How do I turn on Google map tracking on my iPhone?

Keeping Tabs on Your Travels: Enabling Continuous Location Tracking in Google Maps on iPhone

Google Maps is a powerful tool, but its full potential, especially for features relying on location history, isn’t unlocked unless you enable continuous location tracking. This article provides a clear, step-by-step guide to activating this feature on your iPhone. Unlike many guides, we’ll emphasize the crucial second step often overlooked: ensuring Background App Refresh is enabled.

Step 1: Granting Unrestricted Location Access

This is the foundational step. Without this, Google Maps can’t track your location consistently. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open your iPhone’s Settings app. This is the grey icon with gears, usually found on your home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Google.” You should see the Google Maps icon listed in your applications. If you don’t see it, ensure you have the Google Maps app installed.
3. Select “Location.” This option controls how Google Maps and other Google services access your location information.
4. Choose “Always.” This setting grants Google Maps permission to access your precise location at all times, even when the app isn’t actively open.

Step 2: Enabling Background App Refresh (The Often-Missed Step)

This is where many users stumble. Even with “Always” location access granted, continuous tracking won’t work without Background App Refresh enabled. This allows Google Maps to continue operating and updating your location in the background.

1. Return to the main Settings menu.
2. Tap on “General.”
3. Select “Background App Refresh.”
4. Ensure “Background App Refresh” is toggled ON. This setting may be globally enabled or disabled; if off, toggle it on.
5. Scroll down and find “Google Maps.” Make sure the toggle switch next to Google Maps is also turned ON. This specifically allows Google Maps to refresh its location data in the background.

Important Considerations:

• Battery Life: Continuous location tracking will naturally impact your battery life. If you’re concerned about battery drain, consider using location tracking only when necessary, or explore options within Google Maps to limit tracking to specific time periods or activities.
• Privacy: Be mindful of the privacy implications of always-on location tracking. Review Google’s privacy policy and consider your comfort level with this level of data collection.

By following these two simple, yet often overlooked, steps, you can ensure Google Maps accurately tracks your movements, providing a more seamless and feature-rich experience. Remember to regularly check your settings to maintain consistent location tracking.