Your phone’s more intimate than your diary

August 30, 2025

By Kim Komando

Our phones hold everything: photos, texts, money apps, health info, even our bad selfies. Handing over access to your partner? That’s not just convenient. That’s trust on a whole new level. 

Some people think it’s the 2025 version of giving someone a house key. Others worry it’s a recipe for drama, or even the prequel to a Netflix true crime doc.

But done the right way, sharing your device can make life smoother and safer, and bring you closer. Let’s talk about a few smart ways to do it. Note: I’ve checked all these steps below, but depending on your device, operating system, make, model and whether Mercury is in retrograde, your steps may look a little different.

🧬 Share biometrics

Letting your partner unlock your phone with their Face ID or a fingerprint means no fumbling for passcodes. Great in emergencies or when one of you is driving.

• iPhone: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode). Enter your passcode, tap Set Up an Alternate Appearance (Face ID) or Add a Fingerprint (Touch ID), and scan your partner.
  
• Android: Settings vary, but generally go to Settings > Security & privacy > Device lock or Biometrics > Face recognition or Fingerprints. Add a new face or fingerprint and follow the prompts.

🛟 Set up emergency contacts

This makes sure your partner’s number shows up for first responders even if your phone is locked.

• iPhone: Open the Health app > Profile icon (upper-right corner) > Medical ID > Edit. Scroll to Emergency Contacts > Edit > Add Emergency Contact, select your partner, and save.
  
• Android: Open the Contacts app, pick your partner, and mark as Emergency Contact. Some phones (like Pixel or Samsung) also have Settings > Safety and emergency > Emergency contacts for more options.

📍 Share locations

Skip the “where are you?” texts. Location sharing keeps you connected, whether for safety or convenience.

• iPhone: Open Find My > People tab > Start Sharing Location. Choose your partner’s contact, then set it to share Indefinitely.
  
• Android: Open Google Maps > Profile icon (upper-right corner) > Location sharing > Share location. Pick your partner, set the time period (or Until you turn this off), and hit Share.

This is about trust, safety and making your daily life easier. Adding each other’s face to your phone, showing up on each other’s maps, those little things add up to a lot of connection.

Speaking of … A recently married couple is having dinner at a fancy restaurant. When the meal is served, the husband says, “The food looks delicious, let’s eat.” The wife says, “Honey, you always say a prayer before eating at home.” The husband replies, “That’s at home, sweetheart. Here the chef knows how to cook.”

💕 Now, share this with your honey using the icons below, so you can set up your phones the right way together.