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bruno.bmn

macrumors newbie
Oct 7, 2019
11
0
That's great, but this corrections usually takes a long time to be avaliable to public, after they were tested on the beta program.

Unfortunately until then, my location services remain disabled, which is a shame for a $ 1600 device.
 

diego72

macrumors member
Oct 5, 2019
41
3
Turin Italy
That's great, but this corrections usually takes a long time to be avaliable to public, after they were tested on the beta program.

Unfortunately until then, my location services remain disabled, which is a shame for a $ 1600 device.

I know but unfortunately now you can not do anything but wait, but we know that Apple's engineering department at least is informed. unfortunately there are no other ways to follow, I too would like to put a fix tomorrow but I'm afraid it will take months, especially if few users have complained .....
 

diego72

macrumors member
Oct 5, 2019
41
3
Turin Italy
That's great, but this corrections usually takes a long time to be avaliable to public, after they were tested on the beta program.

Unfortunately until then, my location services remain disabled, which is a shame for a $ 1600 device.

If Apple has not yet closed the signatures you can always downgrade to ios 13 as I did to use the phone to its best ..... until the fix is available
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
thanks for the interesting explanation, but apart from just one user, unfortunately we see the black arrow that connects continuously, without it being any app or system service to connect and this is not normal and consumes battery

Solid arrow in the status bar indicates location data is being shared by iOS Location Manager to an app/service. Its not showing active location information collection although both can be happening.

If you have System Service Status Icon Bar turned off and you are seeing a solid arrow constantly then that is from an app or iOS feature/service (Siri, Dictation, Friend using Find My.. for you location, Message based shared location, Reminders/calendar location based event, Safari etc) receiving updated location data. This includes data used by devices sharing your iPhones data like the Apple Watch.

For example if you have a watch complication with Weather it will constantly be waiting for significant change location service. This will be indicated as a hollow arrow and when you move it will change to solid.

Widgets can also call for location data often which will give you a solid arrow.

However if I set System Service Static Icon Bar to off, take my Apple Watch off and set my home security system from Always to Never I can make the arrow go away in iOS 13 just like iOS 11 and 12. I do need to make sure I'm stationary so I'm not activating a location event which would detected by the network changes.

IMG_6806.png

If you can turn everything off and make it stop you should be able to pin point it.

The iPhone itself is constantly collecting location data because location data is inherent to many networks (wifi and cellular tower). Location Services toggle just prevent app access to that data and preventing a request for a location update. The exception would be if you dialed 911 (or your local emergency number), your location is sent even if all your location services are turned off.

The black arrow also does not indicate a power hungry method of location collection (GPS receiver used for real time tracking) is being used. For example....

Screen Shot 2019-10-13 at 10.57.41 AM.png

That is my Mac using Maps. Macs don't have GPS receivers. My iPad is the same way, black arrow with no GPS receiver.

Using BT, Wifi, Cell towers, etc does have an effect on the battery however its background task levels of usage. Task running in the background of iOS for system maintenance, iCloud sync'ing services, etc can be using significantly more battery. A lot of background services won't even work unless the iPhone is plugged in and locked (people identification in photos.app).

Even when the actual GPS receiver is used its based off significant location change to minimize its use frequency and only operates momentarily to get a location and then its done.

Location services that accompany any significant battery consumption are "Standard Location services". Again standard location is active GPS, real time location update that is tracking you as accurately as the app request. This location mode is not something that runs in secret, the app is in the foreground and if not the status bar is blue with a compass icon indicating that a background app is using this service.

IMG_9D5FFD786CD5-1.jpeg

With iOS 13 you'll receive an alert if an app is using your location often. This is my home security camera app relaunching in the background based on Significant Change Locations. Allow Always lets the app launch in the background based on significant change location service. For the last few years I've had a constant hallow arrow in the status bar because the app is always waiting for me to move so it can check its location.

IMG_6737.png

I'm not trying to change your opinion or what you experience however I'm not experiencing anything unexpected with iOS 13 on 2 devices. My battery life not great however it hasn't been great since iOS 10 and is similar to iOS 12.

