Your iPhone Can Automatically Check In With Friends When You’re Traveling

If you have an iPhone, you have a built-in safety feature that can automatically tell your friends and family when you’ve arrived at your destination. Check In works with iPhones running iOS 17, and is designed to work in the background when you’re on your way somewhere. That way, if you forget to tell someone you made it, your iPhone can simply do it for you.

Check In won’t kick in automatically, but it will work on its own once engaged. To start, open the Messages app on your iPhone, then start a new chat with someone, or open an existing chat. Here, the the plus button (+), tap More, tap Check In, then tap Edit. Here, you can choose one of the following two options:

1. When I Arrive: This setting lets you choose your specific destination, the mode of transportation (driving, transit, or walking), and add extra time to your travel if you need it. This option will monitor your trip and tells friends if you’re taking longer than expected, or if you’ve stopped for a period of time. Once you reach your set destination, your friends get an alert.
2. After a timer: This simply lets you set a period of time you think you’ll be gone for. Once the timers up, Check In will notify your friends if you haven’t manually checked in yet. You might use this when meeting someone new: If you don’t have a chance to check in after say two hours, Check In can tell your friends you still haven’t looked at your iPhone.

Whichever option you choose, you can tap the blue send button to share your Check In with your contact. Once the requirements are met, Check In will send the details of your trip or your meeting with your friend.

You can choose what data is actually sent to your friend, if you’d prefer to send more or less details about your situation. You’ll find these options in Settings -> Apps -> Messages. Here, scroll down and tap Check In Data. You can choose from one of the following:

• Limited: You can share your current location, as well as the network signal and battery details of your iPhone or Apple Watch.
• Full: This shares the data from Limited, as well as the route your traveled and the last time you unlocked your iPhone or took off your Apple Watch.