HT204234: Use Airplane Mode on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch

Learn about Use Airplane Mode on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch
chuckp2

Q: IOS8 GPS Only Mode ?

In IOS8 is there any way to turn off all radios EXCEPT GPS?

<br>With apps like iHikeGPS the iPhone is almost a great hiking GPS *EXCEPT* for battery life which is too short for even a single long day in the mountains.

<br>A GPS only mode would make the iPhone an excellent GPS for hiking. (Those "other" smartphones can do this)

iPhone 5s, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 19, 2014 8:34 AM

Close

Q: IOS8 GPS Only Mode ?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2
  • by rockmyplimsoul,

    rockmyplimsoul rockmyplimsoul May 4, 2015 7:09 PM in response to azchumley
    Level 5 (7,165 points)
    iTunes
    May 4, 2015 7:09 PM in response to azchumley

    I don't see anything in the 8.3 release notes about this, and Apple may never publish an article specifically on something this "obscure" (i.e. important to some, but probably a relatively small % of users).  I know what you're after, something official for some assurance that this feature wasn't by accident and will not be "corrected" in some future release.  All I can suggest is, enjoy it while it works for you ;-)

     

    No doubt it can be very useful in some scenarios, but why GPS is now available in Airplane mode is only known by Apple.

  • by Californiagirl94303,

    Californiagirl94303 Californiagirl94303 May 7, 2015 8:20 AM in response to azchumley
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 7, 2015 8:20 AM in response to azchumley

    GPS works in airplane mode with iOS 8.3 and Map My Hike on my 5S.

  • by swaxolez,

    swaxolez swaxolez Jun 1, 2015 11:55 AM in response to chuckp2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2015 11:55 AM in response to chuckp2

    I just noticed this yesterday while hiking using PDF Maps.  I was in airplane mode yet still getting a location.  Pure awesomeness.

  • by Dschubba,

    Dschubba Dschubba Jul 1, 2015 5:31 PM in response to azchumley
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2015 5:31 PM in response to azchumley

    My GPS (iPhone 5S) will generally not work in mapping apps in airplane mode.  However if I turn on the camera, take a photo, then switch back to mapping app the gps will remain on in airplane mode.  The camera app location seems to override the flight mode default of gps off.

  • by Johnnyvirgil,

    Johnnyvirgil Johnnyvirgil Aug 10, 2015 11:00 AM in response to chuckp2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 10, 2015 11:00 AM in response to chuckp2

    Works on my 4s (OS 8.4) in Airplane Mode as well.  Just make sure you have downloaded the maps of the area you will be in, otherwise you will have an arrow in the middle of a void.   Also, GaiaGPS has a setting under Power Saving called "No GPS until Activated."  Which means when you click on the "where am I on the map?" button, you then get a message that says "activating GPS" or some such. 

  • by Dr. Krane,

    Dr. Krane Dr. Krane Aug 13, 2016 10:26 AM in response to azchumley
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 13, 2016 10:26 AM in response to azchumley

    iOS 9 has enabled GPS in Airplane mode. Tried and tested, works as it should.

    iOS 8 walk-around would be setting sim-card pin, restarting the phone, not entering pin#, sim would be deactivated, however the phone would still look for emergency bands.

    iOS 7 had a bug that would activate GPS when compass app was launched while the phone was in Airplane mode.

Previous Page 2