Turn Location Services and GPS on or off on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (2024)

How to turn Location Services on or off for specific apps

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.

2. Make sure that Location Services is on.

3. Scroll down to find the app.

4. Tap the app and select an option:

   See Also

   Privacy - Control

   • Never: Prevents access to Location Services information.

   • Ask Next Time Or When I Share: 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.

How to share your specific location

In iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and later, 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:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security, then select Location Services.

2. Select an app, then turn Precise Location on or off.

   

Learn more about privacy and Location Services.

1. Location Services uses GPS and Bluetooth (where they're available), along with crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspots and cellular towers to determine the approximate location of your device.

2. Apps won't use your location until they ask for your permission and you allow permission.