System customization and constant hollow arrow

Question

Level 1

86 points

System customization and constant hollow arrow

For the last two weeks, a white hollow arrow has appeared on the top of my iPhone, as if there was a geofencing feature. I do not use any app or automation that continually tracks my location. After testing each toggle, the arrow is caused by the "system customization" feature in location services.

As soon as I turn off location for system customization, the arrow diseappears. As soon as I turn it on, it comes back and stays indefinitely. I had this on two phones, my original iPhone SE and the new 12 mini. Both run iOS 14.2, which is more or less when the bug also started.

I could turn off the toggle to prevent the arrow, but I then lose the ability to switch nightshift automatically by sunset - this feature requires the system customization toggle to be on.

Anybody else having this issue, and is it related to a 14.2 bug? Or does anyone know how to stop this without hiding the arrow entirely or turning off system customization?

iPhone SE

Posted on Nov 14, 2020 4:24 PM

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Answer 1

SnickZ.

Community Specialist

Nov 22, 2020 11:46 AM in response to S. G.

Hi there, S. G..

It appears that a white hollow arrow has started appearing on your iPhone SE and iPhone 12 mini and both are on iOS 14.2. You're wondering if this is a bug, or if it has a purpose, and we're glad to help with this.

Location Services & Privacy - Apple Support -- You've already noticed that your iPhone doesn't switch to Night Shift automatically if your turn off "System Customizations" in Location Services. The arrow turns on so that you’ll know that this feature is working and there isn’t a way to hide or remove it without turning it off.

"System Customization: Your iPhone will customize system appearance, behaviors, and settings using your current location, for example by automatically enabling Optimized Battery Charging when you are at home. This customization data does not leave your device."

Feel free to get back to us with any questions or problems you may have.

Take care.

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Answer 2

Rido214

Level 1

9 points

Dec 5, 2020 2:37 AM in response to S. G.

Hey S.G., I recently bought a used mint condition iPad Pro and updated it as soon as I got it. I also have the system customization location services staying on indefinitely. Luckily my new iPhone SE is not updated (iPhone on 14.0.1 while iPad Pro is on 14.2). My iPhone SE does not have the location hollow arrow like my iPad. As a user, my best guess is that it is a bug. Glad to hear you and a few others are having this similar situation (was worried that my iPad Pro was defective). Here’s to hoping they fix that later! :)

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Answer 3

S. G. Author

Level 1

86 points

Nov 22, 2020 12:24 PM in response to SnickZ.

Thanks for the reply. I guess it is then a new normal feature and that the hollow arrow will from now on always be there when one wants to use automated night shift and battery optimization. What is strange is that I had the System Customization location enabled for many months before, without ever seeing the open arrow, and it only appeared a few weeks ago. Another unusual thing is that when I turn System Customization back on, there is not even a purple arrow in the settings next to it to indicate it has recently been used or is continuously being used, so that it is not immediately apparent that this feature is the one that uses geofencing. Thanks again for monitoring these questions.

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Answer 4

SnickZ.

Community Specialist

Nov 22, 2020 12:54 PM in response to S. G.

Thank you for getting back to us with your question, S. G. It's appreciated.

Turn Location Services and GPS on or off on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support -- The purple arrow is only shown on the Location Services screen so that you can quickly see which services are being used. A hollow purple arrow indicates that it’s on, and a solid purple arrow demonstrates that it’s currently in use. If you’re seeing a hollow white or solid white arrow at the top, the same applies to each as well. But, it won’t indicate which services are currently in use. You’ll need to go to the Location Services screen to find that information.

Cheers!

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Answer 5

gootdude

Level 1

4 points

Dec 4, 2020 3:35 PM in response to S. G.

Same issue and behavior on my iPhone SE 2020 running iOS 14.2, please get this fixed since the icon is very annoying and the OS itself is not showing that system customization is using the location for geofencing.

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System customization and constant hollow arrow

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