Your Mac keeps a list of apps that have requested permission to use your location. You can review that list and turn access on or off in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
Quick Answer
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and choose System Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
- Click Location Services.
- Review the apps listed under Allow location services.
- Turn the switch beside an app off to stop it from accessing your location.
You may need to enter an administrator password or use Touch ID before changing some settings. The exact options can vary depending on your Mac and the apps installed.
What Location Access Means on a Mac
Location access allows macOS and approved apps to estimate where your Mac is. Depending on the Mac and its available connections, location information may be determined using sources such as nearby Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth, and other system information.
Apps can use location data for features such as:
- Showing local weather
- Finding nearby businesses or services
- Setting the correct time zone
- Adding location information to photos
- Providing location-based reminders
- Displaying local news or search results
- Helping Find My locate a Mac or other Apple device
Location permission is separate from access to your camera, microphone, contacts, files, and other private data. An app that can use your location does not automatically have permission to use your camera or microphone.
If you are reviewing privacy settings because of a video call, recording, or audio problem, location access is usually not the relevant permission. You may also need to check which apps can access your camera and microphone on a Mac.
How to See Which Apps Have Location Access
1. Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen, then select System Settings.
You can also open System Settings from the Dock, Launchpad, or Spotlight.
2. Open Privacy & Security
In the System Settings sidebar, scroll down and click Privacy & Security.
This section contains controls for sensitive information and hardware, including location, camera, microphone, contacts, photos, files, and accessibility features.
3. Select Location Services
Click Location Services.
At the top of the page, you will see the main Location Services switch. Below it, macOS displays apps and system features that have requested location access.
4. Review the app list
Look under Allow location services. Each listed app has a switch beside it.
- A switch turned on means the app is allowed to use location services.
- A switch turned off means the app is not currently allowed to use location services.
- An app may appear in the list even if it is not currently using your location.
Review the names carefully. Some apps may be familiar, while others may be utilities, menu bar tools, browsers, or background components installed with another application.
5. Turn off access for an app
To block an app, click the switch beside its name so it changes to the off position.
macOS may ask you to authenticate with your Mac login password or Touch ID. Complete the prompt if necessary.
Turning off permission does not uninstall the app or remove its data. It only prevents that app from using Location Services through macOS.
6. Turn access back on if needed
If an app stops providing a location-based feature after you disable access, return to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn its switch on again.
The app may need to be reopened before the change takes effect. If you have unsaved work, save it before quitting or reopening the app.
How to Disable Location Services Completely
You can turn off location services for the entire Mac instead of changing individual app permissions.
- Open System Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security.
- Select Location Services.
- Turn off the main Location Services switch.
- Authenticate if macOS requests permission.
Important limitations
Disabling Location Services affects every app and system feature that depends on it. Local weather, location-based search, automatic time zone selection, and other features may stop working or become less accurate.
This setting may also affect how Apple services determine the location of your Mac. Review the consequences before turning it off for the whole system. If you only want to restrict one app, leave the main switch on and disable that app individually.
Check System Services That Use Your Location
The Location Services page can also include system-level location settings. These may control features built into macOS rather than a regular third-party app.
To review them:
- Open System Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Scroll through the list.
- Look for a System Services entry or an information button next to it.
- Open it to review the available system-service options.
Depending on your Mac and macOS configuration, these controls may include features related to time zones, location-based suggestions, and other system functions.
Do not disable a system service simply because its name is unfamiliar. First consider whether you use the feature it supports. If you turn one off and a related feature stops working, return to the same settings page and enable it again.
What to Do When an App Is Not Listed
An app generally appears in the Location Services list after it requests location permission. If it is missing, one of several situations may apply:
- The app has never requested your location.
- The app does not use macOS Location Services.
- The app uses location information through another method.
- The app is installed but has not yet been opened.
- The app’s location feature is controlled inside the app itself.
- Location Services is disabled for the entire Mac.
Open the app and try the feature that needs your location. For example, a weather app may not request permission until you add a location or enable a local forecast. Read any permission prompt carefully before selecting Allow.
If the app previously had access but no longer appears or behaves as expected, quit and reopen it. You can also restart the Mac and check the Location Services page again.
