Where to find location settings on your iPhone

Your iPhone stores location data in two places, and which one you need depends on what you're trying to change. The first is Location Services, which controls whether apps can see your real location at all. The second is your Apple ID location, which tells Apple's servers what country or region you're in — this affects which App Store you see, what currency prices show in, and which services are available to you.

Most people looking to change location are trying to do one of these two things: stop an app from tracking them, or change what country's App Store they access. The steps are different for each, so start by figuring out which one solves your problem.

Key Takeaways

  • Location Services in Settings lets you turn location off for individual apps or for all apps at once, which stops them from seeing your real location.
  • To change your Apple ID region or country, you go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases, not to Location Services.
  • Changing your Apple ID location requires a valid payment method registered to that country and may take up to 24 hours to take effect.
  • Some apps will not work if Location Services is off for them, so turn it off only for apps you do not use regularly or trust.
  • Your iPhone's actual GPS location cannot be spoofed through settings alone — apps will still see your real location if Location Services is on.

Turn off location for a single app

Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security. Scroll down and tap Location Services. You will see a list of every app that has ever asked for your location. Next to each app name is a setting showing whether location is Never, While Using, or Always.

Find the app you want to change and tap it. Choose Never to block it completely, While Using to let it see your location only when the app is open, or Always to let it see your location even when the app is closed. Most people choose While Using for maps and navigation apps, and Never for social media or games.

The change takes effect when ready. The next time that app runs, it will not be able to see your location unless you change this setting again.

Turn off location for all apps at once

If you want to stop all location tracking, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and toggle the switch at the very top to Off. This disables GPS and location services across your entire phone.

Be aware that turning off Location Services completely will break features like Maps, Find My, weather location, and any app that needs to know where you are. Most people do not need to do this — turning off location for individual apps is usually the better choice.

You can turn Location Services back on the same way. The setting will remember which apps you had set to Never before you turned it off.

Change your Apple ID region or country

This is different from turning off location tracking. Your Apple ID region controls which App Store you see and what content is available to you. To change it, open Settings and tap your name at the top. Tap Media & Purchases. Tap View Account (you may need to sign in). Scroll down to Country/Region and tap it.

You can only change your country to one where you have a valid payment method on file — usually a credit card or debit card registered to an address in that country. Choose the new country from the list and tap Update. Apple will ask you to agree to the terms and conditions for that region.

The change usually takes effect within a few minutes, but can take up to 24 hours. Your App Store will then show apps, prices, and content for the new region. If you change your mind, you can change it back the same way, but Apple limits how often you can switch — usually once every 90 days.

What happens when you change location settings

Turning off location for an app means that app cannot see your GPS coordinates, your address, or any location data from your phone. Maps will not work, weather will show a generic forecast, and social media apps will not be able to tag your posts with a location. The app may ask you to turn location back on the next time you open it.

Changing your Apple ID region does not change your actual location — it only changes which App Store you see. Apps you have already downloaded will keep working. New apps you read will be the versions made for that region, which may have different features or languages. Your phone's GPS location does not change, so location-based apps will still work correctly.

Why your location might not change even after you adjust settings

If you turned off location for an app but it still seems to know where you are, the app may be using other data to guess your location — like your IP address, your phone's network connection, or information you entered in your profile. Turning off Location Services only stops GPS tracking, not these other methods.

If you changed your Apple ID region but the App Store still shows the old region, try signing out and back in. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, then sign back in with your Apple ID password. If it still does not change after 24 hours, contact Apple Support — sometimes the change gets stuck on their servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make my iPhone show a fake location?

Not through the Settings app alone. Your iPhone's GPS is hardware, and Apple does not let you spoof it in settings. Some apps claim to fake your location, but they do not actually change where your phone is — they only change what location the app displays. Your real GPS location will still show to any app that has Location Services turned on.

Will turning off location drain my battery faster or slower?

Turning off Location Services will actually save battery, because GPS uses significant power. If you only turn it off for individual apps, the battery savings will be small. Turning off Location Services completely can extend battery life by a few hours on a full day of use.

What is the difference between Location Services and Apple ID location?

Location Services is about GPS — it controls whether apps can see where your phone physically is. Apple ID location is about your account region — it controls which App Store you see and what country's content is available. They are separate settings that do not affect each other.

If I change my Apple ID region, will my apps stop working?

Apps you already have will keep working. Changing your region only affects which new apps you can read and what prices you see. Some apps may not be available in certain regions, so if you read an app in one region and then switch to another, that app might disappear from the App Store — but it will still be on your phone and will still work.

Do I need to change location if I am traveling?

No. Your iPhone's GPS will automatically show your real location no matter where you travel, and most apps will work correctly. You only need to change your Apple ID region if you want to access a different country's App Store, which most travelers do not need to do. Changing your region can cause problems with subscriptions and purchases, so it is usually not worth it for a short trip.