Privacy & Security
Location Services
Learn how to turn Location Services and GPS on or off for individual apps.
Control the location information you share on iPhone
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 an app is using Location Services, a grey arrow appears in the status bar.
When you set up iPhone, you’re asked if you want to turn on Location Services. Afterward, you can turn Location Services on or off at any time.
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. Other apps may ask you to share your location now and in the future. Whether you grant or deny ongoing access to your location, you can change an app’s access later.
How to give apps permission to use your location
Some apps might not work unless you turn on Location Services. The first time an app needs to access your Location Services information, you’ll get a notification asking for permission. Choose one of these options:
-
Tap Allow to let the app use Location Services information as needed.
-
Tap Don’t Allow to prevent access.
-
Tap Ask Next Time to choose Always While Using App, Allow Once, or Don’t Allow.
iOS and iPadOS devices might use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to determine your location. GPS and cellular location are available on iPhone and iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) models.
How to turn Location Services on or off for specific apps
-
Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
-
Make sure that Location Services is on.
-
Scroll down to find the app.
-
Tap the app and select an option:
-
Never
-
Prevents access to Location Services information.
-
Ask Next Time
-
This allows you to choose Always While Using App, Allow Once, or Don’t Allow.
-
While Using the App
-
Allows access to Location Services only when the app or one of its features is visible on screen. If an app is set to While Using the App, you might see your status bar turn blue with a message that an app is actively using your location.
-
Always
-
Allows access to your location even when the app is in the background.
-
From here, apps should provide an explanation of how the app will use your location information. Some apps might offer only two options.
Hide the map in Location Services alerts
When you allow an app to always use your location in the background, you may receive alerts about the app’s use of that information. (These alerts let you change your permission, if you want to.) In the alerts, a map shows locations recently accessed by the app.
To hide the map, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Location Alerts, then turn off Show Map in Location Alerts.
With the setting off, you continue to receive location alerts, but the map isn’t shown.
Review or change Location Services settings for system services
Several system services, such as location-based suggestions and location-based ads, use Location Services.
To see the status for each service, to turn Location Services on or off for each service, or to show a grey arrow in the status bar when enabled system services use your location, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.
How to share your specific location
With iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, some apps can use Precise Location to get to your specific location. To share only your approximate location which may be sufficient for an app that doesn’t need your exact location turn Precise Location off. Here’s how:
-
Go to Settings > Privacy, then select Location Services.
-
Select an app, then turn Precise Location on or off.
Control access to information in apps on iPhone
You control whether third-party apps have access to information in Contacts, Photos, Calendar, and other apps.
Review or change access to information in apps
The first time an app wants to use information from another app, you receive a request with an explanation. For example, a messaging app may request access to your contacts to find friends who are using the same app. After you grant or deny access, you can change access later.
-
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
-
Tap a category of information, such as Calendars, Reminders, or Motion & Fitness.
The list shows the apps that requested access. You can turn access on or off for any app on the list.
Review how apps are using the permissions you grant them
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security, then tap App Privacy Report.
The App Privacy Report shows you how apps are using the permissions you granted them and shows you their network activity.
To turn off the report and delete its data, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report, then tap Turn Off App Privacy Report. You can return to this Settings screen to turn the report on again.
Tracking
All apps are required to ask your permission before tracking you or your iPhone across websites or apps owned by other companies for advertising or to share your information with data brokers. After you grant or deny permission to an app, you can change permission later. You can also stop all apps from requesting permission.
Review or change an app’s permission to track you
-
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking.
The list shows the apps that requested permission to track you. You can turn permission on or off for any app on the list.
-
To stop all apps from asking permission to track you, turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track (at the top of the screen).
Change App Permissions
You will see a list of all apps that you have on your iPhone underneath the Locations Services and Tracking tabs. Select each of the preloaded system apps to see what apps have access to your information.
Some apps will need access to some of your information in order to work properly. For example, Instagram may need access to your photos if you intend to upload a photo to instagram from your photo gallery but you can decide whether they have access to all of your photos or just selected photos. Another example is Whats App may need access to your contacts to show your which of your friends have Whats App. However, some apps only use access to your information for data analytics and marketing purposes and it is not necessary for you to give access as it does not prevent you from using apps and their features.
