While it is understandable for certain apps, like ride-sharing services, to require access to your location, there are instances where apps needlessly request this information for trivial purposes. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent these apps from tracking your precise location on your iPhone , To safeguard individuals' privacy, companies have developed numerous methods to protect your personal information. Here's a guide on how to stop apps from monitoring your whereabouts on an iPhone.
How to stop iPhone apps from tracking your location
This capability was initially introduced in iOS 14, the iPhone operating system released in 2020. It empowers users to restrict apps from accessing their exact location. Instead, apps will only be able to determine your approximate location, without being able to pinpoint your specific street or landmark.
The iPhone already offers various location control features, such as the option to grant an app one-time access to your location. This new feature adds to the range of tools available in Apple's arsenal.
To learn how to prevent apps from tracking your location on an iPhone, follow the instructions below.
If you have already granted the app location permission and want to change the setting later, open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to the Privacy section.
Now, select an app from the list.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap the toggle next to the "Exact location" option to disable the feature for the selected app.
This feature will only appear if you have enabled location services for the app.
Now, you can go back to the Location Services section and repeat the process with the other apps.
How to turn off app tracking on new apps
When you download an app, you'll see a notification pop up giving you a choice of whether or not you want to give the app permission to track you. To disable app tracking on new apps, follow these steps:
1. Upon downloading and launching a new app, you will receive a notification prompting you to grant permission for the app to track your activity across other apps and websites.
2. The notification will provide details regarding the specific information the app intends to track.
3. To prevent the app from carrying out this tracking activity, you can select the option "Ask App not to Track" by tapping on it.
To deactivate app tracking for all your downloaded apps, follow these simple steps: Go to your device's Settings, choose Privacy & Security, and tap on the Tracking option. Now, turn off the "Allow Apps to Request to Track" setting. By doing this, you'll prevent any app from asking your permission to track you. Instead, they'll receive a notification that you've opted out of tracking.
It's crucial to note that disabling app tracking won't completely eliminate ads. However, it will increase the chances of you seeing generic ads rather than personalized ones based on your past activities, like that pair of shoes you once clicked on.
How to turn off app tracking on already downloaded apps On iPhone
You can also turn app tracking permissions on or off on a per-app basis.
To do that, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking .
How do I stop apps from tracking my iPhone?
To manage app tracking on your device, locate the list of apps that have requested permission to track you. In this list, you can toggle off the option for specific apps that you wish to prevent from tracking your activity.
Apple enforces the requirement for all app developers to seek permission before tracking users. If Apple discovers that a developer is tracking users who have explicitly opted out of tracking, the developer will be compelled to modify their tracking practices. Failure to comply may result in potential rejection from the app store.
How do I remove an app from my tracking?
Apple values privacy features as a distinguishing factor for its products. According to CEO Tim Cook, since the company's business model does not rely on selling ads, it can prioritize privacy.
It is important to remember that when you choose to disable app tracking, you are essentially restricting app developers from accessing your iPhone's identifier for advertisers (IDFA). This identifier is used by developers to track your activities for targeted advertising purposes. However, it is crucial to be aware that denying access to your IDFA does not guarantee that app developers won't find alternative methods to track your usage. Therefore, it is essential to be cautious about the apps you use and how you interact with them.
