Apple’s new iOS setting addresses a hidden layer of location tracking

Apple has introduced a new iOS setting called limit precise location in iOS 26.3 to curb a hidden layer of location tracking by cellular carriers. The feature reduces the precision of location data shared with carriers from a street address to the neighbourhood level, while still preserving exact coordinates for emergency calls to first responders. App-based location services like Find My and Apple’s navigation tools are not affected because they rely on the phone’s own location sharing.

The rollout is limited to devices with Apple’s custom C1 or C1X modems, meaning only the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and cellular iPad Pro with an M5 chip are supported, with the iPhone 17 excluded. In the United States, Boost Mobile is participating at launch, while Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile are not; in Germany, Telekom is on the list, and in the UK EE and BT are involved, with Thailand’s AIS and True also listed. According to the FCC, carriers have previously faced fines for illegally sharing location data, a context that helped prompt Apple’s change.