There is always the possibility you have some app that is poorly coded or trying to do something weird or even shifty. If you block location access to an app the app will then receives a location denied error. At that point the app should turn off its location services, however maybe there is a condition that causes another app or device to keep polling location data. For example Maps having access to location but not Uber and then accessing Uber from in the map app....just theories.
 

diego72

macrumors member
Oct 5, 2019
41
3
Turin Italy
Solid arrow in the status bar indicates location data is being shared by iOS Location Manager to an app/service. Its not showing active location information collection although both can be happening.

If you have System Service Status Icon Bar turned off and you are seeing a solid arrow constantly then that is from an app or iOS feature/service (Siri, Dictation, Friend using Find My.. for you location, Message based shared location, Reminders/calendar location based event, Safari etc) receiving updated location data. This includes data used by devices sharing your iPhones data like the Apple Watch.

For example if you have a watch complication with Weather it will constantly be waiting for significant change location service. This will be indicated as a hollow arrow and when you move it will change to solid.

Widgets can also call for location data often which will give you a solid arrow.

However if I set System Service Static Icon Bar to off, take my Apple Watch off and set my home security system from Always to Never I can make the arrow go away in iOS 13 just like iOS 11 and 12. I do need to make sure I'm stationary so I'm not activating a location event which would detected by the network changes.

View attachment 869175

If you can turn everything off and make it stop you should be able to pin point it.

The iPhone itself is constantly collecting location data because location data is inherent to many networks (wifi and cellular tower). Location Services toggle just prevent app access to that data and preventing a request for a location update. The exception would be if you dialed 911 (or your local emergency number), your location is sent even if all your location services are turned off.

The black arrow also does not indicate a power hungry method of location collection (GPS receiver used for real time tracking) is being used. For example....

View attachment 869176

That is my Mac using Maps. Macs don't have GPS receivers. My iPad is the same way, black arrow with no GPS receiver.

Using BT, Wifi, Cell towers, etc does have an effect on the battery however its background task levels of usage. Task running in the background of iOS for system maintenance, iCloud sync'ing services, etc can be using significantly more battery. A lot of background services won't even work unless the iPhone is plugged in and locked (people identification in photos.app).

Even when the actual GPS receiver is used its based off significant location change to minimize its use frequency and only operates momentarily to get a location and then its done.

Location services that accompany any significant battery consumption are "Standard Location services". Again standard location is active GPS, real time location update that is tracking you as accurately as the app request. This location mode is not something that runs in secret, the app is in the foreground and if not the status bar is blue with a compass icon indicating that a background app is using this service.

View attachment 869188

With iOS 13 you'll receive an alert if an app is using your location often. This is my home security camera app relaunching in the background based on Significant Change Locations. Allow Always lets the app launch in the background based on significant change location service. For the last few years I've had a constant hallow arrow in the status bar because the app is always waiting for me to move so it can check its location.

View attachment 869191

I'm not trying to change your opinion or what you experience however I'm not experiencing anything unexpected with iOS 13 on 2 devices. My battery life not great however it hasn't been great since iOS 10 and is similar to iOS 12.

There is always the possibility you have some app that is poorly coded or trying to do something weird or even shifty. If you block location access to an app the app will then receives a location denied error. At that point the app should turn off its location services, however maybe there is a condition that causes another app or device to keep polling location data. For example Maps having access to location but not Uber and then accessing Uber from in the map app....just theories.

Thank you for your explanation and your advice, but it is a bug confirmed by Apple on ios 13.1 onwards, in fact we purchased another iphone 11 pro device and updated it from ios 13.1.2 even if it does not consume more battery makes the same appear lost feeccia at the top every minute, even without installing anything, just activating liphone, even without a sim and without active wifi. surely there is a bug in the system services that even if turned off they make the request .....
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
Thank you for your explanation and your advice, but it is a bug confirmed by Apple on ios 13.1 onwards, in fact we purchased another iphone 11 pro device and updated it from ios 13.1.2 even if it does not consume more battery makes the same appear lost feeccia at the top every minute, even without installing anything, just activating liphone, even without a sim and without active wifi. surely there is a bug in the system services that even if turned off they make the request .....

Listen, I'm definitely not saying you aren't experiencing a bug, its just you aren't describing one. I think there is gap here somewhere, its probably what I'm trying to elaborate....

Activating an iPhone (requires Find my iPhone) to activate + all system services are turned on, you'll be using location services quite a bit on a new iPhone especially if you are using iCloud to back up and sync.

