How to Open Privacy & Security Location Services Programmatically

Question

Created Jul ’24

Replies 2

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I'm an iOS mobile developer working on handling location permissions. I've observed that some apps, even recent ones available on the App Store, can automatically navigate to the settings path: Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services when the device's location services are turned off. However, most examples and best practices recommend using UIApplication.openSettingsURLString, which does not meet my requirements. This function only opens the app's specific location permissions, not the device-wide location services toggle.

I'm looking for a way to programmatically open the Privacy & Security -> Location Services settings page directly. Any insights or solutions for achieving this functionality in a compliant and sustainable manner would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help!

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Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Aug ’24

I'm looking for a way to programmatically open the Privacy & Security -> Location Services settings page directly.

There’s no supported way to do that [1]. The story outlined in this post, and the follow ups on that thread, hasn’t changed.

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Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
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[1] On iOS and its child platforms. On macOS it’s a different story.

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Answer 2

rolinger1 OP

Mar ’25

@DTS Engineer - could you update the link to the story - the original has been removed. Or...summarize here why we can no longer do this.

I am trying to do this too. Users are dumb...and on iOS, if Global GPS is disabled, then routing to the app permissions page is useless because app Location setting is greyed out. Global device GPS needs to be enabled first in order for the user to change the app level location setting.

So...to hold the users hands...which is OFTEN....we first need to bring them to the Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location settings to enable GPS at the device level first. After they have done that, then we need to route the user to the App Location setting to change it (if necessary). I can guarantee you that if app level location is greyed out that MOST users aren't going to know that they must first enable device level GPS. Relying on the user to just know this is a BAD UI design.

This also impacts the apps ability to streamline the user experience...get them right to where they need to be so they can get back to our app.

Like always, this is all clean and simply on Android, but for whatever reason it's a clunky mess on iOS. What justifiable reason does Apple think routing a user directly to the setting in question is somehow a harmful user experience?

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