Lantern support

Invite someone or join a Circle

Open Me and choose the option to invite someone or manage your Circle. Create a device profile with a display name if prompted. Share the invitation link with Share invite, or let the other person scan the QR code. The other person can also tap I have an invite code on the first screen and enter the code. An invitation link opens Lantern on an iPhone that has it. Otherwise it shows the code and a link to the App Store. Each invitation admits one person and expires after 7 days. Treat links and codes as private.

Joining a Circle does not automatically share your location. Choose the people you want to share with. You do not need a subscription to join.

Family plan seats

A family plan covers the subscriber and up to 4 other people. The subscriber needs a Lantern profile in the same Circle. People in that Circle who do not have their own subscription get the free seats in the order that they joined. A seat ends when the subscription ends, or when the subscriber and the seat holder no longer share a Circle.

A Circle member without a seat can still use People, answer check-ins, and share their own location. That member cannot see the map, crime and registry records, or other people’s locations until they get a seat or subscribe. If you have no seat, Lantern tells you whether the family plan is full or the subscriber has an individual plan. An individual subscription covers one person only. The family plan is a Lantern feature, not Apple Family Sharing.

Location isn’t updating

Check the update time shown next to the person. Open Me → Settings to review your sharing choices. In iOS Settings → Apps → Lantern → Location, allow location access and choose Precise Location if you want a more accurate position.

For updates while Lantern is in the background, enable background sharing in Lantern and follow the prompt for “Always” location access. iOS may offer this separately from the first location request. Battery restrictions, network availability, and iOS scheduling can delay updates. An old location is not proof that a person is still there.

To stop sharing, pause it for one person or everyone in Lantern’s settings. You can also revoke location permission in iOS. You can browse the map without granting location permission.

Check-in notifications

Notifications let you know when a connected person requests a check-in or replies. Enable them in iOS Settings → Apps → Lantern → Notifications, and check Focus and notification-summary settings if delivery is delayed. Open Lantern to view requests and responses.

Lantern does not send crime or offender-proximity alerts. Check-ins and notifications are not monitored emergency messages and may not arrive immediately.

Purchases, restore, and cancellation

An active subscription or a family plan seat is required for app access. The offer and the Apple purchase sheet show the price, billing period, and any free trial before you confirm. When an offer has a free trial, the subscription renews automatically at the price shown when the trial ends. Cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends to avoid the charge. Purchase with the Apple Account you intend to use for the subscription.

If you have already purchased, choose Restore purchases on the offer or under Me → Settings → Subscription. Restore purchases is also on the onboarding permissions step. Check that you are using the Apple Account that made the purchase and have an internet connection.

To cancel auto-renewal, open Apple’s subscription settings or use Manage subscription in Lantern. Cancellation normally leaves access available until the paid period ends. Deleting the app or a Lantern profile does not cancel the subscription. For billing or refund requests, use Apple’s purchase support.

Manage or delete your profile

New profiles are tied to the device and use a display name. There is no email, password, or device-transfer recovery flow for these profiles. Keep access to the original device. Restoring a purchase restores paid access, not a lost Circle profile. Accounts from our earlier beta that use Sign in with Apple or an email address keep working on the device where they are signed in.

Open Me → Settings → Delete account to remove your profile and associated server data. A Sign in with Apple account asks you to confirm with Apple. If paid access has expired, Account settings remains available from the onboarding access screen after the permissions step. Account deletion is available without renewing or cancelling a subscription first.

Deleting a profile removes its connections and memberships. A Circle with other members can remain, with ownership transferred where necessary. See the Privacy Policy for retention details. If you cannot reach your profile, contact us; we may need to verify ownership before handling a request.

Coverage and record corrections

Check a record’s source and date. Historical incident dates, the date a source was imported, and a registry’s last update are different things. Coverage varies; no reports in an area does not mean no incidents occurred there.

Registry records come from a snapshot that we get from CrimeoMeter. A registry address is the address on file with the registry, not a live location. It can be out of date. Check the original registry before relying on a record. To correct a registry record, contact the state or local agency that maintains the registry; the source link on the record opens its page where available. For an incident record, contact the agency that published it. Email us about an incorrect display or a stale record in Lantern. Include the source and the record’s address or identifier, not unnecessary personal details.

Never use registry information to threaten, harass, or harm anyone. Misuse can be a crime. See the Terms of Service.

View our coverage explanation and source links. Lantern is independent of the agencies and providers whose records it displays.

Emergency help

Lantern does not monitor emergencies, dispatch help, or guarantee anyone’s safety. In an emergency, contact local emergency services; in the United States, call 911. Do not wait for an in-app check-in or support reply.