Location services are generally collected by an app or service on the phone for a use on the iPhone. Location services aren't always for devs to collect data (its anonymous when they do). So you don't need data or any connection to the internet for the Compass app (example) to access your location service (GPS) to obtain longitude and latitude for the app to display. If you did have data the compass app would add city and state to longitude and latitude though, not required though. However just opening the Compass app will cause Compass Calibration system service and Compass App to use location services. Another example would be if you cache map data you can use sat nav apps for navigation too, completely without data (I do this when hiking) using AirPlay mode.

Like Compass its not uncommon for a single action to require two instances of location services access, one for the app the other for a service. Compass > Compass Calibration, Find My > Find My iPhone, Maps > Routing and Traffic, etc...

Moving on to setting up a new iPhone, you will need 2 things, AppleID and data source (wifi, cellular or iTunes).

First thing it ask you for is wifi or iTunes if you don't have a sim. The very next thing it ask for is....

IMG_6808.JPG

Now this illustrates what I'm talking about when it comes to location data collection vs location data access. If you press "Disable Location Services" you will be asked to enter your AppleID and password to continue as usual. As soon as you do your other Apple devices will get this pop up for two factor authentication AppleID Sign in request...

IMG_6809.PNG

Since Find my iPhone is a requirement to use an AppleID it will collect exact location and send it to your other devices on the same account for verification. All without displaying an location arrow icon and location services main toggle still being turned off.

Putting the device in lost mode remotely turns location services back on so you can see it too. Toggling off Find my iPhone will log you out of your AppleID on the device, activation lock will still persist though.

So my point to all that is location data is still being collected for specific reasons when its needed without displaying an arrow for you. The reason its not displaying an arrow is because there is no system service for AppleID two factor Sign In. To display an arrow it has to be an app or service in the list 3rd party or system service list, that is where the arrow is coming from (status bar doesn't have core location service function its just displaying an icon from settings). So if you are experiencing an arrow popping up all you should need to do is open up settings location service look for whatever is purple and you'll have your culprit....hopefully.

As far as being on every minute, well with system services displayed in the status bar you will see it that arrow very often. Purple are things that used location recently....

IMG_C7AC086ED008-1.jpeg
 

diego72

macrumors member
Oct 5, 2019
41
3
Turin Italy
Listen, I'm definitely not saying you aren't experiencing a bug, its just you aren't describing one. I think there is gap here somewhere, its probably what I'm trying to elaborate....

Activating an iPhone (requires Find my iPhone) to activate + all system services are turned on, you'll be using location services quite a bit on a new iPhone especially if you are using iCloud to back up and sync.

Location services are generally collected by an app or service on the phone for a use on the iPhone. Location services aren't always for devs to collect data (its anonymous when they do). So you don't need data or any connection to the internet for the Compass app (example) to access your location service (GPS) to obtain longitude and latitude for the app to display. If you did have data the compass app would add city and state to longitude and latitude though, not required though. However just opening the Compass app will cause Compass Calibration system service and Compass App to use location services. Another example would be if you cache map data you can use sat nav apps for navigation too, completely without data (I do this when hiking) using AirPlay mode.

Like Compass its not uncommon for a single action to require two instances of location services access, one for the app the other for a service. Compass > Compass Calibration, Find My > Find My iPhone, Maps > Routing and Traffic, etc...

Moving on to setting up a new iPhone, you will need 2 things, AppleID and data source (wifi, cellular or iTunes).

First thing it ask you for is wifi or iTunes if you don't have a sim. The very next thing it ask for is....

View attachment 869270

Now this illustrates what I'm talking about when it comes to location data collection vs location data access. If you press "Disable Location Services" you will be asked to enter your AppleID and password to continue as usual. As soon as you do your other Apple devices will get this pop up for two factor authentication AppleID Sign in request...

View attachment 869271

Since Find my iPhone is a requirement to use an AppleID it will collect exact location and send it to your other devices on the same account for verification. All without displaying an location arrow icon and location services main toggle still being turned off.

Putting the device in lost mode remotely turns location services back on so you can see it too. Toggling off Find my iPhone will log you out of your AppleID on the device, activation lock will still persist though.

