Audit App Location and Photo Access in iOS 16

Apple introduced Safety Check in iOS 16 as a privacy-focused feature designed to help users quickly review, manage, and revoke data access granted to individuals and third-party apps. While the tool is frequently associated with personal safety and stopping sharing with people, it also provides a centralized interface to audit hardware and data permissions across all installed applications. This guide explains how to use Safety Check to inspect and restrict which apps have access to your private photos and real-time location.

Accessing Safety Check

To begin the audit process, open the primary privacy settings on your iPhone:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone running iOS 16 or later.
  2. Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll toward the bottom and tap Safety Check.
  4. Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.

Safety Check provides two distinct modes: Emergency Reset (which immediately halts all sharing) and Manage Sharing & Access (which allows a selective, step-by-step review).

  1. Select Manage Sharing & Access.
  2. Tap Continue.
  3. Step 1: People: This step reviews data shared with contacts. If you only want to audit app permissions, tap Skip at the bottom to proceed to Step 2.

Auditing App Location and Photo Access

Step 2: Information allows you to audit the permissions granted to installed applications. You can review data access either by category or by application.

Auditing by Permission Category

  1. Under the Information tab, select the category you want to inspect:
    • Tap Location to view all applications currently permitted to track your position.
    • Tap Photos to view all applications with access to your photo library.
  2. Review the list of apps displayed under each category.
  3. Select any apps whose permissions you want to revoke by tapping the checkmark circle next to the app name.
  4. Tap Stop App Access to immediately terminate the selected permissions.

Auditing by Specific App

If you prefer to inspect a particular application's complete permission footprint:

  1. Switch to the Apps tab within Step 2.
  2. Tap on the specific app you want to inspect.
  3. The screen will display all sensitive data the app can access, including Location, Photos, Camera, Microphone, and Contacts.
  4. Select the permissions you wish to remove and tap Stop Access.

Finalizing the Audit

After revoking unwanted app permissions, tap Continue to move through the remaining prompts, which include reviewing devices connected to your Apple ID and updating your device passcode if desired. Once completed, tap Done to exit Safety Check. The revoked location and photo permissions take effect immediately.