So, you have spotted a mysterious little arrow next to time on your iPhone. In fact, these are different arrows with varying colors. No wonder this can get confusing. What does it mean for your iPhone, and what can you do about it?
That’s just what we are going to cover in this post. So, read further to know everything about the arrow next to time on iPhone and how to use this feature.
Why is There an Arrow Next to Time on iPhone?
The arrow symbol next to the time on iPhone indicates that an app is accessing location services. Also, you may see it in different colors, which indicates the last time your location was accessed by an app via your iPhone’s location services.
The iPhone uses wireless networks, Bluetooth, GPS, and cellular networks to figure out where it is. If you disable Location Services, no apps can’t find your location. But some apps need to use your location information to function properly, so you need to enable location services for them.
How to Get Rid of the Arrow Icon on iPhone?
To get rid of the arrow icon on iPhone, turn off the status bar icon within the location’s system services settings. You can find this option in the Settings menu on your iPhone. However, it only disables the arrow icon on the status bar, not your iPhone’s location services.
So, if the appearance of the arrow next to your iPhone is annoying and you don’t want to see it, here is how you can turn off or hide it by following these steps:
- On your iPhone, navigate to the Settings section.
- Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
- Select Location Services from the menu.
- Scroll down and tap System Services.
- Turn off Status Icon Bar by simply toggling the button to the left.
This simply prevents your iPhone from giving you location-based reminders through the arrow symbol. But if you don’t want different apps to access your location, the process is different. Read the next section to find out.
How to Limit Location Access for Some Apps on iPhone?
You can limit location access for specific apps on your iPhone by navigating to the Settings Menu > Location Services tab, where you’ll see every app that can access your location. Here, you can restrict the desired apps from accessing your location.
Here’s the breakdown of how you can limit location access for certain apps:
- Go to the Settings menu on your iOS device.
- Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap the Location Services option.
- Select any option from the list to set location access for the selected app. These options include Never, Ask Next Time, When I Share, While Using The App, or Always.
Here’s how these options work:
- Never: The app won’t be able to access your location with this option.
- Ask Next Time Or When I Share: If you choose this option, the app will ask when it needs location access next time.
- While Using The App: With this option, the app tracks your location every time you use it.
- Always: Whether you use the app or not, the selected app will always have access to your location.
Where to Check Location Services History on iPhone?
You can check the Location Services history on your iPhone by looking into the history of apps with tracking permission. When you set up Significant Locations in the Settings menu, Apple will keep track of your locations. The app tracks your location via GPS, Bluetooth, cellular towers, and Wi-Fi hotspots.
Moreover, location history provides traffic updates, helps you find your iPhone, customizes ads, and more. Follow these steps to find your iPhone’s location history:
- On your iPhone, go to the Settings icon.
- Find the Privacy & Security icon and tap on it.
- Open Location Services.
- Head to System Services at the bottom.
- Scroll down and tap on Significant locations.
- You will be asked for Touch ID “Settings” to view Significant Locations.
- Here you will find your location services history on your iPhone.
What Do Different Color Arrows Next to Time on iPhone Mean?
The different color arrows next to the time on your iPhone show when an app accesses your location. Solid purple for recent location access, solid gray for current location access, and the arrow with a blue circle when an app is trying to access your location. While the hollow arrow means Geofencing, which means conditional use of your location.
Basically, the various colors of the arrow help you find how different apps are using location services on your iPhone. Here is what each of the arrow icons represents:
- Solid Purple Arrow: A purple arrow indicates that an item has recently accessed or used your location data. This could mean that the app or service has requested and obtained your location data within the past day or so. It is worth noting that the exact length of time that is represented by the purple arrow can vary depending on the specific device and operating system that you are using.
- Solid Grey Arrow: A gray arrow indicates that an item has used your location data at some point within the last 24 hours. This means that the app or service has accessed your location data at least once within the past day. It is possible that the app or service may have accessed your location data multiple times within this time period, or that it has only accessed it once. As with the purple arrow, the exact length of time that is represented by the gray arrow can vary depending on the specific device and operating system that you are using.
- Arrow with Blue Circle: The blue circle with an arrow inside indicates that an app is actively using your location data. This could mean that the app is accessing your location in real-time, or that it is using location services for navigation or to provide location-based features. It may also be displayed when an app is using location services in the background, even when the app is not actively being used.
- Hollow Arrow: A hollow arrow indicates that an item, such as an app, may request access to your location data under certain conditions. This could be because the app requires your location data in order to function properly, or because it offers certain features that are location-based. For example, a weather app may request access to your location in order to provide you with accurate weather forecasts for your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the arrow next to time on the iPhone harm my privacy?
The arrow next to the time on an iPhone does not pose a risk to your privacy. The arrow is simply a visual indicator that shows the accuracy of the time data that the device is able to obtain. It does not collect or transmit any personal information or location data.
It is worth noting, however, that your iPhone does have location services that can be used to track your location. If you have location services turned on, certain apps and services on your device may be able to access your location data. This can include things like mapping apps, weather apps, and social media apps that offer location-based features.
How to turn iPhone Location Services On or Off?
To turn location services on or off on an iPhone, follow these steps:
1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on the “Privacy” option.
3. Tap on the “Location Services” option.
4. Toggle the switch next to “Location Services” to the desired setting. When the switch is green, location services are turned on. When the switch is gray, location services are turned off.
It is worth noting that you can also control the location services settings for individual apps on your iPhone. To do this, follow the steps above and then tap on an app in the list to view its location services settings. You can then toggle the switch next to the app to allow or disallow access to your location data.
Can others see my iPhone’s location?
Others can see your iPhone’s location only if you have given them access. For example, if you have granted your location access to your friends or family through the Find My app, they may be able to know your precise location. But you can also take this access away from them through the Find My app.