So my point to all that is location data is still being collected for specific reasons when its needed without displaying an arrow for you. The reason its not displaying an arrow is because there is no system service for AppleID two factor Sign In. To display an arrow it has to be an app or service in the list 3rd party or system service list, that is where the arrow is coming from (status bar doesn't have core location service function its just displaying an icon from settings). So if you are experiencing an arrow popping up all you should need to do is open up settings location service look for whatever is purple and you'll have your culprit....hopefully.

As far as being on every minute, well with system services displayed in the status bar you will see it that arrow very often. Purple are things that used location recently....

View attachment 869284

the problem is that of all this I have nothing active, the iphone is initialized and there is nothing installed, all the system localization services are already off, find my iphone and off, all the default app localizations I am off, the iPhone is not connected to any Apple ID, we tried to exit and yet the black arrow appears at random every 10-20 seconds. I have sent the log files to an Apple engineer and he says that it is a bug that you have to wait for an update, but even when it makes the defect, there is no arrow near any system or application service that shows that it was him, unfortunately, they are all off.
 

umzyi

macrumors 6502
Apr 21, 2011
264
70
UK
Have installed 13.1.3 and still have location service arrow popping up every few mins. I have location service turned on but every app and setting is turned off and yet it keeps showing the arrow. So no fix in this release.
 

diego72

macrumors member
Oct 5, 2019
41
3
Turin Italy
Have installed 13.1.3 and still have location service arrow popping up every few mins. I have location service turned on but every app and setting is turned off and yet it keeps showing the arrow. So no fix in this release.

Unfortunately and so ..... we still have to wait .... unfortunately even though it is frustrating, I am in the same situation!
 

bruno.bmn

macrumors newbie
Oct 7, 2019
11
0
Apparently, the third beta of 13.2 solved the problem in my device. Anyone can confirm this?
 

bruno.bmn

macrumors newbie
Oct 7, 2019
11
0
uau, really? have you already tested it? I didn't know yet that I was coming out in the next few days I'll try ...... keep me updated .....

Unfortunately it did not solved! But, I noticed that the GPS activation frequency has decreased at least.
 

deep1

macrumors 6502
Mar 29, 2011
389
276
Not sure but it looks more like feature of U1 chip, I have tried disabling Airdrop too but issue persist.
 

BriceApp

macrumors 6502
Jun 11, 2018
398
373
Winston-Salem, NC
In my case it is related to weather and my Apple Watch. I have noticed that my watch and iPhone have the hollow arrow all the time, but last night when I took my watch off and was using my iPhone the arrow disappeared. Same result today.
 
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Mystic Eddy

macrumors regular
Sep 19, 2008
205
23
Staffordshire, UK
In my case it is related to weather and my Apple Watch. I have noticed that my watch and iPhone have the hollow arrow all the time, but last night when I took my watch off and was using my iPhone the arrow disappeared. Same result today.
Same here. Behaviour wasn’t like this in iOS 12/watchOS 5. I thought that when connected to a WiFi network, the Watch would use built in GPS to populate the weather complication.
 

umzyi

macrumors 6502
Apr 21, 2011
264
70
UK
it is very much frustrating to see this icon appearing every other moment. I have turned off status bar icon option off, yet it keeps showing the arrow and it is only happening on my iphone 11 not 6s (both are running 13.1.3)
I have reported this to Apple multiple times but no response and "Recent Similar Reports" is also at:None
 

bruno.bmn

macrumors newbie
Oct 7, 2019
11
0
hello, did you have any news for the GPS problem?
it is very much frustrating to see this icon appearing every other moment. I have turned off status bar icon option off, yet it keeps showing the arrow and it is only happening on my iphone 11 not 6s (both are running 13.1.3)
I have reported this to Apple multiple times but no response and "Recent Similar Reports" is also at:None


Same here, it's very frustrating.
I keep leaving my location services turned off and only turn them on when needed (eg Uber, Swarm, etc).
 

umzyi

macrumors 6502
Apr 21, 2011
264
70
UK
I've installed iOS 13.2 Beta 4 and it seems that the Location-Bug is still there. The GPS arrow is happily flickering every few seconds (about every 30).
Just wonderful!!! How much devs care to fix this.
Losing hope they can actually fix it.
 
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