How to Manage iPhone Location Tracking: Privacy Controls and Sharing Tips

Your iPhone determines its location using cell service, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS data. Since you carry it everywhere, it effectively tracks your whereabouts. This feature powers useful tools like sharing your position with others or locating a lost device, but it also raises privacy concerns as apps and services collect this data.

Contents: Turn off location access for specific apps | If you have an iPhone 11 or later | Share your location with individuals | Send recurring notifications | Share via Messages

The good news? You can fine-tune these settings to grant apps location access only when necessary, safeguarding your privacy.

Steps may vary slightly by iPhone model and iOS version. These instructions are based on hands-on testing with an iPhone 11 running iOS 15—expect minimal differences on other setups.

Disable Location Access for Specific Apps

Some apps, like food delivery or maps, legitimately need location data. Others don't. Here's how to restrict access precisely:

• Open Settings.
• Tap Privacy & Security > Location Services.
• Keep Location Services enabled unless disabling entirely (see below).
• Scroll to the app list, showing permissions: Never, Ask Next Time or When I Share, or While Using the App (or While Using the App or Widgets).
• Tap any app to adjust its settings.

Selecting While Using the App allows access only during active use or background tasks.

For broader controls, tap System Services at the bottom. Toggle options like Wi-Fi scanning, time zone, emergency calls, or location-based Apple News/App Store suggestions.

Arrow icons indicate usage: hollow (conditional access), purple (recent), gray (last 24 hours).

Enable Status Bar Icon at the bottom of System Services to display an arrow in your status bar whenever location is accessed.

To fully disable: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and toggle off. Note: Find My can temporarily reactivate for lost devices—confirm Turn Off.

• Open Settings.
• Go to Privacy & Security > Location Services.
• Toggle off Location Services.

If You Have an iPhone 11 or Later

Models with the U1 chip (iPhone 11+) use ultra-wideband tech, which may trigger location queries in restricted areas even if app access is off. Apple regulates this for compliance. Global disable resolves it entirely.

Share Your Location with Individuals

For safety—like walking alone or ridesharing—use the Find My app (iOS 13+) to share real-time location with trusted contacts.

• Open Settings.
• Ensure Privacy & Security > Location Services is on.
• Tap your name at top > Find My.
• Enable Share My Location.
• Open Find My app; grant location access (While Using recommended).
• On the map, tap People > Start Sharing Location.
• Enter contact's name/number.
• Choose duration: One Hour, End of Day, or Indefinitely > Send.

To stop: In Find My > People, tap contact > Stop Sharing My Location.

Send Recurring Notifications

Automate alerts for arrivals/departures.

• In Find My, tap People.
• Select shared contact.
• Scroll to Notifications > Add.

Set for arrive/leave at addresses, one-time or recurring (e.g., daily home arrival).

Share via Messages

• Open conversation.
• Tap contact name > Info.
• Select Share My Location > duration.
• Stop via same menu.

Updated September 17, 2021, 10:15 a.m. ET: Originally published December 12, 2019; refreshed for current iOS features.