Vicinity doesn't show friends on a map, but if a friend who should be triggering alerts isn't, there are several things to check.
Is the friend request accepted?
Proximity alerts only work between mutual friends. If you sent a request but they haven't accepted yet, no alerts will fire. Ask them to check their pending requests in the Friends tab.
Check visibility settings
Possible visibility issues
- The friend has Ghost Mode enabled — they're invisible to everyone.
- The friend has hidden their location specifically from you.
- You've muted proximity alerts from that friend.
- You've hidden your own location from that friend.
Location and app settings
Both users need proper location and notification permissions for alerts to work. Run through the steps in the Notifications Not Working and Location Not Updating guides for both devices to rule out a permission issue on either end.
Distance and timing
Remember that alerts are designed to fire once per encounter. If you and a friend have already been alerted recently, you may not receive another until you've been out of range and returned. Also confirm you're within approximately 1–2 miles of each other.