Apple’s iOS 26.3 update is coming soon, along with a bunch of cool new features and security updates. While iOS 26.3 didn’t drop this week — iOS 26.2.1 arrived instead — it looks like the iPhone upgrade will add a cool new location privacy feature.
The new iOS 26.3 limit precise location setting will allow you to limit information that cellular networks might gather to determine your location. “Cellular networks can determine your location based on which cell towers your device connects to,” Apple wrote in a support document announcing the feature.
The limit precise location setting in iOS 26.3 enhances your location privacy by reducing the precision of location data available to cellular networks. As a result, they might be able to determine only a less precise location — for example, the neighborhood where your device is located, rather than a more precise location, such as a street address, Apple said, adding that the setting doesn’t impact signal quality or user experience.
Apple also assured iPhone users they would still be safe in an emergency situation. The limit precise location setting doesn’t impact the precision of the location data that is shared with emergency responders during an emergency call.
One thing to know is, the setting affects only the location data available to cellular networks. It doesn’t impact the location data that you share with apps through Location Services. For example, it has no impact on sharing your location with friends and family with Find My, according to Apple.
For the setting to work, you need an iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, or iPad Pro (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular on iOS 26.3 or later. The feature won’t be available to everyone right away. To start, supported carriers are limited to Boost Mobile in the U.S., EE and BT in the U.K., Telekom in Germany and AIS, True in Thailand.
To turn limit precise location on or off, open Settings, then tap Cellular. Tap Cellular Data Options. If you have more than one phone number under SIMs, tap one of your lines. Scroll down to Limit Precise Location. Turn the setting on or off.
More generally, you can control your iPhone location privacy in your Settings > Security & Privacy > Location Services, which offers granular per-app controls.
Apple’s iOS 26.3 is expected in February, so keep an eye out on my Forbes page for updates.