Having said this, it is not the best idea to go through each app and deny access to everything as the apps you use may not function properly. Use your judgement and if you have a question then ask. Most apps are not using your information for nefarious reasons.
Note: Always remember, you have a choice between Privacy & Security and Convenience & Personalization. I’m just giving you the information so you’re aware but it is up to you to decide which one is more important to you.
Safety Check
With the Safety Check features you can manage who you’re sharing information with and reset if necessary. I recommend you consider your circumstance honestly before you start blocking all apps and people. Do it if you need to but ask yourself these questions:
-
Is my safety or someone else’s safety at risk?
-
If an app or person has specific information about me can it be used to put me or someone else at risk of harm or theft?
-
If this is a possible concern
-
Who is specifically trying to hurt me or access my information?
-
How would they do it?
-
What would someone get out of harming me or trying to access my device?
-
I suggest you ask yourself these questions and have answers to them because too often the lack of knowledge of how these phones work in addition to the lack of understanding about why apps and your phone track data and gather analytics is assumed to be nefarious and I don’t want you to fall down a rabbit hole of paranoia.
Now, if you do have a good reason for using these settings you have two options:
Emergency Reset
If you think your personal safety and information is at risk or you think your phone has been compromised you can use an Emergency Reset to protect yourself quickly from sharing any information with people or apps, change your Apple ID password and review your Emergency Contacts. Remember that people may be able to notice if you stop sharing information with them.
Manage Sharing & Access
From here you can manage sharing and access for specific people and apps. This is a less urgent way to manage your Privacy & Security if you are not in immediate danger and an Emergency Reset isn’t necessary. You will also be able to review your account security. Changes you make will be saved as you go through this process.
Analytics & Improvements
These settings are a way to manage what data and analytics is shared with Apple. You may change these settings at anytime if you change your mind.
Note: Always remember, you have a choice between Privacy & Security and Convenience &Personalization. I’m just giving you the information so you’re aware but it is up to you to decide which one is more important to you.
Share iPhone & Watch Analytics
When this is on you will be sharing data and analytics with Apple for the purpose of customizing your experience and enhancing features on iPhones for you and everyone else who uses iPhone.
Analytics Data
From here you can view all of the analytics that have been sent to Apple. It’s all written in code so it may not be legible to the average user.
Share iCloud Analytics
This will share analytics from your iCloud account to improve Siri and other intelligent features on your iPhone.
Share With Developers
These analytics will be shared with developers to help them improve their products and provide them with statistics on how you use their apps and features.
Improve Hand Washing
This will send analytics typically from your Apple Watch when you wash your hands. To be honest I have no idea why this is even a thing.
Improve Health And Activity
This will help Apple improve health and fitness features on your iPhone and apple watch. You would be sharing your workout data, steps, activity, physical activity levels, and other health related data. This will also gather your approximate location while health data is being generated, heart related measurements, and ECG classifications.
Improve Health Records
This will help Apple improve the health records feature by sharing information such as medications, labs, and conditions.
Improve Safety
This will help Apple improve iPhones safety features.
Improve Siri & Dictation
This will help Apple improve the way Siri operates and adapts to your voice by sending information that reviews your audio interactions with Siri.
Improve Wheelchair Mode
This will help Apple improve health and fitness features by reviewing your activity while you’re in a wheelchair.
Apple Advertising
View Ad Targeting Information
This document will explain how your data and analytics is used by Apple to personalize your ad experience.
Personalized Ads
From here you can opt out of personalized advertisements if you don’t want Apple to collect information that gives you a personalized ad experience. Compared to some other analytic features, personalized ads will collect more personal information about you.
App Privacy Report
In the app privacy report you can see any data, sensor access, app activity, network activity, and most frequently contacted domains and websites that apps access. You can also turn this feature off if you don’t want this data to be recorded. However, it does provide a nice visual of what apps are accessing various features and when.
Lockdown Mode
Lockdown mode is a feature that you would want to use in the event that you are subject to a cyber attack. This is an extreme option for dire situations and the majority of people will not experience this type of attack. Keep on mind that you would need to have something extremely valuable to gain if you were to be subject to this type of attack as this is a very expensive job to accomplish. When your phone is in Lockdown Mode is will not function as it usually does and certain features, apps, and websites will also be limited for security.
