Where to find location settings on your iPhone
Your iPhone tracks your location through GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi signals. You control this in Settings under Privacy. Open Settings, tap Privacy, then tap Location Services at the top of the list. You will see a toggle switch — turn it off to stop all location tracking when ready.
When Location Services is on, a small arrow icon appears in the status bar at the top of your screen whenever an app is using your location. Turning off Location Services stops that access for all apps at once. If you want finer control — letting some apps know where you are while blocking others — keep Location Services on and manage individual app permissions instead.
Key Takeaways
- Turn off Location Services entirely in Settings > Privacy > Location Services to stop all location tracking on your iPhone.
- If you want to keep location on for some apps but not others, leave Location Services enabled and scroll down to control each app individually.
- Apps can still estimate your location using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth even when GPS is off, so disabling Location Services is the most complete option.
- Your iPhone will ask permission the first time an app tries to access your location; you can always change your answer later in Settings.
Controlling location access for individual apps
If you want Maps to know where you are but don't want Facebook tracking your location, you can allow some apps and deny others. In Settings > Privacy > Location Services, scroll down past the toggle switch to see every app that has ever asked for location permission. Each app shows one of three settings: Always, While Using, or Never.
Tap any app name to change its permission. "Always" means the app can track you even when you are not using it — this drains battery and is rarely necessary. "While Using" means the app can see your location only when the app is open on your screen. "Never" blocks location access completely. Most people set navigation apps like Maps to "While Using" and everything else to "Never".
What happens when you disable location
Turning off Location Services will break some features. Maps cannot give you turn-by-turn directions without knowing where you are. Find My Friends will not work. Weather apps cannot show your local forecast automatically. Apps that use location for search results — like Yelp or OpenTable — will ask you to type your city instead.
Some apps will still function but less smoothly. Photos will not tag images with the place you took them. Reminders cannot alert you when you arrive at a location. If you use these features regularly, consider leaving Location Services on but setting individual apps to "While Using" instead of "Always". This gives you the features you want without constant background tracking.
Location services versus background app refresh
Location Services and Background App Refresh are separate settings that work together. Location Services controls whether apps can know your location at all. Background App Refresh controls whether apps can run and use data when you are not actively using them. An app could have location permission but no background refresh, meaning it only tracks you when you open it.
To manage Background App Refresh, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You can turn it off entirely, or tap individual apps to control which ones refresh in the background. Turning off Background App Refresh saves battery and data but does not affect location tracking — an app with location permission can still see where you are when you open it.
Why your iPhone asks for location permission
When you first open an app that needs your location, iOS shows a popup asking for permission. The app cannot access your location without your explicit yes or no. Apple designed this system so you know which apps are tracking you and can refuse any time.
Some apps ask for "Always" access even though they only need it while you are using them. This is often a business choice rather than a technical requirement — the app maker wants to collect location data for marketing or analytics. You can always choose "While Using" instead, and the app will still work for its main purpose.
Checking which apps have location permission
Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and scroll down to see the full list. Apps with a purple arrow have used your location recently. Apps with a gray arrow have permission but have not used it lately. Apps with no arrow have never asked for location access.
If you see an app you do not recognize or do not use anymore, tap it and change the setting to "Never". You can also uninstall apps you no longer need — this removes their permission entirely. Periodically reviewing this list is a straightforward way to catch apps that are tracking you without your knowledge.
Location tracking through other methods
Even with Location Services off, your iPhone can estimate where you are through Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices. If you connect to a Wi-Fi network, Apple can see which network you are on and estimate your location based on that network's known location. This is less precise than GPS but still reveals your general area.
To prevent this, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth entirely when you do not need them. You can do this through Control Center — swipe down from the top right corner and tap the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons. Turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth also saves battery. If you want location privacy and better battery life, disabling these radios is more effective than Location Services alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off location services stop Apple from tracking me?
Turning off Location Services stops apps from accessing your GPS location. However, Apple can still see which Wi-Fi networks and cell towers your phone connects to. If you want maximum privacy, also turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them.
Can I turn off location for just one app without affecting others?
Yes. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, scroll down to the app name, and tap it. Choose "Never" to block that app only. Other apps keep their current permission settings. You can change individual app permissions without affecting Location Services for the rest of your phone.
What if an app stops working after I disable location?
Some apps require location to function at all. If an app crashes or shows an error after you deny location permission, go back to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, find the app, and change it to "While Using". The app should work again once it can access your location.
Does turning off location drain my battery faster or slower?
Turning off Location Services actually saves battery because GPS uses significant power. If you want better battery life, disable Location Services and Background App Refresh together. You will notice the biggest improvement if you turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth too, since those radios also consume power constantly.
Can I schedule location to turn off at certain times?
iOS does not have a built-in scheduler for Location Services. You can turn it on and off manually through Settings, or use Shortcuts — Apple's automation app — to create a custom routine that disables location at a specific time each day. Open the Shortcuts app, create a new automation, and add the "Turn Off Location Services" action.