iOS 17 brought some cool new features, and one of the most useful is the “Check In” feature in the Messages app. It’s designed to keep your friends and family in the loop about your travels and ensure you’re safe.
What is the Check In Feature?
Basically, Check In allows you to share your location and journey progress with a chosen contact via the Messages app. It’s not just about showing where you are; it actively tracks your trip and alerts your contact if something seems off.
When you start a Check In, your iPhone monitors your movement toward your destination. It automatically notifies your contact when you arrive. If you go off-route or stop moving, it’ll prompt you to confirm that you’re okay. If you don’t respond within 15 minutes, your contact gets an alert with details like your last location, route, battery level, and signal strength. All the shared data is end-to-end encrypted, so your privacy is protected.
How to Use Check In in the Messages App
Okay, so here’s how to use it:
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First off, make sure both you and the person you’re checking in with are using iOS 17. Open up the Messages app on your iPhone and go to the conversation with the contact you want to share with.
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Tap the ‘+’ icon to the left of the text input box. This opens the app menu, where iMessage apps are located in iOS 17.
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In the menu that pops up, swipe up or hit “More” to see all the apps.
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From the list, tap on “Check In”.
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The first time you use Check In, you’ll see a few setup screens. Tap “Continue” to get through these.
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Keep hitting “Continue” until you get to the data sharing options.
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You’ll need to select what kind of data you want to share if you don’t arrive at your destination. You have options for “Limited” or “Full” data sharing. “Limited” shares your current location and device info, while “Full” includes things like your route and where your device was last active.
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After checking out the details, pick your preferred option and hit “Continue.” You can change this later in your settings.
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On the final setup screen, tap “Send a Check In.” Or you can choose “Not Now” to save the settings and use Check In later without redoing these steps.
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The Check In message will now appear in the text input field. Tap “Edit” if you need to change the destination or arrival time. When everything is good, send the message by tapping the blue arrow.
By default, Check In is set for one hour. If you need more or less time, you can change it for up to 24 hours under the “After a timer” tab.
Method 1: Setting a Destination-Based Check In
If you’d rather notify your contact when you arrive at a specific place, switch to the “When I arrive” tab. Hit the “Change” button to search for and pick your destination.
You can change the size of the destination area by choosing “Small,” “Medium,” or “Large” circles, which changes how close you have to be to the location.
Once your destination is set, tap “Done” in the top-right corner to confirm.
The app will give you an estimated time of arrival (ETA) based on how you’re traveling and current traffic. This ETA will update automatically once you start your trip.
After you’ve tweaked all the Check In details, tap “Done” to save your settings.
- To start your Check In, press the “Send” button.
Your contact will get a notification right away. When you arrive at your destination or the set time runs out, the Check In will update your contact automatically.
If your phone notices that you’re not moving toward your destination as expected, it’ll show a prompt on your screen. You can then “End Check In” if you’re okay, or “Add Time” if you’re just delayed.
If you don’t answer the prompt within 15 minutes, your contact will get a notification that you’re delayed. They can then see the information you’ve chosen to share and see if you need help.
The shared info will appear in their Messages app, giving them all the important details about your current situation.
The Check In feature in iOS 17 makes it super easy to stay connected and safe when you’re out and about. It turns your iPhone into a proactive buddy, keeping your loved ones informed and making your travels worry-free.