How to Send Check-Ins with Your iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

To start using check-ins on your iPhone, you'll need an iPhone running iOS 17 with cellular connectivity and iCloud signed in. The recipient will also need an iPhone running iOS 17, an iPad running iPadOS 17, or a Mac running macOS Sonoma, all of which must be signed into iCloud.

Check-in is designed for those moments when a loved one tells you to text them when you arrive at your destination. To send a check-in, tap the plus button in a messages conversation and then select "check-in." You may need to tap the "more" button first, but you can also move check-in to the top of your app list at any time.

Once you've started using check-in, learn more about it by watching another video on Apple Support YouTube. Check-in isn't available in all countries or regions, so be sure to check compatibility before sending a message.

Check-in is meant for those moments when a loved one tells you to text them when you arrive at your destination. To send a check-in, tap the plus button and then select "check-in." You can customize your options by tapping edit after selecting "check-in" in the text field. If you want to send a time-based check-in, you can tap "after a timer," or if you prefer, you can send a location-based check-in.

To set up a location-based check-in, make sure you're in the "when I arrive" tab and then select "change" below the map. Type your destination address into the search field and tap to select it. You can decide when check-in will end based on how far you'll be from your destination by choosing either small, medium, or large.

Once you've set your destination, select whether you'll be driving, taking public transit, or walking. Tap "done" in the upper right corner of the screen to confirm your selection. Then, tap "send" when your friend receives the message notification.

When you arrive at your destination, check-in will automatically end and your friend will be notified. However, if you stop moving without confirming that you've arrived or ended the check-in, your friend will get an alert and can view your current location, battery level, and cellular service status to help you out if needed.

By following these steps, you can easily keep your friends in the loop when you're out and about with your iPhone. Remember to subscribe to the Apple Support YouTube channel for more information on how to use your iPhone.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enyou can send a time or destination based check-in to a friend or family member to automatically let them know when you've arrived at your destination here's how we'll start with an overview of check-in then we'll show you how to send it in messages before you start you'll need an iPhone using iOS 17 with cellular connectivity and you'll need to be signed into iCloud in order to send a check-in in order to view the details of the check-in your friend needs an iPhone with iOS 17 an iPad with iPad OS 17 or a Mac using Mac OS Sonoma and they'll need to be signed in to iCloud okay let's learn a little more about check-in check-in is meant for those moments when a loved one tells you to text them when you get there send a check in within messages to let your friend know when you get to your destination when you arrive they'll be automatically notified but if you're delayed check-in recognizes that you're not making progress and prompts you to add more time if your plans have changed like if you make an unexpected stop on your way home or if your time-based check-in has ended if you don't respond within 15 minutes check-in will automatically share useful information with your friend like your battery level cellular service status and location in addition to setting up check-in with a destination you can set it up for a duration of time during the initial setup you'll be asked to choose the data you'd like to share when you send a check-in which will only be shared if you are unexpectedly delayed you can change your level of data sharing at any time in settings limited data will provide your current location battery details and the Network signal of your iPhone in addition to what is shared with limited data sharing full data will also include the route you've traveled from where you started to your current location and the last place you unlocked your iPhone if you are unexpectedly delayed your friend will then be able to view this information and find out how you're doing thank you now you're ready to send a check in to a friend or family member in a messages conversation tap the plus button and then tap check in you might need to tap the more button first but you can move check-in to the top of your app list at any time check-in will appear in the text field and you can tap edit to customize your options if you want to send a time-based check-in you can tap after a timer or if you want to send a location-based check-in make sure you're in the when I arrive tab and tap change below the map then type your destination address into the search field and tap to select it you can decide when check-in will end based on how far you will be from your destination choose either small medium or large and your friend will get an arrival notification once you're inside the radius you've selected tap done in the upper right corner when you've set your destination then select whether you'll be driving taking public transit or walking tap done in the upper right corner when you're ready and then tap send when your friend receives the message notification they can tap it to see where you're headed and then tap details to view your estimated time of arrival when you arrive at your destination check-in will automatically end and your friend will be notified or if you are unexpectedly delayed like you stopped walking and didn't confirm that you'd like to add time or end check-in when you were prompted your friend will get an alert they can tap the alert and then tap details to view your current location battery and your cellular service status so they can help you out if you need it and that's check-in an easy way to keep your friend in the loop when you're out and about to learn more about your iPhone subscribe to the Apple support YouTube channel or click another video to keep watching check-in isn't available in all countries or regions the sender and recipient both need devices with the latest operating system foreignyou can send a time or destination based check-in to a friend or family member to automatically let them know when you've arrived at your destination here's how we'll start with an overview of check-in then we'll show you how to send it in messages before you start you'll need an iPhone using iOS 17 with cellular connectivity and you'll need to be signed into iCloud in order to send a check-in in order to view the details of the check-in your friend needs an iPhone with iOS 17 an iPad with iPad OS 17 or a Mac using Mac OS Sonoma and they'll need to be signed in to iCloud okay let's learn a little more about check-in check-in is meant for those moments when a loved one tells you to text them when you get there send a check in within messages to let your friend know when you get to your destination when you arrive they'll be automatically notified but if you're delayed check-in recognizes that you're not making progress and prompts you to add more time if your plans have changed like if you make an unexpected stop on your way home or if your time-based check-in has ended if you don't respond within 15 minutes check-in will automatically share useful information with your friend like your battery level cellular service status and location in addition to setting up check-in with a destination you can set it up for a duration of time during the initial setup you'll be asked to choose the data you'd like to share when you send a check-in which will only be shared if you are unexpectedly delayed you can change your level of data sharing at any time in settings limited data will provide your current location battery details and the Network signal of your iPhone in addition to what is shared with limited data sharing full data will also include the route you've traveled from where you started to your current location and the last place you unlocked your iPhone if you are unexpectedly delayed your friend will then be able to view this information and find out how you're doing thank you now you're ready to send a check in to a friend or family member in a messages conversation tap the plus button and then tap check in you might need to tap the more button first but you can move check-in to the top of your app list at any time check-in will appear in the text field and you can tap edit to customize your options if you want to send a time-based check-in you can tap after a timer or if you want to send a location-based check-in make sure you're in the when I arrive tab and tap change below the map then type your destination address into the search field and tap to select it you can decide when check-in will end based on how far you will be from your destination choose either small medium or large and your friend will get an arrival notification once you're inside the radius you've selected tap done in the upper right corner when you've set your destination then select whether you'll be driving taking public transit or walking tap done in the upper right corner when you're ready and then tap send when your friend receives the message notification they can tap it to see where you're headed and then tap details to view your estimated time of arrival when you arrive at your destination check-in will automatically end and your friend will be notified or if you are unexpectedly delayed like you stopped walking and didn't confirm that you'd like to add time or end check-in when you were prompted your friend will get an alert they can tap the alert and then tap details to view your current location battery and your cellular service status so they can help you out if you need it and that's check-in an easy way to keep your friend in the loop when you're out and about to learn more about your iPhone subscribe to the Apple support YouTube channel or click another video to keep watching check-in isn't available in all countries or regions the sender and recipient both need devices with the latest operating system foreign\n"