In today’s digital age, it’s no surprise that companies track user’s location through their apps, and the iPhone is no exception. Even Apple Maps on iPhone tracks user’s location. As users, we often don’t know exactly what these companies will do with the information they collect. Many apps require Wi-Fi and GPS to determine the user’s location at any given moment, which can be beneficial for various purposes such as finding locations, fastest routes, food delivery, ride-hailing apps, and even locating iPhones through the “Find My App” application.
While location access can be helpful, it’s not recommended to give access to every app, as it can raise privacy concerns. It’s important for users to be aware of which apps are using their location and other permissions. Fortunately, with the new privacy options in iOS 14 and above, iPhone users have the ability to disable location services for certain apps.
System Services that Require Location Access
On the iPhone, there are some default apps and services that need location access to work efficiently. These include apps like “Find My Device” and services like “Emergency Calls” and “Cell Network Search.” If you don’t use these apps and services frequently, it’s recommended to disable location access for them. Here’s how you can do it:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Navigate to the Privacy section and tap on it to open the privacy settings. Location settings and permissions are always found under the privacy tab in iPhone settings.
Look for the “Location Services” option in the Privacy section.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and find the “System Services” option.
Tap on “System Services” to access the built-in services that are using location access on your iPhone.
You will see an “On” and “Off” toggle next to each service. These services are all built-in iPhone services, and some of them require location access to work properly. If you don’t use certain services, tap the toggle next to it to disable location access for that particular service.
Disabling Location Access for Apps
If you want to disable location access for specific apps, the process is similar. Here’s what you need to do:
Go back to the “Location Services” page in the Settings app.
You will find a list of apps that are currently installed on your iPhone.
Look for the app you want to deny location access to and tap on it.
You will see three options: “Never,” “Always,” and “While Using.” Choose the option that suits your app needs. If you want to completely disable location access for the app, select “Never.”
Repeat this process for any other apps that you want to disable location access for.
By following these steps, you can disable unnecessary location access to both built-in services and apps on your iPhone, ensuring better privacy and control over your device’s location information.
Additional Information: It’s worth noting that disabling location access for certain apps may affect their functionality. Some apps rely heavily on location information to provide specific features, so it’s important to consider the implications before making changes. If you experience difficulties with your device after disabling location access, you can refer to our “How To” page for solutions to common issues.
Conclusion
Remember, taking control of your privacy and understanding how your data is being used is essential in today’s digital landscape. By disabling location access for services and apps that you don’t frequently use, you can have peace of mind knowing that your location information is protected.
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
