If the “Location Services” or “Share my Location” settings on your Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch seems grayed out and you cannot make changes to it, you may have accidentally set a restriction on it. Check the settings using these steps.
- Open “Settings“.
- In iOS12 and higher choose “Screen Time” > “Content Privacy & Restrictions“. In iOS 11 and lower, choose “General” > “Restrictions“.
- Tap “Location Services“.
- Make sure “Allow Changes“ is checked and “Location Services” is set to “On” (green).
- Go back out to the “Content & Privacy Restrictions” or “Restrictions” screen.
- Tap “Share My Location“.
- Ensure that “Allow Changes” is selected here as well.
Once this is set, go back to “Settings” > “Privacy” > “Location Services” setting and you should be able to make changes.
If none of these steps worked, you may want to go through the process of restoring your iOS device.
Wanda says
Thanks! It fixed the problem better than what Apple suggested!
Mark says
Excellent.
Solved problem in minutes.
K says
It has helped in Direct me to something but not what I was looking for. After couple steps I got stuck with having to give a password. I know I didn’t do this to my phone so how am I supposed to get the password?
Gustav says
THANKS a lot! Spend hours on not making it work.
Mike says
For some reason my location services is locked? It needs a passcode in order for me to get into it.
Twishi says
Thanku so much for helping me… i was so worried and you just solved it in seconds. Thanku
Amir Yaqoob says
Thanks, i spent almost 1 hour to know what I have done. Finally I got from this link to enable.
Tania says
Hello, im trying to turn on my location services and when i tap on content and privacy restrictions, the next page opens and if i want to tap on any of the content and privacy restrictions list a password is requested and i forgot the password. Plz can you help me solve this problem. Thank you.
Joan says
Thanks…..was able to turn location services off again.
Asim says
Solved and thanks
Kathy McSwane says
Will restoring my iPhone erase info / contacts?
Mary says
I spent a lot of time trying to figure it out myself. This took care of it! THANK YOU!
Jason says
I’ve been struggling for days with the problem of my phone not knowing where I was. This fixed it! Thank you!
Clint says
Under Active Control, 5 of my devices are listed but 3 of iOS based devices are disabled. I mean I can’t toggle it.
It says “Use a location enabled Google app on the iOS device to change the setting” for all 3 iOS based devices.
I changed all the things about google location setting.
Kay says
Very helpful
Sarah says
This helped me fix my mother-in-law’s phone, thank you so much!
Pauli Murphy says
HUGELY Helpful, Thank you very much indeed !
Marissa Branson says
Thank you! This problem has been plaguing me for a while!
Bill says
Perfect advice worked great thanks
Tristan says
Thx u were so helpful
Susan faircloth says
I have IOS 12 and do not have
“Screen Time” or “Content Privacy and Restrictions.”
listed as an option. What are my other options?
Trudie says
I am trying to fix this on my sons 6s. This did not help me because for some reason I do not have an option for “Screen Time” or “Content Privacy and Restrictions.” Is there another way to solve this problem?
Robin says
Thank you! This worked just as described. Very helpful :)
Ted says
Just what I needed, thanks. Apple REALLY wants your location info, don’t they?
Suzanne says
This was very helpful. I would never have been able to determine all the “turn on” buttons to activate.