iPhone tracks its user's locations, here's how to turn it off for good

iPhone keeps record of locations, frequency and timings of visits.

(Web Desk) – Apple’s iPhone contains a relatively little-known feature that is built to keep a history of everywhere its user has been – and how many times he/she has been there.

This feature of ‘Significant Locations’ can be found in the settings, but it is rather hard to find, whether useful or not. iPhone tracks and stores locations, frequency and timings of visits.

Surprisingly, it collects even more information about each journey: timings of a person departing for his destination, duration of his journey and mode of transportation e.g public transport, car, train, etc.

According to Apple, the list is maintained in order ‘to learn about places which are significant for users.’

It is said that Apple isn’t alone in keeping track of this data and Google does it too, through a ‘Location History’ list found in user’s Google account.

"This data is encrypted and stored on user’s device only and will not be shared without his/her consent," Apple said on its website.

"It is used to provide you with personalised services, such as predictive traffic routing, and to build better Photos Memories."

However, if you no longer want "Significant Locations" turned on, here’s how to turn it off and delete its history from your iPhone:

First, open your Settings app and locate the "Privacy" tab.

Click on the first option, "Location Services."

Underneath, you will find a list of every app on your iPhone and the kind of access each app is granted to your location data. But skip that …

… and scroll to the bottom of the page, where you will find "System Services."

There, you will find a full list of what built-in Apple services you have granted access to your location data. It may be more extensive than you knew. Some of these options need your location for daily use, such as "Find My iPhone" and location sharing. But at the bottom of this list, there is a tab called "Significant Locations," which requires your password (or fingerprint, or Face ID) to access.

You will find a comprehensive history of where your iPhone has been.

The list is sorted by city — and under each, you can find even more specific info: the addresses of places you’ve been, how many times you’ve been there, the specific dates (and times!) you were there, and how much time you spent there. It’s a wild amount of data.

Before you turn off the feature altogether, do not forget to clear the history that has been kept on your phone. The "Clear History" option is all the way at the bottom of the list.

Finally, you can turn off the feature list by toggling off the option at the top of the page. Apple may still have access to a huge trove of your data, but at least you can keep it from compiling a detailed list of everywhere you have ever been!