You control whether iPhone and apps have information about your location. To figure out where you are when getting directions, setting up meetings, and more, Location Services uses information, when available, from GPS networks, your Bluetooth® connections, your local Wi-Fi networks, and your cellular network.
When you set up iPhone, you’re asked if you want to turn on Location Services, and you can turn it on or off at any time after that. When an app is using Location Services, the Location Services icon appears in the status bar.
The first time an app wants location data from your iPhone, you receive a request with an explanation. Some apps may make a one-time only request for your location, while others may ask you to share your location now and in the future. Whether you grant or deny ongoing access, you can change an app’s access later.
Turn on Location Services
If you didn’t turn on Location Services when you first set up iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then turn on Location Services.
Important: If you turn off Location Services, many important iPhone features stop working.
View apps using your location information
- Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and then tap Location Services.
- To review or change access settings for an app or to see its explanation for requesting Location Services, tap the app.
If you want an app to use your specific location, keep Precise Location turned on. Turn it off to share only your approximate location, which may be enough for an app that doesn’t need your exact location.
Note: Set an app’s access to Ask Next Time, and you’ll be asked to turn on Location Services again whenever an app next tries to use it.
Review a third-party app’s terms and privacy policy to understand how it uses the information it’s requesting.
Hide the map in Location Services alerts
Once an app has permission to always use your location in the background, you may get alerts about how the app is using that information, which let you change your permission if you want. The alerts include a map of locations the app accessed recently.
To hide the map, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Location Alerts, then turn off Show Map in Location Alerts.
If the setting is off, you’ll continue to receive location alerts, but the map isn’t shown.
Review or change Location Services settings for system services
Several system services rely on Location Services, including location-based suggestions and location-based ads.
To see the status for each service, to turn Location Services on or off for each service, or to show the Location Services icon in the status bar when enabled system services use your location, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.
