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Precise location gives an app a more specific estimate of where your phone is; approximate location gives it a broader area. Approximate access still shares location information, but can be enough for features that only need general local context. The setting is usually controlled per app, and the labels and behavior vary by phone and operating-system version.
What the two location choices mean
Approximate location tells an app roughly where the phone is, rather than its more specific position. It is not the same as turning location access off: the app still receives a broader location estimate.
On Android, the platform’s current guidance describes approximate estimates as typically covering about 3 square kilometers (about 1.2 square miles). A precise estimate is usually within about 50 meters (160 feet), and can sometimes be within a few meters (10 feet) or better. These figures describe estimates from Android location services, not guaranteed accuracy or fixed radii for every phone, place, or situation. Apple does not publish a directly comparable universal accuracy range in the cited guidance.
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Which level should you allow?
| What you want to do | Approximate location | Precise location |
|---|---|---|
| Get general local context, such as information for a nearby area or city | Often sufficient; the app receives less detailed location information. | May provide more detail than the feature needs. |
| Follow turn-by-turn directions or identify a specific pickup point | A broader estimate may be less useful for finding the exact position. | More likely to support a specific position. |
| Limit location detail shared with an app | Restricts the precision available to that app while retaining location features that work with a general area. | Allows a more specific estimate to be shared with the app. |
These are practical differences in granularity, not guarantees about how a particular app will behave. Android recommends that developers make apps work with approximate access where possible; the appropriate choice depends on what the feature actually needs.
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How to change the setting on iPhone
- Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Tap the app whose location detail you want to change.
- Turn Precise Location off to share only an approximate location with that app, or turn it on if a feature needs a more specific position.
This control is per app. The app’s broader location authorization—such as whether it can access location while you are using it or in the background—is a separate setting. Apple says Location Services may use cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth information when available, and that accuracy and service availability can vary by area and data availability.
How it works on Android
On Android 12 (API level 31) and later, you can grant an app approximate location even if it requests precise location. When the system asks for permission, it may offer Precise and Approximate choices, along with options for how long to grant access. You can later change the accuracy preference in the app’s settings.
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- Road trip–ready features include the HISTORY database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings and millions of Foursquare POIs
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Android’s permission guidance recommends requesting coarse location when an app needs only a general estimate. If an app offers both approximate and precise options, its developer should request coarse and fine location permissions together so the system can offer that choice.
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Choosing approximate location limits the precision available to the app through the phone’s location services. It does not determine how the app handles location information it receives. Apple advises users to review third-party apps’ terms and privacy policies.
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On supported Apple devices and networks, a separate Limit Precise Location feature can limit precision available to mobile networks. It is distinct from the app-level Precise Location control and does not change the location shared with apps.
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- Hands-free calling when paired with your compatible smartphone with BLUETOOTH technology and convenient Garmin voice assist lets you ask for directions to places you want to go
- Road trip–ready features include the HISTORY database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings and millions of Foursquare POIs
- Driver alerts for things such as school zones, sharp curves and speed changes help encourage safer driving and increase situational awareness
- Access live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and smart notifications when you pair this navigator with your compatible smartphone running the Garmin Drive app
Official guidance
- Apple Support: Control the location information you share on iPhone
- Apple Support: About privacy and Location Services
- Android Developers: Request location permissions
- Android Developers: Request location access at runtime
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