Location Services allows your iPhone or iPad to use a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular data to determine your precise location. This guide will walk you through how to manage Location Services settings on your iPhone and iPad, giving you control over which apps can access your data and when.
How to adjust location services on your iPhone or iPad
Follow the steps below to first enable Location Services and then customize the permissions for individual applications on your device.
Enabling location services
- Open the Settings app, which looks like a grey cog icon. If you have trouble finding it, swipe down from the middle of your home screen and use the search bar to type “Settings.”
- Tap on Privacy & Security, located below the Battery section.
- Select Location Services at the very top of the page.
- Toggle the switch next to Location Services to the On position. This activates your device’s GPS and other location-tracking features, which are required for services like Find My and sharing your location with others.
Managing app permissions
- Navigate back to the Location Services menu within Settings > Privacy & Security.
- You will see a list of all the apps that have requested access to your location. Tap on any app in the list to adjust its specific permissions.
- Choose the level of access you want to grant the app from the available options:
- Never: The app can never access your location.
- Ask Next Time Or When I Share: The app will prompt you for permission each time it needs your location.
- While Using the App: The app can only access your location when it is open and active on your screen.
- Always: The app can access your location at any time, even when it’s running in the background.
- For certain apps, like food delivery services, you may see an additional option to toggle Precise Location on or off, allowing you to control the accuracy of the location data you share.
Taking control of your Location Services settings is a crucial step in protecting your digital privacy. By deciding which apps can see your location and when, you prevent unnecessary data collection and reduce the risk of your whereabouts being tracked without your consent. This allows you to use helpful location-based features on your own terms.
Furthermore, carefully managing these permissions offers a practical benefit for your device’s performance. Disabling location access for apps that don’t need it and avoiding the “Always” setting can conserve a significant amount of battery life. This ensures your iPhone or iPad lasts longer throughout the day while still providing the location-based functionality you need.
