What tracking notifications do
Tracking notifications on iPhone alert you when an app has accessed your location in the background — while you were not actively using it. When you see a small arrow icon in the status bar or a notification banner, it means an app just pinged your GPS or location services. This is different from an app asking permission to use your location; this notification tells you it actually used that permission.
Apple added this feature to make location tracking visible. Many apps request location access during setup, and you may forget which ones have it. These notifications remind you that the permission you granted is being used, sometimes in ways you did not expect.
Key Takeaways
- A small arrow icon in your status bar or a notification banner means an app just accessed your location in the background.
- You can see a list of all apps that used your location today by opening Settings, then Privacy, then Location Services.
- Turning off location access for an app in Settings stops it from tracking you, but the app may not work properly without it.
- Some apps like Maps and Weather need location access to function, while others like social media apps use it to show local content or ads.
Where to find your location tracking history
Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap Privacy. From there, select Location Services. You will see a list of every app that has requested location access, along with a small arrow icon next to each one that used it recently.
The arrow icon means the app accessed your location within the last 24 hours. A purple arrow means it used your precise location (exact coordinates). A gray arrow means it used approximate location (your general area). Scroll through this list to see which apps have been tracking you and how often.
This same screen is where you control whether each app can access location at all. Tap any app name to see three options: Never, Ask Next Time, or Always. Some apps also offer While Using, which means they can only access your location when you have the app open.
Why apps request location access
Maps needs your location to show where you are and give you directions. Weather apps use it to show forecasts for your area. Ride-sharing apps like Uber track your location so the driver can find you. These are cases where location access is necessary for the app to work at all.
Other apps request location for less obvious reasons. Social media apps may use it to tag posts with your location or show you ads for nearby businesses. Retail apps might use it to notify you when you are near a store. Dating apps use it to show you people nearby. In many cases, you can deny location access and the app will still work, just with fewer features.
How to turn off location tracking for specific apps
Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Find the app you want to stop tracking, and tap it. You will see options for how much access it has. Select Never to block it completely, or While Using if you want it to work only when you have the app open.
Be aware that turning off location for an app may break some of its features. Maps will not work without location. Weather will show a generic forecast instead of your local one. Ride-sharing apps will ask you to enter your pickup location manually. Test the app after changing its permissions to see if it still does what you need.
If you want to block location for all apps at once, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and toggle the switch at the top to Off. This disables location services entirely on your phone. You can turn it back on the same way.
The difference between notification types
A small arrow in your status bar appears silently at the top of your screen when an app uses your location. You may not notice it unless you are looking. A notification banner is a pop-up that appears briefly and then disappears, or stays on your lock screen until you dismiss it. Both tell you the same thing — an app just accessed your location — but the banner is harder to miss.
Some apps use location constantly in the background, so you may see the arrow icon almost every time you look at your phone. Others use it rarely. If you see tracking notifications from an app you do not recognize or do not use, that is a sign to check its permissions and consider turning them off.
System apps that track location
Apple's own apps like Maps, Weather, Find My, and Reminders request location access. Find My uses it to locate your devices and share your location with family members if you set that up. Reminders can use your location to trigger location-based reminders — for example, a reminder to buy milk when you arrive at the grocery store. These are features you chose to turn on, but they still show up in your tracking notifications.
Siri also requests location access to answer questions like "What is the weather?" or "How far is the nearest coffee shop?" If you use Siri frequently, you may see tracking notifications from it regularly. You can turn off location access for Siri in the same way you would for any other app, though it will not be able to answer location-based questions.
What to do if you see unexpected tracking
If you notice an app tracking your location that you do not remember giving permission to, open Settings and check what permission level you set. You may have tapped Allow during setup without reading what it meant. Go back to that app's location settings and change it to Never or While Using.
If an app is tracking you and you do not use the app anymore, delete it. Go to your home screen, press and hold the app icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App. This removes the app entirely and stops it from accessing your location. You can always download it again later if you change your mind.
If you see location tracking from an app you do not recognize at all, search your phone for it. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and scroll through the list. If you find an unfamiliar app, you can delete it from there. This is rare, but it can happen if someone else set up your phone or if an app was installed as part of a bundle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off location tracking stop all notifications?
Yes. If you set an app to Never for location access, it cannot access your location and you will not see tracking notifications from it. If you set it to While Using, you will only see notifications when you have the app open. Turning off Location Services entirely stops all location tracking on your phone.
Can I see which apps tracked me yesterday or last week?
The arrow icons in Location Services show only apps that used your location in the last 24 hours. You cannot see a longer history. If you want to know which apps have location access at all, that list stays in Location Services permanently — the arrow just indicates recent use.
Why does my phone show a location arrow when I am not using any apps?
Background app refresh, location-based reminders, or system services like Find My can trigger location access without you actively using an app. Check Settings > Privacy > Location Services to see which app used it, then decide if you need that feature. You can turn off background refresh for individual apps in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Do tracking notifications mean my location is being shared with other people?
Not necessarily. A tracking notification means an app accessed your location data on your phone. Whether it sends that data to a server, shares it with other people, or keeps it private depends on the app's privacy policy. Location access and data sharing are separate things — you can block location entirely to prevent both.
Will disabling location break my iPhone's other features?
Turning off Location Services will disable Maps, Weather, Find My, and location-based reminders. It may also affect emergency services' ability to locate you if you call 911, though your carrier can still pinpoint you through cell towers. Most other iPhone features work fine without location. You can turn it back on anytime.