The arrow on your iPhone is the Location Services indicator, and it tells you that an app or system service is using your location. A solid black or white arrow in the status bar or Control Center means an app is actively using Location Services, while a hollow arrow means an item may receive your location under certain conditions.
How to see which apps are using your location
To check which app is currently using your location, look at the status bar at the top of your screen. If you see a solid arrow, an app is actively accessing your location. For more detail, open Control Center, the same Location Services indicator can appear there. A smaller circle in the Control Center indicator means greater precision in the location data being used.
How to manage Location Services for each app
You can control exactly which apps can use your location and when. Apple says Location Services uses GPS networks, Bluetooth connections, local Wi‑Fi networks, and the cellular network to figure out where you are. Follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Location Services.
- Scroll to the app you want to adjust and tap it.
- Choose a permission such as Never or While Using the App.
This lets you prevent apps from accessing your location in the background or stop them entirely. If you are unfamiliar with which icons appear on your device, reviewing the complete list of phone icon symbols and indicators can help you distinguish the location arrow from other status icons.
How to control system location services and the status bar icon
System-level services, such as location-based suggestions or time zone detection, can also use your location. To manage these and the arrow that appears for them:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap System Services.
- Here you will find a list of system services that can use your location. To show system-location activity, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.
- Toggle the Status Bar Icon option on or off to control whether the arrow shows in the status bar when system services use your location. Apple documents a Status Bar Icon option under System Services for showing the location symbol when system services use your location.
When the Status Bar Icon is off, the arrow will still appear for apps you have given permission to, but it will not show for system-level location use.
Frequently Asked Questions about the iPhone location arrow
Does the location arrow drain my battery?
Yes, active location use can drain battery, especially when an app uses GPS in the background. The solid arrow means an app is actively using location, which consumes more power than the hollow arrow, which only indicates potential use under certain conditions.
Why doesn't the arrow disappear after I close an app?
Some apps may continue using your location briefly after you close them, or a system service may be using it. Check Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services to see which app or service has recently used your location, look for the purple arrow indicator next to the app name.
What is the difference between this arrow and other arrow icons on iPhone?
The location arrow is specifically the Location Services indicator. Other arrows you may see, such as in navigation apps or for data transfer, serve different purposes.
