How to Stop Apps from Tracking You Unnecessarily in iOS 8

iOS 8 brought a ton of new functionality both for users and developers.  It also brought us some new settings including a change to the way apps can use your location.  Originally you could allow an app to use your location or not use your location.  In iOS 8, the new more granular options are Never, Always, and While Using the App.

Never means the app can never use your location –you’re a stealth ninja.  Always means the app can use your location even if the app is in not currently open. And the new “While Using the App” means the app can only use your location while you are using the app.  Once you background the app, it can’t poll for your location until you reopen it.

So let’s walk through how to adjust these settings for an app.  For this tutorial, we’ll use Facebook as our sample app.

1.  Tap Settings.

2.  Scroll down to and tap on Privacy.

3.  Tap on Location Services.

4.  Scroll down to the app you want to set.  In this case, Facebook.

5.  You’ll see all three options here (Never, While Using the App, Always). Mine was already set to “Always” but I decided I don’t need Mark Zuckerberg stalking me so I switched it to “While Using the App”.

You can now exit out of the settings menus and your new settings will take effect.  One thing worth noting is not all Apps have the three options mentioned, some may only have Never and Always, others may only have Never and While Using the App.

Go ahead and change your settings now.  Comment below and let us know which apps you let use your location and which ones you block.