One of the best things about smartphones is also the worst thing about them. You're able to accurately geo-locate yourself, allowing for apps and services like Uber and Uber Eats and even conventional navigation with Apple or Google Maps over older paper maps. Unfortunately, that means you're also open to having apps peek at your location for no reason other than they can. And, if you have an iPhone, this means having some apps (such as Instagram) being able to see your precise location. Show
Oftentimes, this is harmless. However, a troubling amount of companies have data leaks or data breaches, or they just store data when they shouldn't be doing so (Meta just paid an eyewatering amount of money to settle one such case), and sometimes there's no point to giving up your home address to a corporation on the internet if there's no good reason for it.  While it's easy enough to turn off location on your phone wholesale, some apps won't work without location services enabled for them. Apple provides a way to get around this. With the Precise Location toggle added in iOS 14, you're able to still supply apps with a location, just not your exact one. You'll definitely be in the right town, but the company's not going to let them know you're at 13 Down The Lane Street. Here's how to get started with that. Step 1: Open the Settings app. Step 2: Head to the Location services sub-menu either by searching for "location services" on the main Settings page or by navigating to it through Privacy > Location services. Step 3: Search for the app you want to disable from accessing your precise location — for example, Instagram. Step 4: Once you've tapped into the app, you'll see a toggle at the bottom of the page indicating Precise location. Slide the toggle off. With this setting off, Instagram (or TikTok or whatever app you choose) will still have your vague location, but it's got no way to narrow it down. Apple has quite a few tools to protect privacy that have been built into iPhones over the years, and this is just one of the more immediately useful ones. Using it is a matter of judgment, though. If you're using Instagram and hoping to see pictures of the locale, that would work out for you. If you're using Uber and you'd like to call a ride, turning off the precise location may cause some issues. As with most features on your phone, precise location on your iPhone isn't inherently malicious. In fact, it's very useful to have in some scenarios. But if you're wary about certain applications knowing your exact whereabouts, turning off precise location on your iPhone can be done in seconds — and add some much-wanted peace of mind. Editors' Recommendations
Sometimes it feels real freaky to open your Maps app and see a list of the latest locations you've been at. You don't want that falling into the wrong hands. It's even freakier to think about the myriad apps that are tracking your location pretty much constantly, and doing who-knows-what with that information. Location services use WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS to figure out your whereabouts. They can really amp up the iPhone experience, especially if you're an avid Find My app user or use Maps to get around everywhere. But having your location super accessible to every app might not be the best move, privacy-wise. You should do a semi-regular checkup on which apps you may have absentmindedly enabled location services on, and turn off any you don't want tracking your every move. Here's how: Location services for the iOS systemThere are built-in iPhone mechanisms that either rely on location access to function, or are greatly enhanced by location access, like Find My iPhone, Emergency Calls, and Cell Network Search. But if you don't actively use every built-in service that taps into your location, you can turn them off. 1. Find your Settings, and scroll down to Privacy.Of course, everything mysterious about the iPhone resides in Settings. Location service settings will be housed under Privacy. 2. Find the System ServicesAt the very top... Credit: screenshot: apple ...and at the very bottom. Credit: screenshot: apple Tap "Location Services" right at the very top. then scroll down to "System Services" right at the very bottom. 3. Peruse the list, and make your pickings.The full list of iOS systems that use location services will display, and you can toggle on or off whatever you choose. Your choices should depend on what phone services you use daily. But generally, services that may tap into calling, texting, data browsing, or phone setup (like Setting Time Zone, Emergency Calls & SOS, and Cell Network Search) should probably stay on, while more customized iOS services (like HomeKit, Location-Based Suggestions, and Apple Pay) can be turned off if you don't use them. Location services by appDeciding which apps can access your location follows the same process, minus one step. Instead of going into System Services, stop at the list displayed after you go into Location Services in your Privacy Settings. Your list of apps with location access. Credit: screenshot: apple Tap on any app to change its location access between "Never," "Always," "While Using," and "Ask Next Time," which are pretty self-explanatory options. Not all apps will have all options, depending on how they operate. Chipotle doesn't need to know my location at all times. Credit: screenshot: apple When you click on the app, you'll also see a toggle button for "Precise Location." Turn this off if you'd rather the app only have access to an approximate location when using its location access. You can also turn off location services completely simply by toggling off "Location Services" at the very top of the menu of apps. We don't recommend this, because as we said, there are definitely some iPhone services that tap into location services that we can't live without. But if you're trying to live a really off-the-grid, private lifestyle – at least, as much as you can while still owning an iPhone – going completely location-less is your best bet. So go ahead, hit that toggle, and rest easy knowing that no part of your iPhone is tracking you...even if other people still could. Jennimai is a tech reporter at Mashable covering digital culture, social media, and how we interact with our everyday tech. She also hosts Mashable’s Snapchat Discover channel and TikTok, so she naturally spends way too much time scrolling the FYP and thinking about iPhones. By signing up to the Mashable newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Mashable that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. Can my phone be tracked if Location Services is off iPhone?The answer is yes, it's possible to track mobile phones even if location services are turned off. Turning off the location service on your phone can help conceal your location.
How do I turn off location on my iPhone without friends knowing?You can do it by going to People > Tap on the contact > select Stop Sharing Sharing Location option. Confirm your selection and you can stop sharing location with that person without him getting any notification and knowing about your choice.
How do I turn off location completely?Open your phone's Settings app. Under "Personal," tap Location access. At the top of the screen, turn Access to my location on or off.
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How to turn off location in iphone
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