Quick answer: To turn on or off location on an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and change the main Location Services switch. For better privacy without disabling useful features, leave the main switch on and adjust each app’s permission to Never, Ask Next Time or While Using the App, with Precise Location off when approximate location is sufficient.
Location Services helps with navigation, weather, lost-device features and location-aware apps. It combines information from GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular networks where available; turning one individual app permission off is different from disabling location across the entire phone. The steps below are based on Apple’s iPhone documentation checked October 13, 2026.
How to turn on Location Services on iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Choose Privacy & Security.
- Tap Location Services.
- Turn the main switch on.
- Scroll down to an app that needs location, such as Maps or Weather, and review its access option.
- Choose the narrowest permission that enables the feature you want and consider whether Precise Location is necessary.
For example, a navigation app may need accurate positioning while you travel, whereas a city-level weather forecast can often work with approximate location.
How to turn off location on iPhone
Return to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and switch it off. Apple cautions that many important iPhone features can stop working as expected when location is globally disabled. If your concern is one social app knowing where you are, restrict only that app instead of turning off location for navigation, emergency-related features and lost-device services.
Change permission for just one app
- Keep the main Location Services switch on.
- In the apps list, choose the app you want to restrict.
- Select Never to block location, Ask Next Time Or When I Share to request permission again, or While Using the App for foreground access.
- Some apps offer Always for background location access; select that only when you trust the app and need its feature.
- Turn off Precise Location if the app only needs your approximate area.
| Permission | Practical meaning | Good use case |
|---|---|---|
| Never | No app access through Location Services | An app that should not use your position |
| Ask Next Time | Prompts again when location is needed | Occasional-use app |
| While Using | Access while using the app or its visible features | Mapping, local search or delivery tracking |
| Always | Can use location in the background when supported | Trusted service with a real background need |
| Precise Location off | Shares approximate rather than exact location | Local weather or broad city recommendations |
Find which apps recently used location
Review the arrow indicators shown in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services or the status area, depending on iOS version. Open an unfamiliar app’s entry to see its permissions and the explanation it provides. Also inspect System Services for Apple features that use location. Restrict settings with an understanding of what feature they provide.
Location Services vs. Find My and Share My Location
Location Services is the operating-system framework that enables apps to request coordinates. Find My iPhone and sharing your live location with contacts are additional features with their own permissions and settings. If you want to locate a missing phone, review Find My setup instead of switching off global location. If you only want to avoid live sharing with someone, change the specific sharing setting rather than making your navigation apps unusable.
Fix maps showing the wrong location
- Confirm Location Services is on and Maps has permission.
- Verify Precise Location is on for maps if exact navigation is necessary.
- Move to a location with a clear view of the sky and stable connectivity.
- Check that the phone’s date and time are set correctly.
- Restart the affected app, then the iPhone if needed.
- If you changed network settings recently, understand what was reset using our guide to iPhone network settings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stop only one app from using GPS?
Yes. Location Services offers app-by-app permissions, so you do not need to disable it for every app.
Will turning Precise Location off stop all tracking?
No. It limits the accuracy of location sent through that app permission, but apps may learn general area from other information such as an IP address.
Can emergency services still obtain my location?
Apple describes special emergency-related exceptions and behaviors. Do not depend on the ordinary app permission screen as a guarantee of emergency location privacy.
Is disabling location the same as turning on Airplane Mode?
No. Airplane Mode primarily changes radio connectivity, while Location Services controls device location access.
Primary sources and photo credit
Checked against Apple: Turn Location Services and GPS on or off and Control location information on iPhone. Photo: メイド理世, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, unmodified. Featured photo shows hardware, not a Settings screenshot.
