How to turn Location Services on or off on iPhone

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Location Services lets apps and the iPhone itself work out where you are, using GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile masts. Maps and weather need it. Many other apps ask for it without a good reason, and location running in the background uses battery.

These screens are from iOS 26 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows are in the same place, with a slightly different look.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security

   Scroll down the Settings list to the blue hand icon.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Location Services

   It is the first row on the page.

   Done

3. 

   Use the main switch

   The switch at the top turns location on or off for everything. Turning it off stops Maps, Find My and local weather from working, so most people leave it on and limit single apps instead.

   Done

4. 

   Set each app

   Every app that has asked appears in the list. Tap one and choose Never, Ask Next Time or When I Share, While Using the App, or Always. While Using the App is right for most. Switch off Precise Location when an app only needs your town.

   Done

5. 

   Look at System Services

   At the bottom, System Services lists what the iPhone itself uses location for, such as setting the time zone and Find My iPhone. Keep Find My iPhone and Emergency Calls & SOS on.

   Done

Good to know

A small arrow in the status bar shows that something is using your location. In the list, a purple arrow means an app used it recently and a grey arrow means it was used in the last 24 hours.

Share My Location, on the same page, controls whether friends and family can see where you are in Find My and Messages.

In short: Settings, Privacy & Security, Location Services. Leave the main switch on and set single apps to While Using.