Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

45 points

iPhone 4 / iOS 4 - Location Services Always On

I tried searching the forums but can't find this one: Earlier today I noticed that the little arrow icon was up in my top bar, indicating that something is using the location services. The problem is, there are no apps running, not even in the background.

I've powered the phone off and on a few times, but the icon is still there. If I turn off location services it goes away, but immediately springs back when location services are turned back on.

So what the heck is accessing my location and how do I get it to stop?

iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Sep 26, 2010 2:58 PM

55 replies

Jan 4, 2011 2:48 PM in response to mjruss

Guys, I was about to perform a factory reset of my iPhone, but thanks God I bumped into this thread. Indeed, removing Google Latitude app solved the problem with the location services icon always turned on (phone restart didn't help). What's worse, the battery drained rapidly, the phone rarely survived the night without running out of juice.

Jan 4, 2011 2:48 PM in response to modular747

I know the executive producer of Top Gear as it happens - phenomenally successful show

modular747

Level 6

19,656 points

Jan 4, 2011 3:08 PM in response to jeffkinn_uk

Great show. They just came out with yet another attempt at an American version, immitatiing the format but it falls flat (almost as bad an idea as Monty Python with an American cast).

D0hb

Level 1

4 points

Jan 23, 2011 1:40 AM in response to modular747

Just thought i would add in a contribution to the thread after stumbling in through a search. I selectively disabled ,app by app, the individual location services toggle. Offending app was Justin.tv...as soon as I disabled the toggle, the purple location services icon went away.

Jan 31, 2011 4:08 AM in response to moodogg

I have a similar problem. When I go to settings>general>Location Services it is at "on" but I have no way of turning it off... the screen is greyed out.
I had two apps accessing my location with my permission, but couldn't turn it (permission) off at settings>general>location Services as the whole page was greyed out.

I have since I've used moodoggs advice to reset the location warnings (thanks moodogg). This is preventing any apps from accessing my location (fine by me) BUT Location Services is still stuck to ON. Also, if I try to give an app permission to use location services it takes me to this greyed out page to turn Location Services on, but it's already On.

Any ideas? Genius bar?

Jan 31, 2011 5:08 AM in response to kidtechnical

Following up on my own post...

I've just realised that the cause was in restrictions:
Settings>general>restrictions>allow changes: Location OFF
I've switched it to ON and the grey screen on Locations Services has gone.

Yipee, glad to have gotten to the bottom of it, I've been tinkering about for weeks, so typical I stumble on the answer within hours of actually pestering you guys!

Mar 25, 2011 7:03 PM in response to mjruss

Had the same problem. Offending app was Loopt.

EBSkater

Level 2

496 points

Mar 25, 2011 8:31 PM in response to Holyoakbatman

Most of these apps, INCLUDING Google Latitude include options to allow you to set how often the location aware app checks your location. Does anyone think to check these instead of just delete?

Apr 20, 2011 10:41 PM in response to moodogg

YOU ARE THE MAN!!! Solve my issue!! I thought I was going to go insane!!!

Kudos to you!

Apr 25, 2011 7:36 PM in response to mjruss

Glad I found this thread. In my case, it was Crackle. Why on earth would location services be needed in a streaming TV/Movies app? Disabled in any case, and it didn't seem to affect the functionality of it one bit.

Apr 26, 2011 6:58 PM in response to DragonRand

Thanks B for mentioning the name of the app that caused you trouble. Helped me fix the same issue in a jiffy...

Aug 14, 2011 8:34 AM in response to moodogg

This one worked as of right now. I think I know what app it is, CarEconomy, tracks in real time your fuel usage while driving. I think the location services got stuck on when I first used the app. I had done everything else mentioned in the thread prior to searching online. When everything I could think of wasnt working I searched and found this thread. Reseting the location warning removed it and I will watch to see if it returns. All the other apps that had the purple arrow next to them in the location services settings were apps that I use frequently and have had for quite some time. Thank you for the help.

Aug 15, 2011 8:06 AM in response to mjruss

The new TWC (The Weather Channel) app was my culprit. The latest update added Alerts and Push Notifications.

Aug 15, 2011 9:39 AM in response to Joe from Detroit

Ended up being mine too. I hadn't been able to get back to update my post yet.

Aug 16, 2011 2:19 PM in response to mjruss

The Weather Channel app did this for me as well. And no way to change the settings for this app either, at least through Settings or through the app itself that I can find.

iPhone 4 / iOS 4 - Location Services Always On