iOS 10.3 broke "Setting time zone" in location services

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Level 1

18 points

iOS 10.3 broke "Setting time zone" in location services

Since updating to iOS 10.3 I have noticed that the "setting time zone" feature is broken. It is turned off (and always has been) however, it is still being used by iOS.

The broken feature is draining my battery like crazy and has been since the update. If you check the attached photo you will notice it is turned off, however, it is still being used (grey location services icon)

Does anyone know how I can report this bug to Apple and/or to fix it?

Posted on Apr 1, 2017 8:22 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 1, 2017 3:33 PM in response to ElSpaldo

Same issue with my iPhone and iPad mini. I even turned off "Find my iPhone" and all System Location Services, but "Setting Time Zone" still access my location! I have serious battery issues and I hope Apple fix this bug soon. I suggest everyone leaves feedback/bug report at: Feedback - iPhone - Apple

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Answer 2

ElSpaldo Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 4, 2017 3:14 AM in response to Koreyrobin

I've been speaking with support and the issue has been escalated. I imagine this is a pretty wide spread issue given the amount of threads people are complaining about in regards to battery use going up with 10.3

I will post any updates once I speak with support again

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Answer 3

ElSpaldo Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 10, 2017 5:04 PM in response to Marius1301

Yep, I think this problem may be a little more widespread than first thought. I have noticed quite a few threads on the poor battery usage of iOS 10.3 and I think this may be the problem. I am not sure if many people have linked the two together though.

I have been speaking with Apple support and they have passed all the info to the engineers. So hopefully they can find the cause & fix it soon...

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Answer 4

app12357

Level 1

4 points

Apr 27, 2017 5:12 PM in response to ElSpaldo

Does anyone know if there are any updates on this? Is Apple planning a software release to fix it? Everytime

I pick up my phone the location services arrow is turning on and off randomly and it's always the time zone setting that hs "used the location service in the last 24 hrs..." even though it's off, very annoying.

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Answer 5

ElSpaldo Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 27, 2017 6:39 PM in response to app12357

Hi, I have been back & forth with Apple Support. Eventually put onto Senior Support who have been consulting directly with the iOS engineers.

Unfortunately there are limited support tickets in relation to this and it would appear due to this they may not have any immediate plans to fix this.

The latest update was that they are aware of location services being used despite being turned off and it may be part of the design of the system for things to secretly use location services.

I can only suggest that you (and anyone else reading) report the bug via Apple support so that they may actually fix the issue rather than sweeping it under the rug...

https://getsupport.apple.com/

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Answer 6

Apr 30, 2017 10:36 AM in response to Marius1301

In my view you should still be able to have "Set Automatically" turned on without it having to constantly check your GPS location... especially when you have that turned off in Location settings. Very worrying Apple, you don't seem to be in control of your software 😟

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Answer 7

Mark-D

Level 1

13 points

May 1, 2017 9:46 AM in response to ElSpaldo

Same problem here with my wife and I.

We are both running different Apple devices, me an iPad Air 2 and an iPhone 6s and my wife has an iPhone 5s, but all with IOS 10.3.1.

All devices have the setting time zone "off" and yet it is still calling for data - the arrow adjacent to the text is always grey. It must be a bug in 10.3 or 10.3.1 as I have never seen this before.

It would be interesting to know if it is receiving data from Apple servers or is just trying to get data. Let's hope this is sorted with the next update. By the way, I've tried to restore the phone and I've done various resets but nothing works, the only thing I haven't done is to set my iPhone us as a new phone i.e. not restoring backed up settings from iTunes.

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Answer 8

ElSpaldo Author

Level 1

18 points

May 1, 2017 7:26 PM in response to Mark-D

I am sure quite a few people are having the same issue. People may just associate it with poor battery and not notice that location services is using it.

The problem is, Apple don't have any current plans to fix it because they haven't received enough support tickets of people reporting it.

Please log a support ticket so they fix it...

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Answer 9

May 11, 2017 2:56 AM in response to ElSpaldo

My Girlfriend and my Mother have the same Problem. I guess it's a simple Software Bug but most of the people will not notice that because the "GPS Icon" is normally disabled.

I contacted Apple again and reported this as a Bug.

I report it when I get some news.

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Answer 10

ElSpaldo Author

Level 1

18 points

May 19, 2017 3:38 PM in response to kasperfromkøbenhavn

kasper, yes, essentially. The information is that other apps can use the setting time zone feature via accessing your location regardless if the setting is turned off or not.

However, it appears that it is mainly Apple apps and system features. So, for let's say "finding my iPhone" if location services is turned on for that feature, then it also can use the finding time zone feature, if it's turned off. Hard to explain, but, it is concerning. Maybe not quite as concerning as you interpret it.

The issue is still ongoing, Apple support have been back & forth and there is either no solution or they are not fixing it.

At this stage, if location services uses any feature of location services. Ie. you access your maps, then the setting time zone feature will turn itself on, regardless of the setting. Then the problem is; it just keeps using the GPS until location services is turned off or the phone goes flat.

So, as you can imagine, this is really destroying the phone battery. There are plenty of iOS 10.x threads abou battery use. I'd imagine is is a major factor in this issue, although, I'm not sure how many have drawn the correlation.

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Answer 11

ElSpaldo Author

Level 1

18 points

Jun 15, 2017 2:55 PM in response to nathalie123

Unfortunately Apple have now closed the issue. I have been told, "As of right now the issue is still considered expected behavior. Also the battery life you are having is considered expected."

So it looks like the issue did not get enough traction/outrage or tickets and they have swept it under the rug 😟

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Answer 12

jaybs

Level 1

19 points

Jul 9, 2017 7:40 PM in response to ElSpaldo

Thanks for starting this thread. I found it a few months back when I too was having the same issue and it's still happening. I went to my local genius bar and they had no idea what the problem could be. My battery life is suffering badly. I have never had an issue with my battery till this started happening.

I can't understand why Apple can just close this issue when clearly there is a problem. If something is turned off in the settings, then that's it, it should be off. It shouldn't randomly activate when it's been turned off. This is a BUG.

Please fix! I'll be making another appointment with the genius bar and I will quote this thread. I hope the rest of you do this too. Location Services just turning on randomly is a breach of privacy.

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Answer 13

Jul 11, 2017 8:33 AM in response to ElSpaldo

I hadn't seen 'Night Shift' as a potential culprit. I found this on another thread, but for a laptop. I just turned my Night Shift off; my guess is the engineers linked Night Shift to a roving world clock instead of whatever time is set on the individual product, perhaps to get the EXACT time right in case you have Night Shift activated for sunsets. Does this work for anyone?

sierra - Location icon randomly appearing in status bar every hour - Ask Different

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Answer 14

Apr 9, 2017 10:33 AM in response to ElSpaldo

Same problem here. Since Update to iOS 10. 10.3.1 didnt fix the Problem.

iPhone SE

My Time Settings are now "set off automatically" but it always uses GPS to find the right Timezone.

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Answer 15

Apr 4, 2017 1:22 AM in response to ElSpaldo

Yes my IPhone 6s+ is also having this same issue. I do not know if it was this update or last when I noticed it but it is more prevalent with this update.

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