Maps and Location

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Build maps and location awareness capabilities into your apps.

Posts under Maps and Location tag

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OS Location via Bluetooth GPS receiver
Hello, We are a software and hardware development company for the forestry and environmental sectors. We have been based in Quebec (Canada) for over 30 years now. Our Canadian market covers Quebec, Ontario, and the Maritime provinces in the east. We are currently expanding across Canada and into the northern United States. We are on Android platforms with several map and data entry applications. To ensure the success of our expansion, we aim to become part of the Apple family, which is why we are contacting you today. We have developed our own GNSS receiver to increase the location accuracy of our users. This device is called GSFGPS. It uses Bluetooth BLE to communicate with mobile devices and a high-precision GPS that transmits its position using the NMEA protocol. We would like this device to be compatible with an iPhone/iPad. We have developed a mock location application in MAUI (multi-platform). Based on our interpretation of your documentation, we understand that the concept of mock location does not exist at Apple. How can we ensure that our Bluetooth GNSS device is compatible with your iPhone/iPad devices and that they can use the position of the Bluetooth device rather than the internal GPS of your devices? We are a reseller for Juniper Systems, and we know that they have an app on the App Store that has the same features as our product. https://junipersys.com/index.php/support/article/14709 We look forward to your follow-up and recommendations.
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[Regression] Core Location underground positioning inaccurate on iOS 26.1 beta (23B5044i)
Summary While parallel testing Core Location on the new iOS 26.1 beta (23B5044i), I observed what I believe to be a regression of the issue described here: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/779192 Specifically, user positioning underground subway stations is noticeably inaccurate on the beta, whereas the same scenarios remain accurate on the unupgraded device below. I work with the MTA (New York City) and work with the OP of that thread. Happy to provide additional testing or details if helpful. Please let me know what else you need. Test Info Riding NYCT from Wall St to 34th St Penn Station on the 2 train carrying two iphones Recording: https://limewire.com/d/dpTWi#pDC3GRYIdE Expected: Consistent underground positioning comparable to prior releases. Actual: Degraded/inaccurate underground positioning on iOS 26.1 beta. Test Devices Left Screen: iPhone 15 Pro Max - iOS 26.1 beta (23B5044i) Right Screen: iPhone 11 - iOS 18.6.2 (22G100) Blue dots show location set by CoreLocation. Red dot on iphone 11 shows the actual location of both devices as I was able to manually place while travelling through a station. Placement through tunnels is not easy to verify and not usually indicated. Timestamps Comparison of when train was actually observed in a station vs when 26.1 and 18.6.2 CoreLocation updated to the station Fulton St 1:48 iOS 26.1 correctly updates (correctly) 2:16 iOS 18.6.2 updates (28sec late) Park Place 4:12 train arrives 4:15 iOS 18.6.2 updates to ~near Park Place 5:04 iOS 18.6.2 updates to Park Place (correctly) 6:07 iOS 26.1 update to ~near Park Place (over 2 mins late) Chambers St 6:02 train arrives / iOS 18.6.2 updates (correctly) 6:14 iOS 26.1 updates to ~near Chambers 6:18 iOS 26.1 update to Chambers (correctly) Franklin St 6:52 train arrives 6:55 iOS 18.6.2 updates (correctly) x:xx iOS 26.1 does not update Canal St: 7:16 train arrives 7:18 iOS 18.6.2 updates (correctly) x:xx iOS 26.1 does not update Houston St 7:54 train arrives 8:00 iOS 18.6.2 updates (correctly) x:xx iOS 26.1 does not update Christopher St 8:37 iOS 26.1 presumably between Houston St and Christopher St 8:40 train arrives / iOS 18.6.2 updates (correctly) x:xx iOS 26.1 does not update 14 St 9:22 train arrives 9:28 iOS 18.6.2 updates (correctly) 11:01 as train departs station iOS 26.1 updates (1.5 mins late)
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CLLocation.sourceInformation.isSimulatedBySoftware not detecting third-party location spoofing tools
Summary CLLocationSourceInformation.isSimulatedBySoftware (iOS 15+) fails to detect location spoofing when using third-party tools like LocaChange, despite Apple's documentation stating it should detect simulated locations. Environment iOS 18.0 (tested and confirmed) Physical device with Developer Mode enabled Third-party location spoofing tools (e.g., LocaChange etc.) Expected Behavior According to Apple's documentation, isSimulatedBySoftware should return true when: "if the system generated the location using on-device software simulation. " Actual Behavior Tested on iOS 18.0: When using LocaChange sourceInformation.isSimulatedBySoftware returns false This occurs even though the location is clearly being simulated. Steps to Reproduce Enable Developer Mode on iOS 18 device Connect device to Mac via USB Use LocaChange to spoof location to a different city/country In your app, request location updates and check CLLocation.sourceInformation?.isSimulatedBySoftware Observe that it returns false or sourceInformation is nil Compare with direct Xcode location simulation (Debug → Simulate Location) which correctly returns true
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External GPS receiver
Hello, We are a software and hardware development company for the forestry and environmental sectors. We have been based in Quebec (Canada) for over 30 years now. Our Canadian market covers Quebec, Ontario, and the Maritime provinces in the east. We are currently expanding across Canada and into the northern United States. We are on Android platforms with several map and data entry applications. To ensure the success of our expansion, we aim to become part of the Apple family, which is why we are contacting you today. We have developed our own GNSS receiver to increase the location accuracy of our users. It uses Bluetooth BLE to communicate with mobile devices and a high-precision GPS that transmits its position using the NMEA protocol. We would like this device to be compatible with an iPhone/iPad. We have developed a mock location application in MAUI (multi-platform). Based on our interpretation of your documentation, we understand that the concept of mock location does not exist at Apple. How can we ensure that our Bluetooth GNSS device is compatible with your iPhone/iPad devices and that they can use the position of the Bluetooth device rather than the internal GPS of your devices? We are a reseller for Juniper Systems, and we know that they have an app on the App Store that has the same features as our product. https://junipersys.com/index.php/support/article/14709 We look forward to your follow-up and recommendations.
