- iOS 26.3 will come with a new Limit Precise Location feature
- This tool restricts the location data available to operators.
- It could add another layer of privacy to iPhones
If you’re looking to protect your privacy while using any of the best iPhones, one of the most effective things you can do is limit the use of your location data. And with iOS 26.3 just around the corner, you’ll soon have another way to keep your private data under lock and key.
This is because Apple is about to introduce a new feature in iOS 26.3 called Limit Precise Location. As the name implies, this is designed to reduce the information that can be obtained from your location and instead provides much vaguer data to cell phone providers.
In a new support document on Apple’s website, the company describes how Limit Precise Location works. After explaining that your location can be determined based on the cell towers your phone connects to, Apple says its new settings restrict the information that is available to carriers in this way. That could mean they can only determine the approximate neighborhood where you are located, for example, rather than an exact address.
Apple also notes that this new feature does not limit “signal quality or user experience” and does not hinder first responders as they can still see your exact location during an emergency.
To use it, you’ll need to open the Settings app and tap Mobile > Mobile Data Options, then enable the switch next to Limit precise location. Your device must reboot every time you enable or disable this feature.
What devices are supported?
It’s worth noting that this new feature comes with some conditions. For one thing, Apple says you need to have an iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, or iPad Pro with an M5 chip and Wi-Fi plus cellular connectivity for the feature to work.
Your phone must also be running on a supported network, as detailed below:
- Germany: Telekom
- UK: EE, BT
- United States: Boost Mobile
- Thailand: AIS, true
Apple adds that you’ll need to run iOS 26.3 or iPadOS 26.3 on your device. These updates have not yet been released, but are expected to arrive within the next week.
Additionally, while the feature limits the location data that can be accessed by network operators, it does not affect the location data that is shared with apps. This needs to be set separately by heading to Privacy & security > Location services in the Settings app.
All of this means that the new feature will have a somewhat limited release for the time being. But as more Apple devices start using the company’s C1 and C1X modems (the ones equipped on the compatible phones listed above), this type of privacy-preserving tool should become the norm for Apple fans. And that’s great news for anyone who wants to protect their privacy a little more securely.
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