ios location servicesApple has doubled down on its privacy features in iOS 13, giving iPhone and iPad users a more granular view of how apps access their location information.

On Apple devices, the location services that apps can tap into use GPS, Bluetooth, and crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cellular mast locations to determine your approximate location. The good news is that iOS 13 makes you more aware of how often apps are tracking you, as well as their motivation for doing so, and importantly it makes sure you're in control of your data.

If an app grabs your location data, iOS may display a popup notification showing you a map with the data that the app has tracked, as well as the specific reason why the app is tracking you, along with the question "Do you want to continue allowing this?"

Armed with this information, you'll usually be given three options: Allow While Using App, Allow Once, and Don't Allow. The first option limits the app's access to your location data to when the app is actively being used, the second allows it to track your location just this once, while the third disables location tracking completely.

how to set location service ios 13 1
You can expect to see the "Just Once" option appear when you first launch a just-installed app. Otherwise, you can check out how apps on your device are using location services anytime you like by opening the Settings app and tapping through to Privacy -> Location Services.

how to set location service ios 13 2
From here, you can change each app's permissions (Never / Ask Next Time /While Using the App / Always) and you'll also learn the reason why an app wants to access your location, allowing you to enable or disable location services on an ad-hoc basis.

The options you choose will depend on the app in question – some apps may have just cause to track your whereabouts in the background, while others may not. The point is Apple wants you to be in control of this behavior, so you can expect similar periodic notifications about what an app is up to with your location information.

Related Forum: iOS 13

Top Rated Comments

JosephAW Avatar
76 months ago
I'd like to see the "ask" option for all sensors. Mic, Camera, Data, etc.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
76 months ago
While this is a good move, it doesn't solve the "home/away" tracking many home automation apps rely on (e.g., August, Nest). And many health tracking apps likewise rely on location service. To this end, I would like one additional option:

* Allow app to track you within certain distance where the app requests location access
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wags Avatar
76 months ago
Nice! My boss wants us to install an app in which we see our schedules, report our findings and all kinds of stuff.

When we start a shift, the app records our location, once. But I don’t trust ‘em. I’m afraid they can always track us with that app. So I set it to While Using at first. Now I have it turned off completely. I only switch it on when I start my shift and then turn it off again.

Hope that prevents them from spying
If it’s your personal phone can’t really make you install anything. If a company phone then can do and ask what ever wants.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Crowbot Avatar
76 months ago
Isn't this how it worked in past iOS verions? Nothing new
They're adding the option to have the app ask every time. Before you had to turn it on or off or "while in use".
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
76 months ago
This is bad news for Google and Facebook as their apps tracks your location for no reason at all times unless explicitly changed by the user.
Not sure who you're getting your info from, but you seriously need to give it back to them.:D To be fair, I can't speak for Facebook apps because I have none. But if the source is the same one you use for your Google apps info, it's pretty suspect to say the least.

Just a guess, but I'd bet you have no idea how location tracking works on iOS or Android.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
UnusedLoginID Avatar
76 months ago
This is bad news for Google and Facebook as their apps tracks your location for no reason at all times unless explicitly changed by the user.
And I suspect Google does it with the intention of draining the battery of your iPhone so you think it’s a piece of junk.
I’m not sure Tile will like this as this is how their whole system is based on…
Anyway, well done, Apple! Power to the user!
PS: by the way, no one should have the location service arrow active when on their home screen.
[doublepost=1563989768][/doublepost]
Nice! My boss wants us to install an app in which we see our schedules, report our findings and all kinds of stuff.

When we start a shift, the app records our location, once. But I don’t trust ‘em. I’m afraid they can always track us with that app. So I set it to While Using at first. Now I have it turned off completely. I only switch it on when I start my shift and then turn it off again.

Hope that prevents them from spying
Your boss doesn’t know the power of MDM (Mobile Device Management) :) …or he actually cares about your privacy.
He/she could prevent you from changing the setting!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Glass

Apple Smart Glasses: Everything We Know So Far

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:21 am PDT by
Google recently made waves by showcasing a set of lightweight smart glasses featuring deep Gemini integration and an optional in-lens display. The demo has reignited interest in Apple's own smart glasses project, which has been the subject of rumors for nearly a decade. Here's a recap of where things stand. Current Development Status Apple is actively working on new chips specifically...
Apple Glasses Purple Feature

Apple Smart Glasses Launching in 2026

Thursday May 22, 2025 12:22 pm PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a set of smart glasses by the end of 2026, reports Bloomberg. The glasses will be comparable to the Meta Ray-Bans and the Android XR glasses that Google showed off earlier this week. Apple's smart glasses are expected to include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities, much like the Meta Ray-Bans. The glasses will be able to take photos, record video, provide...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
maxresdefault

OpenAI Buys Jony Ive's AI Startup to 'Completely Reimagine What It Means to Use a Computer'

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:27 am PDT by
OpenAI is acquiring io, the hardware-based AI startup co-created by Jony Ive, OpenAI announced today. Ive has been working with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on io for two years, and the duo expects to develop a family of AI devices. In a video shared by OpenAI, Altman and Ive outlined their partnership and what they expect to create as a result of the merger. "I have a growing sense that everything ...
WWDC 2025 Banner

Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a more detailed schedule for its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 9 through June 13. The schedule confirms that Apple's keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16,...
iPod shuffle generations

Kuo: Jony Ive's Futuristic OpenAI Device Like a Neck-Worn iPod Shuffle

Thursday May 22, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The big news in the technology world this week is that ChatGPT maker OpenAI is working more closely with Apple's former design chief Jony Ive on a futuristic AI device. The company is remaining tight lipped about the device, but Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared some alleged details about its design. In a social media post today, Kuo said the device will be "slightly larger" ...
macOS 16 visionOS Inspired Feature 1

macOS 16: Everything We Know So Far

Tuesday May 20, 2025 7:31 am PDT by
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple's annual developer and software-oriented event, is less than three weeks away. We haven't heard a great deal about macOS 16 ahead of its announcement this year, so we could be in for some major surprises when June 9 rolls around. Here's what we know so far about the next major update to Apple's Mac operating system. macOS 16 Name? Every year ...