Weather Widget “Location Access Needed” Iphone 17 Pro issue only - started after 26.3 upgrade

Issue: “Location Access Needed” issue after upgrading from 26.2 to 26.3 on Iphone 17 Pro only - problem does not occur on iPhone 17 Pro Max - anyone else having this issue?


Weather Widget “Location Access Needed” Iphone 17 Pro issue only.


Settings, General, Transfer or Reset, Reset, Reset Location & Privacy - was attempted and it did not provide fix that lasted for longer than a few minutes.


Remove Widget, Power off, Add Widget back problem continues.


What is solution?


Issue only started with IOS 26.3 on Iphone 17 Pro only and not on Iphone 17 Pro max.

iPhone 17 Pro

Posted on Feb 26, 2026 9:06 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 9, 2026 10:21 AM

Only solution for 17 Pro was to wait and apply 26.3.1 update which fixed what apple broke with 26.3. Known issue with no resolution on 26.3 for many iPhones. problem solved.

18 replies

Feb 26, 2026 11:37 AM in response to sberman

Specifically related to Apple Weather Widget and  “Location Access Needed” error after upgrading Iphone 17 Pro only from 26.2 to 26.3. when Widget states “Location Access Needed” any attempt to fix under any scenario fails and you are stuck with Location and Services no longer even showing weather once problem comes back in 15 minutes. I called Apple support and they have no solution - Case ID: 102822391861 - maybe wait for 26.3.1 or 26.4 - in meantime GPS Apple Iwatch 9 also looses weather and messages and stuff dependent on location services.

Feb 26, 2026 2:20 PM in response to Matsuyama-SF

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Feb 26, 2026 3:20 PM in response to Jeff Donald

Jeff - I have called Apple Support many many times on this issue for this Iphone 17 Pro. I have worked in IT for 40 years. I want folks to know that our Iphone 17 Pro has many issues that apple claims are "software only" so as a result they will NOT replace the phone. Instead we hear after delivering diagnostic data, etc. the developers are working on it.... What good is Apple Care + if this is the service we get? Glad to hear Sberman has no issues with his Iphone 17 Pro only us - 2/15/26 - Case ID: 102822391861 and earlier 12/4/2025 - Case ID: 102764982798. We have had nothing but trouble with our Iphone 17 Pro and apple has collected diagnostics for different issues and says go away and wait for next release of Iphone IOS. My request is do other Iphone 17 Pro users have the stated problem I listed on this thread yes or no? I upgrade my phones yearly and trade them in and will only purchase Pro Max phones as I have in past - we tried Iphone 17 Pro as it was to be identical for camera technology to Pro max - a terrible mistake.

Feb 26, 2026 3:08 PM in response to sberman

Thanks - then we must have a lemon and there appears no way to get apple to replace, have given them diagnostics for Find My issue on 26.1, went to Genius Bar (not smart) to have them reset phone and lose everything not in iCloud (we do backup), nothing fixed problem for bogus Find My Battery issue that they admitted later only affected Iphone 17 Pro that was fixed in 26.2. Now with 26.3 we have another separate issue and after several calls with multiple escalation engineers nothing. It seems if software related which they again state this is a new issue so they choose to say wait and see and let's hope that maybe 26.4 might fix it. Unreal - I have worked in IT for 40 years - I great luck in past with Apple products until this lemon Iphone 17 Pro. Weather Widget “Location Access Needed” Iphone 17 Pro issue only - started after 26.3 upgrade - no other Iphone 17 Pro Max phones - three others have this issue and apple support chooses to ignore. I have owned apple products since Steve Job was alive. Don't buy Iphone 17 Pro it is a Lemmon - only buy 17 Pro max.

Feb 26, 2026 10:58 AM in response to sberman

With this problem in effect under Privacy and Services on Pro only you won't see Weather - it goes missing. so no help but thanks. If I remove Widget for weather and power off phone and then add widget back and then modify this setting to always it will repeat problem again within 15 minutes. Only happens on Iphone 17 Pro and not Pro Max since going from 26.2 to 26.3. Thoughts?

Feb 26, 2026 1:48 PM in response to sberman

Apple claims no exact knowledge of issue just that they might guess that 26.4 might fix it - so sad. I have owned iPhones since 8 onwards and have never had this problem. My recommendation is avoid Iphone 17 Pro and only go with Mac as I have 3 Max phones and none has this issue. Reddit makes is sound like apple has this issue for many phones. I have never had such poor support and have been using Apple gear since Steve Jobs was alive and can't believe that Apple can just ignore and not isolate and state for a fact we are aware of issue. I can tell you on another Case ID: 102764982798 apple again only on Iphone 17 Pro had Battery Daily Usage issues only for Find My and again only on Iphone 17 Pro and not on Pro Max. Solution that time was provided by 4th escalation engineer who finally admitted problem was with Iphone 17 Pro only and that 26.2 would fix it. Terrible support - Iphone 17 Pro is a lemon.

Feb 26, 2026 2:59 PM in response to sberman

then we must have a lemon and there appears no way to get apple to replace, have given them diagnostics for Find My issue on 26.1, went to Genius Bar (not smart) to have them reset phone and lose everything not in iCloud (we do backup), nothing fixed problem now again with 26.3 we have another separate issue and after several calls with multiple escalation engineers nothing. It seems if software related which they again state this new issue is they can choose to say wait and see and let's hope that maybe 26.4 might fix it. Unreal - I have worked in IT for 40 years - I have only had luck in past with Apple products until this lemon Iphone 17 Pro. Weather Widget “Location Access Needed” Iphone 17 Pro issue only - started after 26.3 upgrade - no other Iphone 17 Pro Max phones - three others have this issue and apple support chooses to ignore.

Weather Widget “Location Access Needed” Iphone 17 Pro issue only - started after 26.3 upgrade

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