Should I Have My Location Services On

When you get-go sign in to a new iPhone information technology's quite possible yous enabled location services and your telephone has been tracking you lot ever since. And for the most part that might be absolutely fine, but what if y'all want to take more control over your location data? Thankfully, it'southward piece of cake to turn off for either the whole phone or for specific apps. Hither's how.

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Why would you lot turn off location services?

A couple of reasons, really. The more than obvious i is simply to have more privacy. If y'all've immune every app you've installed over the years to track your location then that's a lot of services that know exactly where you are at all times. It can exist adept practice to think more most the data you share and decide whether certain apps or services need that data. If not, it'due south time to revoke that access.

The other skilful reason is battery life. Sharing your location all the time tin be a drain on your telephone'southward resources, and if you're staring, panic-stricken at a iii% remaining bombardment, knowing y'all still have an hour to get home, whatever little boost might assist.

turn-off-location-services-iphone — Privacy is a dandy reason to manage to your location data.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Is it safe to turn off location services?

While turning location services off won't damage your phone in whatever way, you lot tin restrict services and functionality. Apps like Google Maps and Strava rely on location data to be able to show y'all where you are and rails where you lot've been. Similarly, Uber won't be able to make up one's mind your location to pick you up. Your camera will work, only it won't save location data to your photos, so you won't be able to meet on the map where whatever shots were taken.

Information technology'll also disable Apple's Find My services, so make sure to go out it on if y'all like the prophylactic of a partner or friend being able to run into your location as y'all're out and about.

However, if you lose your iPhone when location services are disabled and try and track it using iCloud, using the Lost mode will remotely activate location services, if your telephone has power and is connected to a wireless service.

turn-off-location-services-iphone-2 — The primary switch that will turn off all location services beyond your whole telephone.
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How to turn off location services.

In your iPhone, get to Settings > Privacy and at the superlative you'll see Location Services. Tap it.

Right at the tiptop is a master switch, which will disable all location services across the whole of your phone. Information technology's like shutting down the master ability breaker for your home -- everything will go down. If y'all're saving battery life or actually great to avert anything tracking yous, this is the option to use.

Further down, nonetheless, y'all'll see a list of all the apps that tin apply location data. Borer on each one will give you lot the choice to determine whether or not to grant it admission to your location.

turn-off-location-services-iphone-3 — It's more fourth dimension-consuming, but information technology'southward possible to manage how all apps on your telephone use your location data.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Tap on an app name and you'll be presented with four options:

Never: Information technology will not be able to rail your location at all.

Ask Adjacent Time: This allows you to grant permission to use your data just the one time, just it volition have to ask you if it wants to use it once again in the future.

While Using the App: The app will be able to apply your location data just while the app is open on your screen. When the app's closed, it won't be able to track your location in the groundwork.

E'er: An app will exist able to use your location data both when it's in use and when it'due south not running at all.

turn-off-location-services-iphone-4 — Do y'all want an app to rail your location all the time or not at all? The choice is yours.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Which iPhone apps should accept access to my location?

It's upward to yous whether you lot want your apps to be able to track you lot all the time, some of the fourth dimension, or never. For me, a selective approach is best. I allow apps similar Google Dwelling track my location all the fourth dimension equally the app connects with my smart home products: When I leave the house, my security cameras automatically turn on and my heating settings alter. Just for almost everything else, including Uber, Instagram, Booking.com and even my phone'south photographic camera, I only let apps track my location while I'm using them.

Remember that y'all can always go dorsum and modify the settings, and so don't worry if y'all revoke access to an app simply to observe subsequently that yous need it -- it's but a case of going back into your settings and changing the permissions.