Location Services
With user permission, Location Services allows apps (including Camera, Maps, and Weather) and websites to use information from cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS networks, and Bluetooth to determine a user’s location. Location information can be used by apps and services to provide people with relevant information matched to their specific location, like maps, dining recommendations, and directions.
Users turn on Location Services during Setup Assistant or in Settings (iOS and iPadOS), or System Settings (macOS). With Location Services active, users choose what permission to grant an app that requests access, or change settings for an app to allow or remove access. Users can turn these settings on or off to optimize app performance while balancing privacy concerns.
Location Services and device management
You can use a device management service to skip Location Services configuration during Setup Assistant, but users can turn on Location Services later. You can’t use a device management service to turn on Location Services.
If Setup Assistant skips Location Services on a Mac and the device management service doesn’t configure the time zone, the user is prompted to set it.
Turn Location Services on or off
When a user sets up a device, they’re asked if they want to turn on Location Services. After they’ve completed setup, they can turn Location Services on or off at any time.
On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then turn Location Services on or off.
On Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Privacy & Security in the sidebar, then click Location Services. Turn Location Services on or off, have the user enter their password if asked, then click Unlock.
Specify which apps can use Location Services on iPhone or iPad
Some apps might not work unless the user turns on Location Services. The first time an app needs to access Location Services information, the user receives a notification asking for permission. Choose one of these options:
Allow Once: The app gets location information for one session. It asks again the next time the user opens it.
Allow While Using App: The app gets location information only while the app or one of its features is visible on screen.
Don’t Allow: The app gets no location information. To grant access later, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then tap the app.
They can also review or change an individual app’s access to their location and indicate how often it may use that location. Instructions follow for iPhone or iPad:
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then review or change access settings for an app.
To see its explanation for requesting Location Services, tap the app.
Determine how closely the user wants apps to know their location:
To allow an app to use their specific location, leave Precise Location turned on.
To share only their approximate location—which may be sufficient for an app that doesn’t need their exact location—the user can turn Precise Location off.
Note: If the user sets the access for an app to Ask Next Time, the system asks to turn on Location Services again the next time an app tries to use it.
Specify which apps can use Location Services on Mac
Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Privacy & Security in the sidebar, then click Location Services.
To turn off all Location Services, the user needs to enter their password, then click Turn Off.
To turn Location Services for a specific app on or off, toggle the settings switch next to the app.
If the user turns Location Services off for an app, macOS asks to turn it on again the next time the app tries to use their location.
To see which system services access the user’s location, scroll to the bottom of the list and click Details next to System Services.
To allow Siri Suggestions and Safari Suggestions to use the location of the Mac, turn on “Suggestions & Search.”
To allow the Mac to identify places significant to the user and provide useful related information in Maps, Calendar, Reminders, and more, turn on “Significant locations & routes.” Significant locations are encrypted and can’t be read by Apple. Click Details to view a list of identified locations. You can select and remove locations from the list or click the Action menu > Clear History to remove all the locations.
If an app on iPad, iPhone, or Mac can’t determine the user’s location
What to look for:
The app shows a message that it can’t determine your location.
The location is inaccurate or missing in the app.
The app doesn’t appear in the Location Services list.
What is happening:
Location Services uses cellular, Wi-Fi, Global Positioning System (GPS) networks, and Bluetooth to determine your device’s location. If settings or permissions are incorrect, or if connectivity is limited, apps might not be able to access accurate location information.
Steps to take:
Check Location Services settings:
On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then confirm Location Services is turned on.
On Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Privacy & Security in the sidebar, click Location Services, then confirm Location Services is turned on.
Verify app permissions:
On iPhone or iPad: In the Location Services list, choose a setting for the app: Never, Ask Next Time Or When I Share, While Using the App, or Always. Turn on Precise Location if needed.
On Mac: In the Location Services list, select the app and click the switch to turn on. If the switch appears dimmed, click to turn on, and if prompted authenticate.
Review system services:
On iPhone or iPad: In Location Services, tap System Services and confirm services such as location-based alerts or suggestions are turned on.
On Mac: In Location Services, click System Services, then review services such as Find My Mac or Location-based Suggestions.
Confirm date, time, and network settings:
On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. Confirm Wi-Fi or cellular data is available.
On Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar, click Date & Time, then turn on Set time and date automatically. Confirm the Mac is connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Restart the app and device:
Quit the app and reopen it. If the issue continues, restart the iPad, iPhone, or Mac.
Reset Location & Privacy settings for iPhone or iPad:
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [device name] > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy.
Update software:
On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
On Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update.