How do you turn your location on on an iphone

158

158 people found this article helpful

Knowing where you are helps many apps do their jobs

Updated on December 13, 2021

What to Know

• iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and move the switch next to Location Services to the On position.
• Android: Tap Settings > Location and move the slider to On.
  

Here's how to turn on Location Services on iPhone (iOS 8 and up) and Android devices (most versions). It includes information on apps that request the use of location services.

How to Turn On Location Services on iPhone

You'll find Location Services in your iPhone's Settings:

1. Tap Settings > Privacy.
   

2. Tap Location Services.
   

3. Move the Location Services slider to on/green. Location Services are now on. Apps that need them can start accessing your location right away.
   

How to Turn On Location Services on Android

Location Services are turned on during the setup of your Android device, but you can also turn them on later by doing this:

1. Tap Settings > Location.
   

2. Move the slider to On.
   

How to Share Your Location on iPhone or iPad

About Location Services

Location Services is the name for a set of features that determine the location (or the location of your phone, at least) and then provide content based on that. Google Maps, Find My iPhone, Yelp, and many more apps use your phone's location to tell you where to drive, where your lost or stolen phone is, or where you can find restaurants within a quarter-mile.

Location Services works by tapping into your phone's hardware and data on the internet. The backbone of Location Services is usually GPS, which is usually accurate and available. To get better information about where you are, Location Services also uses data from cellular phone networks, nearby Wi-Fi networks, and Bluetooth devices to pinpoint where you are.

Combine GPS and network data with crowd-sourced data and extensive mapping technology from Apple and Google, and you have a powerful way to figure out what street you're on, what store you're near, and more. Some smartphones add a compass or gyroscope that determines what direction you're facing and how you're moving. 

What to Do When Apps Ask to Access Location Services

Apps that use Location Services might ask for permission to access your location the first time you launch them. When making this choice, ask if it makes sense for the app to use your location.

Your phone might also occasionally ask if you want to keep letting an app use your location. It's a privacy feature to make sure you're aware of what data apps are accessing.

Apple's privacy options for this feature are more robust than Android's. The pop-up window lets you choose to allow the app to access your location at all times, only when you use the app, or never. It also shows where the app has tracked you to understand better what the tracking means.

If you decide to turn it off or wish to prevent some apps from using that information, you can turn off location services on your iPhone or Android.

Thanks for letting us know!

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

Subscribe

When you first boot up an iOS device, it asks if you'd like to turn on location services, which can be helpful for apps like Google Maps or when tagging your location on social media.

Many hit enable and never look back. Who has time to drill down and customize location settings? You do. It may seem daunting, but with a few simple taps, you can take control of your location data to only give Apple and its app developers the information they actually need to run their apps and services.

Turn Off Location Services

To turn off location services completely, navigate to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and toggle off Location Services at the top of the screen. Be careful about doing this, though, because most services you use every day will be disabled.

For example, photos won't attach a location when you take them, map apps won't be able to direct you anywhere, and Uber or Lyft won't be able to pinpoint your location. Disabling location services may help you preserve your device's battery life and maintain the highest level of smart device privacy, but it will diminish your overall experience.

Disable Location for Specific Apps

Instead of the nuclear option, adjust location permissions for individual apps under Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Select an app from the list and set the permission to match your comfort level. As of iOS 14, there are four options for location services for apps:

• Never ensures that location services will never be tracked while using the app.

• Ask Next Time will ask how you want to proceed each time you open the app: Allow once, Allow while using, or Don't allow.

• While Using tells the app to only utilize location tracking while it is actively in use on the screen, either in the app or via the on-screen widgets that iOS now supports.

• Always will permit the app to always track an iOS device's location even when the app is not actively being used.

If you're ok with apps using location data but feel uneasy about them knowing exactly where you are, turn off Precise Location and the app will only know your approximate location, which should be sufficient for most apps and services.

Disable Location for iOS System Services

You can also disable certain backend location-tracking features within iOS System Services. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, scroll to the bottom of the list, and select System Services. You're presented with a list of items you can toggle on and off. Here's how they use location tracking:

• Apple Pay Merchant Information uses your current location to help provide more accurate merchant names when you use your physical Apple Card.

• Cell Network Search tracks cell tower usage and sends data to Apple.

• Compass Calibration uses location tracking to help calibrate the electronic compass.

• Device Management allows you to wirelessly configure(Opens in a new window) devices, like an app for gig workers or a VPN for a school or business.

• Emergency Calls & SOS allows users to discreetly call 911 and uses location data to help assist in the event of an emergency.

• Find My iPhone is a service provided by Apple that will enable you to track an iOS device remotely.

• HomeKit helps make smart homes smarter by using location tracking to do things like opening your garage door or turning on lights automatically.

• Location-Based Alerts permit Apple to use your location to give geographically related alerts or news, like Amber Alerts or severe weather warnings.

• Location-Based Suggestions enable location-specific suggestions for Safari and Spotlight.

• Motion Calibration & Distance are used by fitness or activity apps to track activity accurately.

• Networking & Wireless tracks Wi-Fi usage and sends data to Apple.

• Setting Time Zone uses location tracking to automatically adjust the time when changing time zones.

• Share My Location lets you share your current location with individuals through iMessage or other apps like Find My.

• System Customization changes system appearance, behaviors, and settings using location data.

• Significant Locations tracks and remembers the places that you are at most often and sends alerts based on calendar events or map directions.

• iPhone Analytics helps Apple by occasionally providing the company with information about how a specific iOS device is used.

• Routing & Traffic shares current traffic patterns and speed with Apple to improve Maps.

• Improve Maps allows Apple to use current location to alert iOS users to the estimated time to get to their frequent locations.

Many of the items on this list are safe to disable. Features like Cell Network Search and Networking & Wireless are not necessary to your everyday usage. Others, like HomeKit or Motion Calibration & Distance, are only useful if you use home automation or fitness tracking.

Recommended by Our Editors

If you're worried about when your phone is using location data, turn on Status Bar Icon under System Services. This will show a black arrow icon in the status bar any time system services access your location.

Disable Location Sharing

The Find My app tracks the location of your Apple devices so you can find it if it's lost or stolen. It also allows you to share your location with friends. We recommend you keep this activated; you never know when an iPhone will be swiped or go missing. But if you have privacy concerns (or you need to disable Find My before selling an older device), go to Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone. Toggle it off and enter your Apple ID password to confirm.

If you don't want friends and family to know your location, turn off location sharing in the standalone Find My app. Tap the Me tab and toggle Share My Location to off. For individual people, open the People tab, select a specific contact, and either hide your location from them or remove them from the app completely.

Like What You're Reading?

Sign up for Fully Mobilized newsletter to get our top mobile tech stories delivered right to your inbox.

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.