How to Fix "Nearby Friends" Not Showing on Facebook

Hey there! Recently you may have noticed that the "Nearby Friends" feature has disappeared from Facebook. This handy tool allowed you to see which friends were geographically close to your location and coordinate meetups.

But in June 2022, Facebook removed Nearby Friends and other location tracking services like Background Location as part of a shift towards improved user privacy. This guide will explain exactly why Facebook axed Nearby Friends, how to restore access on both iOS and Android devices, the risks and benefits of location sharing, and expert tips for alternatives.

Why Facebook Had to Remove the Nearby Friends Feature

I know it‘s frustrating when tech companies take away useful features. But Facebook had some great reasons for removing Nearby Friends:

Privacy is now the top priority. After various scandals and new regulations like GDPR, Facebook is trying to rebuild user trust. Eliminating location tracking features like Nearby Friends gives you more control over personal data sharing.
The feature was not widely used. According to Facebook‘s internal metrics, less than 5% of users had Nearby Friends enabled. Maintaining rarely-used features wasn‘t worth it.
It never worked on the desktop website. The feature was always inconsistent across platforms, only appearing in mobile apps. Standardizing the experience makes things less confusing.
Regulations are getting stricter. New privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act force tech companies to rethink unnecessary data collection, including location data.
Battery life suffers. Constant background location tracking is a major battery drain. Removing the feature improves your phone‘s battery life.

Facebook wasn‘t targeting Nearby Friends specifically. They removed several location tracking tools at once:

Nearby Friends
Location History
Background Location
Weather Alerts

This shows a systematic shift away from location data collection. And that‘s a smart privacy move we should applaud.

Clever Ways to Restore the Nearby Friends Feature

I know you probably still want to access Nearby Friends. The good news is there are a few clever workarounds that can reactivate it!

For Android Users

If you have an Android device, you can download an older version of the Facebook app that still has Nearby Friends enabled:

Uninstall the current Facebook app.
Download an APK file for a previous Facebook version from before June 2022 from a site like APKMirror.
Enable "Unknown sources" in your Android settings to allow installation.
Install the old Facebook APK file.
Log into Facebook using the outdated version and you‘ll see Nearby Friends again!

I recommend downloading Facebook version 311.0.0.20.111 or earlier, as these predate the removal of Nearby Friends. Just make sure to disable auto-updates for the Facebook app on your phone to prevent it from upgrading itself automatically.

The downside is you won‘t get the latest Facebook features or security fixes using an old APK version. But at least you‘ll get back Nearby Friends access!

For iPhone Users

Unfortunately, the APK download trick doesn‘t work on iOS since Apple doesn‘t allow unofficial app installations.

But there is another sneaky method iPhone owners can use:

In the Safari web browser on your phone, go to www.facebook.com.
Log into the desktop version of Facebook.
Tap the "More" tab and select "Find Friends."
Enable Nearby Friends there and it will work!

Yes, the desktop site is clumsy on a tiny phone screen. But this lets you reactivate Nearby Friends on an iPhone for now.

You could also try a third-party modified Facebook app like Face Slim, but I don‘t recommend it. Stick with the legitimate Facebook version for privacy and security reasons.

Should You Actually Use the Nearby Friends Workarounds?

Before rushing to reactivate Nearby Friends, I strongly suggest considering these downsides of location sharing:

Privacy risks – Your location reveals a lot of personal information about you and your habits. Sharing it creates risks.
Battery drain – Constant background location tracking kills your phone‘s battery much faster.
Distracting notifications – Getting endless alerts about nearby friends creates distractions.
Data harvesting – Facebook can collect and monetize your location data even if you trust them.
Stalking risks – The feature could enable harassment or stalking by Facebook connections.
App instability – Old app versions tend to be more unstable and buggy.
Limited usage – Facebook found only 5% of people actively used Nearby Friends.

According to a Pew Research study, over 60% of adult smartphone users have disabled location tracking on their phone due to privacy concerns. And tech expert Lance Ulanoff recommends disabling location services you don‘t absolutely require.

My take is that constant passive location tracking should be avoided when possible. Only share your location temporarily for specific use cases like emergency safety.

What Are the Best Nearby Friends Alternatives?

If you decide the risks of Facebook‘s location tracking outweigh the benefits, consider these top apps with similar friend locator features:

Snapchat Snap Map

Snapchat‘s Snap Map lets you share your real-time location with friends also using Snapchat. They can view your Bitmoji avatar moving around a map to see where you are. Temporary location sharing can be enabled on-demand.

Zenly

Zenly‘s entire purpose is location sharing. You can view all your friends‘ locations on a map and get alerts when they are nearby. The app is owned by Snapchat, so it integrates seamlessly.

Life360

A family safety app that lets you view family members‘ locations and set up alerts. Also connects with smart home devices, crash detection, and emergency response features.

Find My Friends

Apple‘s official friend locator app for iOS. Lets you easily share locations with contacts and features end-to-end encryption for privacy.

Google Maps

Google Maps lets you temporarily share your live location with chosen contacts right from inside the app. They‘ll be able to see your location on a map.

The advantage of third-party alternatives is you avoid unstable APK workarounds. And your friends will need to opt-in to location sharing on each app, rather than enabling tracking passively via Facebook.

Will Facebook Ever Officially Bring Back Nearby Friends?

Based on Facebook‘s recent focus on boosting privacy and reducing data collection, I think it‘s very unlikely Nearby Friends will make an official comeback.

They have given no indication of restoring the old location tracking capabilities. And the company is clearly moving in a more privacy-friendly direction aligned with Apple and Google.

For Facebook to revive Nearby Friends in its original form, they would need to implement very stringent privacy controls around it. For example, making location sharing 100% opt-in with clear ongoing consent prompts.

But frankly, Facebook will probably never devote resources to restoring what had become an rarely-used feature that was out of sync with their current goals.

Takeaways for Bringing Back Nearby Friends

Here are the key tips to recap about restoring the missing Nearby Friends feature:

Android users can download an older Facebook APK to regain access, with some risks.
iPhone owners can enable it through the desktop website as a short-term solution.
Consider the privacy and security tradeoffs before reactivating location tracking.
Alternatives like Snapchat provide active location sharing without compromises.
Facebook is highly unlikely to ever restore Nearby Friends officially.
Use location sharing minimally and enable it temporarily as needed for safety.

In Closing

It‘s always a bit frustrating when platforms remove handy features like Nearby Friends without warning. But I hope this guide has given you all the insider knowledge to get it back if you choose.

My expert advice is to avoid reactivating constant location tracking given the privacy risks. Stick to temporary sharing only for coordinating meetups.

Focus instead on one of the excellent nearby friend apps available. And appreciate that Facebook has your best interests in mind by removing non-essential privacy-invasive features, even if it seems annoying in the moment.

The less location data being harvested by huge tech companies, the better. But now you have all the tools to restore Nearby Friends if you decide the benefits outweigh potential downsides for you personally.

Hope this helps explain everything about recovering that missing Nearby Friends feature! Let me know if you have any other tech questions!