At this point I think it's not a bug, in the end the impact it has on the battery is minimal
Agree, there's no way to fix this. I've consistently seen this behavior across many devices all across iOS 14.3 onwards (11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12 Pro Max).
Best solution: Have the essentials on for system based location services, then switch off the indicator = Problem Solved.
I disable that option to search for devices even offline. I don't have another Apple device, so there's no reason to leave it on. I believe that's why you're accessing less. But what I really can't understand is why Find My iPhone didn't access GPS at all times on iOS 13 and 14.0.Well, for me it was same, but but not for long, just now gps triggered when I started safari. I blocked it then unlocked again, again gps on
I've already given up and left "Find My" activated. After a lot of research, I came to the conclusion that this is the normal operation of this option. It keeps sending some weak bluetooth signals to find lost and disconnected Apple devices (Network Find My) and keeps analyzing the data network and WiFi to know their approximate location, if you lose your iPhone or so that your iPhone communicates to Apple the location of nearby lost devices.
I think I narrowed it down to the 'Find My Network' option as well specifically.
Seems if you toggle things in the right order it seems to work. So, toggle Find My Network off, then toggle Location off, then toggle Wi-Fi off.... then re-toggle Wi-Fi, and then re-toggle Location - you don't get any more random pings even with Find my iPhone for your device left on.
Not had chance to test it for a longer time though
After more testing... nope. It stops for a while then still get lots of GPS pings for no reason (can tell it's Find my iPhone still from the settings).I'll disable Find My Network and see if it decreases the frequency with which the arrow appears.
I've already given up and left "Find My" activated. After a lot of research, I came to the conclusion that this is the normal operation of this option. It keeps sending some weak bluetooth signals to find lost and disconnected Apple devices (Network Find My) and keeps analyzing the data network and WiFi to know their approximate location, if you lose your iPhone or so that your iPhone communicates to Apple the location of nearby lost devices.
I recently updated to iOS 16.1.1 and unlike iOS 14 and 15 with latest IOS geolocation services work in old and right way, I no more see that arrow, no more constant accessing to geolocation data.
So it took them two years to fix this? Anybody else on iOS 16.1.1 could you share your experience? I hope they will not bring it back with further updates.
One thing though I have IPhone 12 Pro Max, and that behavior started to happen only with newer phones, not sure how it works on IPhone 14/pros now.
I did a little more experimenting and think that Apple is playing here. I toglled wifi switch off and back on, on iOS 14 and 15 on my iPhone this immediately triggered location services and that arrow showed up at the top, but on iOS 16.1.1 no arrow, but I checked geolocation menu setting and it does show that find my is currently using locations services. So, it appears that Apple just changed algorithm when that arrow appears.I also noticed that it drastically decreased the frequency with which iOS accesses our location in Find My iPhone after update 16.1. Very good!
I believe it's an iOS BUG in showing the arrow. Disable and re-enable the "status bar icon" option. I did this and the arrow started to appear a little more often, but nothing like the previous iOS.I did a little more experimenting and think that Apple is playing here. I toglled wifi switch off and back on, on iOS 14 and 15 on my iPhone this immediately triggered location services and that arrow showed up at the top, but on iOS 16.1.1 no arrow, but I checked geolocation menu setting and it does show that find my is currently using locations services. So, it appears that Apple just changed algorithm when that arrow appears.