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User profile for user: DesertRatR
DesertRatR Author
User level: Level 2
184 points

Location Services?

Not sure I understand how location services work.


My XR running iOS 14.3 has Find My set to While Using. Find My is not currently running. When I log into iCloud on my iMac (or iPad) it correctly locates my XR. If Find My is not running how does iCloud know where the XR is located? Local WiFi? If via local WiFi then it seems that I won't be able to locate the XR should I lose it when out and about, and I should probably change the setting. Am I correctly understanding how this feature works?


BTW, I have a lot of app specific Location Services set to Never. Other Apps, like restaurant and financial services, I set to While Using. And I am scrupulous about closing (not minimizing) when done. Does that tend to reduce the quantity of ads directed at me? Unlike my wife who never closes an app (I don't know why she doesn't run out of resources ....) and seems like she is probably a walking beacon that says "Buy! Buy!"

iPhone XR, iOS 14

Posted on Jan 23, 2021 9:23 AM

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User profile for user: Lawrence Finch
Lawrence Finch
User level: Level 10
215,130 points

Posted on Jan 23, 2021 9:40 AM

The Find My app shows your location on the phone when you open it. That’s what the While Using setting is for. As long as Find My is turned on in Settings/[Your Name] the phone will report its location to another device with Find My if you have authorized it. This does not use the setting in Location Services for Find My; that function is controlled by the Share My Location setting in Location Services. It communicates any way it can, with cellular data, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth if you have crowd-sourced location tracking enabled.

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User profile for user: Lawrence Finch
Lawrence Finch
User level: Level 10
215,130 points

Jan 23, 2021 9:40 AM in response to DesertRatR

The Find My app shows your location on the phone when you open it. That’s what the While Using setting is for. As long as Find My is turned on in Settings/[Your Name] the phone will report its location to another device with Find My if you have authorized it. This does not use the setting in Location Services for Find My; that function is controlled by the Share My Location setting in Location Services. It communicates any way it can, with cellular data, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth if you have crowd-sourced location tracking enabled.

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Location Services?

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