Your iPhone and iPad have many Reset options. One of them is for Location and Privacy. In this article, I’ll explain what happens when you reset Location & Privacy settings.
Sometimes, a Reset can be the only option to fix the problems with your iPhone or iPad. In a broader sense, resetting involves erasing settings and/or content in order to bring the system to normal working condition. On iPhone and iPad, resetting will return your device settings to their factory defaults. There are several degrees of resets, and thus, there are several Reset options available on iPhone and iPad. They are:
- Erase All Content and Settings: This completely erases your device, including any credit or debit cards you added for Apple Pay and any photos, contacts, music, or apps. It will also turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and other services. You should do this when you sell or give away your device.
- Reset All Settings: All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. Your data (e.g., your photos) remains intact.
- Reset Network Settings: This resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you’ve used before.
- Reset Keyboard Dictionary: All custom words and shortcuts are deleted, and the keyboard dictionary returns to its default state.
- Reset Home Screen Layout: Returns the built-in apps to their original layout on the Home Screen.
- Reset Location & Privacy: In this article, I cover what this option does.
What does a Location and Privacy reset do?
Your location services and privacy settings will be returned to their original defaults. Here is what those settings do:
- Privacy settings: These settings enable you to monitor which apps can access certain information. For example, you can let WhatsApp access and use the built-in Camera so that you can place video calls.
- Location Services: This enables you to monitor which apps and websites can access your location. For example, Maps or Google Maps must use it to give you directions. Or, if you want the Weather app to work well, it will need to use Location Services. Or if you let Google access your location, Google may modify the search results based on your location.
To see these settings on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
When to do a Location and Privacy reset
The primary reason you would want to reset Location Services is if somehow your device is unable to detect your location. If this occurs, for example, then you will not be able to use Maps. I, in fact, had this problem yesterday. I could not use Google Maps, and it kept asking me to turn on location settings in Google Maps, even though these settings were already enabled.
If you are having issues with location and privacy, then you may want to reset it. Still, you should treat it as a last resort. First, try the other basic troubleshooting steps like restarting the problem app or restarting the iPad or iPhone.
If you would like to reset all of your location settings to the factory default, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [device], tap Reset, then tap Reset Location & Privacy and follow the onscreen instructions.
You will need to enter your passcode to finish this process. If you are using Screen Time, you will also need to enter the Screen Time passcode. After completing the steps, your location and privacy settings will be restored to the factory defaults. Your device will not restart. It is a really quick process; some users do not even realize they just reset the location and privacy settings, as after the Reset Settings button, you will not receive a confirmation that these settings are reset.
What will happen after the Location and Privacy reset
When your location and privacy settings are reset, apps will stop using your Location Services information until you grant them permission.
After you reset it, your apps will ask again to access Location Services, Microphone, Camera, Photos, and more. You will need to again set your preferences as you use your iPhone or iPad. You will see a lot of popups asking you to give privacy or location permissions, like “Allow ‘Maps’ to use your location,” “Allow widgets from Weather to use your location,” ” WhatsApp would like to access your contacts,” or “Twitter would like to access your photos.”