Apple iPhone apple.com How to turn off Location Services on your iPhone
Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and switch Location Services off. To keep it on but limit apps, tap an app in the same list and choose Never, or turn off Precise Location so it only sees your approximate area.
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Step by step
- 1
Open Settings
On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
- 2
Go to Location Services
Tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services.
- 3
Switch it off
Turn off the Location Services switch at the top. This stops location use for all apps and services on the phone.
- 4
Or limit apps one by one
Leave the main switch on and scroll down to the list of apps. Tap an app and pick the access level you want, such as Never. For apps that need a rough area only (weather, for example), turn off Precise Location so the app gets an approximate location instead of your exact spot.
- 5
Check System Services
At the bottom of the Location Services screen, tap System Services to see which built-in services use location, including Significant Locations, and switch off the ones you don't want.
Watch out for
- With Location Services off, maps won't show your position, and apps set to Ask Next Time will prompt you to turn it back on the next time they want your location.
- Location alerts still work when Location Services is off, according to Apple, so you can still get alerts from emergency services.
- Turning off the main switch is blunt. Per-app settings and Precise Location let you keep navigation working while cutting off apps that have no reason to know where you are.
- This setting controls what your iPhone shares from the phone itself. It doesn't change location data an app has already stored on its servers.
What stays out there
Switching off Location Services stops your iPhone handing out your position from now on. It doesn't delete anything that apps and ad companies already collected, and it doesn't touch your home address, which usually sits in public records and on people-search sites regardless of what your phone shares.
Those copies are held by data brokers (companies that collect and sell personal info), and each one needs its own removal request. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them, so the phone settings and the listings get dealt with separately.
Frequently asked
Does turning off Location Services stop apps tracking me?
It stops apps and services from getting your location from the iPhone. Apps can still hold locations they collected earlier, and what they do with them is set by their own privacy policies.
What is Precise Location on iPhone?
Precise Location is a per-app option under Location Services. When it's off, the app only receives your approximate location, not your exact position.
Will turning off Location Services break Maps?
Maps won't show where you are, so turn-by-turn directions from your current spot won't work. You can switch it back on at any time.
Can I turn it off for one app only?
Yes. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, tap the app, and choose the access level you want.
Sources
Related guide Guide: How to Delete Yourself from the Internet Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
