What location settings sync between your iPhone and iPad

Your iPhone and iPad do not automatically share location settings with each other. Each device has its own separate location services controls, privacy permissions for individual apps, and location history. If you want the same apps to have location access on both devices, or if you want to turn location services on or off across both, you need to change the settings on each device separately.

The confusion usually comes from iCloud. While iCloud syncs many things—photos, contacts, calendars—it does not sync location permissions. An app that has permission to use your location on your iPhone will not automatically have that permission on your iPad, even if both devices are signed into the same Apple ID.

Key Takeaways

  • Location services settings and app permissions are stored on each device individually and do not sync through iCloud.
  • You must manually turn location services on or off on your iPhone and iPad separately in Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
  • Each app's location permission must be granted or denied on each device where you use that app.
  • If you want to prevent location tracking on one device, turning it off on that device alone will not affect the other.

How to turn location services on or off on iPhone

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Privacy. Then tap Location Services at the top of the screen. You will see a toggle switch next to "Location Services"—tap it to turn the feature on or off for your entire phone.

When Location Services is on, you can scroll down to see every app installed on your phone and control which ones can access your location. Tap any app name to see three options: Never, While Using, or Always. Choose the level of access you want that app to have. When Location Services is off, no app can access your location, regardless of individual app settings.

How to turn location services on or off on iPad

The steps are identical to iPhone. Open Settings, tap Privacy, then tap Location Services. Toggle Location Services on or off at the top, or scroll down to control individual app permissions the same way you would on iPhone.

Keep in mind that if your iPad does not have cellular service, some location features may work less accurately than on your iPhone, since the iPad relies on Wi-Fi networks to determine location. The settings themselves work the same way on both devices.

Changing permissions for a single app across both devices

If you use an app like Maps, Weather, or a navigation tool on both your iPhone and iPad, you will need to grant location permission to that app on each device separately. Open Settings on your iPhone, go to Privacy > Location Services, find the app in the list, and choose your preferred permission level. Then repeat the exact same steps on your iPad.

This is especially important for apps that rely on location to work properly. If you grant permission on your iPhone but forget to do the same on your iPad, the app will not have access to location on the iPad and may not function as expected.

What happens when you sign out of iCloud on one device

Signing out of iCloud on your iPhone or iPad does not change location services or app permissions on that device. Location settings remain exactly as they were before you signed out. If you sign back in later, the location settings will still be the same.

The only time location settings change is when you manually change them in the Privacy menu. Signing in or out of iCloud, updating iOS or iPadOS, or syncing other data will not alter your location permissions.

Using Find My to locate your devices

Find My is a separate feature from location services and app permissions. It uses location data to help you locate a lost iPhone or iPad, but it does not require you to turn on general location services. Find My has its own toggle in Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone (or Find My iPad).

You can turn Find My on or off independently on each device. Turning off location services will disable Find My on that device, but turning off Find My alone will not affect location services or app permissions. If you want to keep location services on for apps but prevent Find My from working, you can do that by toggling Find My off while leaving Location Services on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off location on my iPhone also turn it off on my iPad?

No. Each device has completely separate location settings. Changing location services on your iPhone will not affect your iPad at all. You must change the settings on each device independently.

Can I use the same Apple ID but have different location permissions on each device?

Yes. Location permissions are device-specific, not account-specific. You can allow an app to use location on your iPhone while denying it on your iPad, even though both devices are signed into the same Apple ID.

What if an app needs location but I don't see it in the location services list?

The app may not have requested location permission yet. Open the app and look for a prompt asking to use your location. If you denied it the first time, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, scroll to the app, and change the permission from Never to While Using or Always.

Does turning off location services affect Find My?

Yes. Find My requires location services to be turned on in order to work. If you turn off Location Services entirely, Find My will not be able to locate your device. You can keep location services on but turn off Find My specifically if you want location for apps but not for device tracking.