devices are properly configured. If issues persist despite these efforts, reaching out to Life360 Support can provide further assistance to resolve persistent problems.