Apple will introduce a new privacy feature called ‘Limit Precise Location’ with its iOS 26.3 update, restricting the ability of mobile network carriers to track users’ exact locations. The feature will be available on select iPhone and iPad devices and will not affect user experience or emergency services.
The iOS 26.3 update will add ‘Limit Precise Location’ to provide iPhone and iPad users with greater control over location privacy. When enabled, the feature will prevent mobile network carriers from tracking a user’s precise location.
Until now, mobile carriers could estimate a user’s exact position using cellular towers. After the feature is activated, carriers will only be able to determine the general area or region where the user is located, rather than an exact point.
Apple has stated that enabling this privacy feature will not negatively affect network signal strength, internet speed, or call quality. Emergency calls will continue to share the necessary location data as before.
The feature will not be available on all devices. It will work only on the cellular variants of iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and M5 iPad Pro. These devices are equipped with Apple’s C1 or C1X modems, which support the feature.
To use ‘Limit Precise Location,’ users must install iOS 26.3 or iPadOS 26.3 and enable the option through the Cellular menu in Settings.