How to Check Location Permissions in a Web Browser
Websites can request location access through a browser. This permission may be controlled by the browser rather than appearing exactly like a standalone Mac app in the Location Services list.
If a website is using or requesting your location:
- Open the website in your browser.
- Look for the location or site-permission icon near the address field.
- Review the current permission.
- Change it to Block, Ask, or Allow, depending on the choices provided by the browser.
The exact steps differ between browsers. If you do not recognize a website requesting location access, choose the option that blocks or asks before allowing future requests.
Also review the browser’s privacy or website settings if you want to manage saved location permissions for multiple sites.
How to Decide Which Apps Should Keep Access
There is no single correct setting for every app. Consider what the app does and whether location is essential to its function.
You may want to keep access enabled for:
- Weather apps that show local forecasts
- Maps and navigation apps
- Find My, if you use location-related Apple features
- Reminder apps that use location-based alerts
- Services that need your location to provide nearby results
You may want to disable access for:
- Apps that do not need location for their main purpose
- Utilities you rarely use
- Apps from developers you do not recognize
- Apps that repeatedly request location without a clear reason
- Apps whose location-based features you never use
Blocking location access can improve privacy, but it may also remove useful features. When uncertain, select the more restrictive option and enable access later if a feature does not work.
Troubleshooting Location Access Problems
Location Services is missing from Privacy & Security
Make sure you are using System Settings, not an older settings interface or an app’s own preferences. In System Settings, use the sidebar or search field to find Location Services.
If the option is still unavailable, check whether your Mac is managed by an employer, school, or organization. Device-management policies can restrict privacy settings.
The switch is dimmed or cannot be changed
A managed Mac may restrict changes to Location Services. Your account may also lack the permission needed to change certain settings.
Try authenticating with an administrator account. If macOS displays a message indicating that the setting is managed, contact the organization that administers the Mac.
An app still acts as though it has location access
First, confirm that the app’s switch is off. Then quit and reopen the app. Some apps may continue displaying previously loaded information after permission changes, but they should not receive new location data through macOS once access is disabled.
If the app has its own account, browser, or privacy settings, review those controls as well.
An app cannot find your location after permission is enabled
Check that the main Location Services switch is on and that the individual app’s switch is enabled. Then make sure the Mac is connected to the internet if the app requires an online service.
Quit and reopen the app, and test the feature again. If the problem affects a navigation or weather app, verify that the location or address selected inside the app is correct.
Location-based reminders or time zone features do not work
Check both the main Location Services switch and the relevant system-service settings. Also verify that the Mac’s date, time, and time zone settings are configured correctly.
If you recently disabled access, re-enable the relevant permission and restart the affected app. Save any work before quitting.
You are troubleshooting a camera or microphone problem
Location access does not control whether an app can use your camera or microphone. Those permissions are managed separately under System Settings > Privacy & Security.
For camera problems, see how to fix the camera not working on a Mac. For audio input problems, see how to fix the microphone not working on a Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see when an app last used my location?
macOS provides the permission list, but the Location Services page may not provide a complete activity history for every app. A listed app is one that has requested or received permission, not necessarily one that is using your location at this moment.
Does turning off Location Services uninstall an app?
No. Disabling an app’s location permission changes only its access to Location Services. The app, its documents, and its account data remain installed unless you remove them separately.
Can an app access my location without appearing in the list?
An app that uses macOS Location Services should request permission and be represented in the relevant settings. However, a website, account, or service may have separate privacy controls, and not every service determines location in the same way.
Will an app know that I turned off location access?
The app may detect that permission is unavailable and show an error, ask again later, or disable location-based features. It should not receive new location data through macOS while its permission is turned off.
Should I disable Location Services for every app?
Not necessarily. Disable access for apps that do not need it or that you do not trust, but leave it enabled for features you rely on, such as navigation, weather, or location-based reminders.
Why does an app keep asking for location permission?
The app may need permission for a feature you are trying to use, or it may be requesting access again after a previous denial or reset. If the request is unexpected, deny it and review the app’s settings or contact its developer.
Final Thoughts
To check location access on a Mac, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and review each app’s switch. Turn off access for apps that do not need your location, and leave the main Location Services setting enabled if you still use location-based features elsewhere. Remember that camera, microphone, and location permissions are separate, so troubleshoot each privacy setting independently.