iOS Location Permissions Guide: "Always" vs "While Using" Explained

When an app on iPhone asks for location, Apple gives you multiple options: Never, Once, While Using the App, Always. That many choices creates confusion. In this guide we break down what each level actually means, which situation requires which — and there's a critical detail specifically for location reminder apps.

iOS's 4 Permission Levels

iOS is aggressive about privacy — app access to location is restricted by default. The first time you open a new app it shows a location permission dialog with four options:

Don't Allow

The app cannot access location at all. All location-dependent features are disabled. For location reminder apps, this makes them completely non-functional.

Allow Once

The app can access location during this session (typically until you close the app). It asks again next time. Use case: One-off location needs like "find ATMs near me." Bad for location reminders: having to grant permission every time you open the app is impractical.

While Using the App

The app gets location only when open and in the foreground. Lock the screen, switch apps, or close — access is cut. Ideal for most apps (maps, navigation, weather).

Insufficient for location reminders: the whole point of reminders is that they work when the app is closed. With "While Using," Pinping only works when actively open — which means keeping the app open all day, which isn't practical.

Always

The app can access location in foreground, background, and even when fully closed. iOS manages this at the system level — it doesn't give the app continuous location, but rather wakes the app when you cross defined geofence boundaries. This is the required permission for location reminder apps.

Why Is "Always" Required for Location Reminders?

By the nature of geofencing. iOS monitors boundary crossings as a system service. This monitoring only works with Always permission. With "While Using," iOS forgets about the app the moment it closes — meaning monitoring stops.

Practical test: Set Pinping to "While Using," add a pin, close the app. Walk near the pin — no notification. Switch to "Always" and repeat — notification fires.

Privacy Concerns: Is "Always" Dangerous?

"Always" sounds scary, but Apple has strict protection layers:

• iOS doesn't hand the app continuous location. In the geofencing system, only "entered/left fence" signals are sent — not raw GPS coordinates.
• Apple monitors at the system level. Location data isn't sent to app servers — Pinping, for example, keeps all location data locally on your device.
• The blue indicator. If an app uses location in the background, a blue location pill periodically appears in the status bar. You'll see it if anything's amiss.
• Monthly usage reports. Settings → Privacy → Location Services → app — see how many times this app accessed location this month.

Bottom line: granting "Always" does not mean the app is continuously tracking you. The system architecture prevents it.

How to Change Permissions

If you chose wrong at first launch or want to change later:

1. Open Settings
2. Scroll to find Pinping (or whichever app) in the apps list and tap it
3. Tap Location
4. Select Always from the list
5. Make sure Precise Location is on (critical for 50m-level accuracy)

Checking All Your Location Permissions

To audit every app's location access: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. Each app shows its current permission level. Over the years you've probably granted unnecessary "Always" permissions — this is a good place to clean house.

Wrapping up

For location reminder apps, "Always" is a technical requirement, not a privacy threat. iOS's architecture protects you. That said, be selective about which apps you grant it to — prefer open source or known developers, and favor apps that keep data on-device.