iOS 15 Location Settings Prompt Changes Explained

With the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced targeted refinements to the location permission prompt for third-party apps to give users tighter control over their personal data. These changes focused on integrating widget permissions directly into the main prompt, clarifying one-time access, and providing streamlined alternatives to repetitive system-level popups.

"Allow While Using App or Widgets"

Prior to iOS 15, the standard foreground permission option was labeled "While Using the App." In iOS 15, if a third-party app includes home screen or lock screen widgets, the prompt explicitly states "Allow While Using App or Widgets." This update clarifies that granting foreground permission also permits the app's associated widgets to update using the device's location when viewed.

Streamlined One-Time Access with the Location Button

iOS 15 introduced a native developer tool called the LocationButton. Instead of triggering a large, interruptive system dialog every time an app needs a location (such as finding a nearby store or tagging a photo), developers can embed a dedicated "Share Current Location" button.

When a user taps this button:

  • The app receives one-time access to the device's location for that specific session.
  • The standard multi-option system prompt does not appear.
  • The permission expires automatically as soon as the user navigates away from the app.

Precise vs. Approximate Toggle Integration

iOS 15 preserved the "Precise: On/Off" toggle introduced in iOS 14 at the top left of the permission prompt, but refined how it interacts with recurring permissions. If a user sets the toggle to "Off," the app only receives coarse location data (roughly a few square miles). The system ensures apps cannot trigger persistent, repeated prompts asking the user to turn precise location back on without explicit user interaction.

Updated Prompt Choices

When a third-party app requests location data for the first time, users encounter a standardized list of choices designed to minimize background tracking:

  • Allow Once: Grants temporary access for the active session only; the prompt reappears the next time the app opens.
  • Allow While Using App or Widgets: Grants location access only while the app is actively on screen or updating its widgets.
  • Don't Allow: Blocks the app from accessing location services entirely.