Location sharing on your iPhone: useful but risky
Location sharing on your iPhone. Handy at festivals. Essential for parents with teenagers. But also a privacy nightmare if you're not careful. Every app requests access. WhatsApp, Instagram, even your weather app. We blindly tap "agree."
Yet, sharing location isn't necessarily dangerous. In fact, with the right settings on your refurbished iPhone, you have more control than you think. The problem isn't the technology, but our laziness. We share everything or nothing. While Apple has built in clever workarounds that hardly anyone uses.
Temporary location sharing, app-specific permissions, even fake locations for stalkers. These features have been built into your phone for years. Combined with handy iPhone accessories like AirTags, you can even use location sharing to your advantage. Time to discover those hidden possibilities.
Useful links
- Refurbished iPhone collection - find your sustainable iPhone with all privacy features
- Accessories - including AirTags for smart location tracking
Set up basic location services
Location services on your iPhone are the foundation for all location-related features. You can control exactly which apps have access via Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. You have three options per app: "Never," "Ask next time if sharing," and "While Using App." The latter option is usually sufficient for most applications.
The "Exact Location" option is interesting. Many apps work perfectly well without knowing your precise position. A weather app only needs your city name, not your home address. By disabling exact location, you only share your approximate location within a few kilometers. This protects your privacy without sacrificing functionality.
System services under scrutiny
Scroll all the way down in the Location Services menu. There you'll find "System Services." This section holds hidden gems for privacy-conscious users. "Significant Locations," for example, stores locations you frequently visit. Useful for automatic calendar suggestions, but not essential. You can disable this feature without any problems.
The status bar icon is also recommended. This shows an arrow when an app is using your location. This way, you can immediately see which services are active. No more surprises.
Temporarily share location with acquaintances
Apple's Find My app offers the most seamless location sharing experience between iPhone users. Open the app, tap "People," and choose "Share My Location." You select contacts and set the duration: one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. The latter option is convenient for family members, but use it sparingly.
The beauty of this method: the recipient automatically receives a notification. No hassle with links or codes. Plus, it works even when your phone is offline, thanks to the Find My network, which uses other nearby Apple devices.
WhatsApp live location
For Android users, WhatsApp is often more practical. The live location feature works across platforms. Open a chat, tap the plus icon, choose "Location," and then select "Share live location." You can choose between 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours. The location is updated in real time on a map in the chat.
Note: WhatsApp doesn't store this location history. Once the timer runs out, access is lost. This makes it more secure than permanent solutions, but less suitable for long-term sharing with family, for example.
Privacy-conscious alternatives
Sometimes you want to share a location, but not your exact position. Apple Maps offers a clever solution. Instead of sharing your live location, you send your arrival time. Open Maps, start a route, and swipe up on the information panel. Tap "Share Arrival Time." The recipient can see your progress without access to your precise location.
For one-time meetings, sharing a fixed point often works better. Drop a pin in Maps at the agreed-upon location and share it via messages. Everyone can navigate without your personal location being compromised.
Set up emergency contacts
You can add emergency contacts via Health > Medical ID. These people will automatically receive your location when you make an emergency call. This only happens in real emergencies, not when buttons are accidentally pressed. Location sharing automatically stops after the emergency contact ends.
Configure apps smartly
Not every app deserves the same access. Social media apps rarely need your location. Disable them completely or select "While Using" if you only check in occasionally. Navigation apps, on the other hand, work best with "Always Allow," especially if you're using background navigation.
Photo apps are a special case. You can keep location tags in photos for personal use, but remove them when sharing. Go to a photo, swipe up for details, and tap the location. Select "Adjust" to remove the location before sharing.
Protection against unwanted tracking
Apple has built-in protection against stalking via AirTags or other Find My accessories. Your iPhone automatically alerts you if an unknown tracker is traveling with you. You can make the tracker beep and disable it if necessary by going to Find My > Me > tapping the notification.
For added security, regularly check who has access to your location. In Find My > People, you'll see all active sharing. Swipe left on a name to revoke access. No awkward conversations required.
Manage location history
Your iPhone doesn't keep a central location history like Google does. However, individual apps do store their own data. Check this in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > [app name]. Some apps display their collected location data here, which you can delete.
For Apple's own services: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations. You'll see a list of places you've visited. You can clear everything by clicking "Clear History" at the bottom.
Practical scenarios
At festivals, it's best to share temporarily via WhatsApp or iMessage. Crowds and poor connections make real-time updates difficult, so set up fixed meeting points as a backup. For children cycling to school independently, the Find My app with geofencing works perfectly. Set up arrival and departure notifications at key locations.
During vacations, consider disabling location sharing on social media. Post photos only after you get home to avoid alerting burglars. For business trips, share only your arrival time with colleagues, not your entire route.
When lending your phone to others, enable Guided Access in Settings > Accessibility. This temporarily restricts access to a single app, preventing nosy individuals from snooping on your location history.
Consciously choosing more privacy
Sharing your location on your iPhone doesn't have to be a privacy nightmare. The tools are already there: temporary sharing, app-specific permissions, and warnings for unknown trackers. The difference is in making a conscious choice .
Don't blindly grant permission, but determine what's necessary on a case-by-case basis. A weather app doesn't need your home address, but your partner does need your live location during a night out. With the right accessories like AirTags, you can make the system even smarter. You have complete control.
