Whether a friend has shared a Search Party link with you or you've come across it on social media, it's a call for help in finding a missing pet. We're here to help you make the most of the Search Party page!
Accessing the Link
Anyone can view the link, whether you're a Fi App Member or not. Open the link on a smartphone or a computer to see the Search Party page.
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Pet's Details
The Search Party link's page provides details about the missing pet, including the pet's name, breed, age, and the last five photos added to the owner's Fi App Account.
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Location
You can see the number of viewers, the pet's current reported location, and the address where the pet was last reported. The location updates in real-time without needing to refresh.
- Live Location: If the device is actively updating, "Live" in green will appear in the map's upper-right corner.
- Last Reported Location: If the device is looking for a connection, you'll see the pet's last reported location and the time since that report.
Smartphone view:
Computer view
Google Maps
The location of your pet is displayed using Google Maps on the Search Party page. You can navigate within this map or open Google Maps in a separate window by clicking "Google" in the bottom left-hand corner or the directions symbol. Note that the location on Google Maps in the separate window will not update in real-time; it shows the coordinates at the time you clicked.
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Share and Message the Owner
- Share the Link: Tap or click the share symbol to copy the Search Party page's link to your clipboard.
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Message the Owner: Contact the owner directly through the Search Party page by tapping the Message owner button. Enter your name, phone number, and a short message. The owner will receive this message as a text.
- Owners, do not worry - the only way a person who sends a message through the Search Party page will get your phone number is if you provide it to them directly. Your personal phone number is NOT available on the Search Party page.
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What is Search Party+?
Search Party+ is an expanded version of Search Party that notifies nearby Fi members when a pet goes missing. When a member activates Search Party+ from the Fi App, Fi users in the surrounding area receive a push notification with the pet's photo, name, and live GPS location.
Anyone who receives the notification can tap through to the Search Party page to view the location and message the owner directly.
Search Party+ works alongside the standard shareable Search Party link. The two features run in parallel: basic location sharing sends a link to anyone you choose, while Search Party+ also alerts Fi members nearby automatically.
Starting Location Sharing
To share your pet's location, tap the Share location button on the map while your pet is in Lost Mode. This opens the Share location icon with the message:
"Anyone with this link can view and share your pet's location until you end sharing."
Tap Start sharing location to generate a unique shareable link. A new link is created each time sharing is turned on.
Once the link is ready, you can:
- Copy the link by tapping it directly. A confirmation will appear once it has been copied.
- Share the link by tapping Share link. Then you can send it through contacts or apps like Messages, Facebook, or NextDoor.
- End sharing at any time by tapping End sharing for all.
Activating Search Party+
From the active sharing section, you will see an Expand Search Party toggle labeled "Notify Fi members nearby." Turning this on sends your pet's Search Party link to Fi members in the surrounding area.
Before sending, a confirmation prompt will appear asking you to confirm. Tap Yes, notify to proceed. You will see a confirmation once notifications have been sent.
Once Search Party+ is active:
- An in-app update shows Search Party is active.
- The link and sharing options remain available.
- The Expand Search Party toggle will show as on.
- You can turn off notifications to nearby members at any time by toggling them off from the map.
Receiving a Search Party+ Notification
If a Fi member activates Search Party+ and you are nearby, you may receive a push notification on your device. The notification includes the pet's photo, name, and a link to their live GPS location.
Tap the notification to open the Search Party page, where you can view the pet's location, share the link with others, and send a message to the owner.
- You will only receive one notification per Search Party session, even if the pet moves near you multiple times.
- You can opt out of future Search Party+ notifications in the Fi App under Settings.
Learn More
Tap or click the Learn more button to be directed to the Fi Website for additional information.
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