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3d
Incorrect position rendering of WGS84 coordinate in MKMapView: Discrepancy between Apple Maps (Hong Kong) and Amap (Mainland China)
I am encountering a coordinate rendering issue using MKMapView in my iOS app. I have a GPS coordinate in WGS84 format, which corresponds to a location in Hong Kong. When my device is physically located in Hong Kong, MKMapView displays the map with the "Apple Maps" label, and the WGS84 coordinate is rendered at the correct position. However, when the device is in Mainland China, MKMapView switches to display "Amap" (Gaode Maps) branding, and the same WGS84 coordinate is rendered at an incorrect position. I understand that Amap in Mainland China uses the GCJ-02 coordinate system, while Apple Maps typically uses WGS84. This discrepancy suggests a potential coordinate system mismatch, but I cannot definitively confirm which map type (and corresponding coordinate system) MKMapView is actually using in different regions. My key questions are: How can I programmatically or visually confirm the underlying map type (Apple Maps vs. Amap) and its coordinate system within MKMapView? Is there a way to simulate the Apple Maps environment for testing when physically located in Mainland China?
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CLMonitor init function causes app crash
I'm experiencing app crashes when calling the CLMonitor initialization function: let monitor = await CLMonitor("my_monitor") According to WWDC 2023: Meet Core Location Monitor, when creating a CLMonitor object with the same identifier, it should access the existing monitor without any mention of app crashes or buggy behavior. However, in my actual testing, attempting to create a CLMonitor object with the same identifier immediately causes an app crash. Here's part of the crash log: Last Exception Backtrace: 0 CoreFoundation 0x19c4ab21c __exceptionPreprocess + 164 (NSException.m:249) 1 libobjc.A.dylib 0x199945abc objc_exception_throw + 88 (objc-exception.mm:356) 2 Foundation 0x19b7a9670 -[NSAssertionHandler handleFailureInMethod:object:file:lineNumber:description:] + 288 (NSException.m:252) 3 CoreLocation 0x1aa25cbb4 +[CLMonitor _requestMonitorWithConfiguration:locationManager:completion:] + 516 (CLMonitor.mm:516) 4 libswiftCoreLocation.dylib 0x22bf6085c CLMonitor.init(_:) + 488 (CLMonitor.swift:280) 5 libswiftCoreLocation.dylib 0x22bf604b9 <deduplicated_symbol> + 1 6 MiniPlengi 0x106372ec9 closure #1 in static CLMonitor.loplatMonitor.getter + 1 (CLMonitor+Extensions.swift:31) 7 MiniPlengi 0x1062ce325 0x106290000 + 254757 8 MiniPlengi 0x1062f6a29 specialized thunk for @escaping @isolated(any) @callee_guaranteed @async () -> (@out A) + 1 (/<compiler-generated>:0) 9 MiniPlengi 0x1062ce325 0x106290000 + 254757 10 libswift_Concurrency.dylib 0x1a7f75241 completeTaskWithClosure(swift::AsyncContext*, swift::SwiftError*) + 1 (Task.cpp:537) Furthermore, even though I've written code to create CLMonitor objects based on a singleton structure to handle these crash cases, the app still crashes: extension CLMonitor { static var loplatMonitor: CLMonitor { get async { struct Static { static var monitor: CLMonitor? static var initializationTask: Task<CLMonitor, Never>? } // If already initialized if let monitor = Static.monitor { return monitor } // If there's an initialization task in progress, wait for its result if let task = Static.initializationTask { return await task.value } // Create new initialization task let task = Task { let monitor = await CLMonitor("my_monitor") Static.monitor = monitor Static.initializationTask = nil // Clean up task after completion return monitor } Static.initializationTask = task return await task.value } } } Is the CLMonitor API still in a stabilization phase and not recommended for production release? I would appreciate guidance on the correct usage. If these issues are expected to persist, I'm wondering if I should continue using the existing CLCircularRegion API instead. Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
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Flutter: abnormal delay on iOS in position recovery on first opening
Good morning everyone, I am developing a Flutter app for Android and iOS. When I press a button, the app detects the location of the device (obviously with permissions already granted). On Android everything works correctly. On iOS, however, when I press the button for the first time after opening the app, the location is detected after about 30-50 seconds. On the other hand, if I repeat the operation later, the response time is drastically reduced (only a few seconds). I am using the location package (https://pub.dev/packages/location), and the code to get the location is as follows: var currentLocation = await location.getLocation(); Has anyone experienced this problem before or knows how to solve it? Thank you very much! Federico
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2w
kCLErrorLocationUnknown becoming a big issue
In the last few months we have seen a lot of the following errors in which it fails to retrieve location information. This seems to happen across multiple browsers and feels related to apple/mac OS more than the browsers. Error: "CoreLocationProvider: CoreLocation framework reported a kCLErrorLocationUnknown failure." Any suggestions or an ETA on when this can be fixed? I have seen other threads/posts on this but wanted a new one to highlight the issue is prevalent.
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Sync Conflict Between Contacts & Maps, Possible Cross-App Link with Home App Issue
Pinned 2 homes address for the same contact Steps Initial check in Apple Maps No saved places or pinned addresses appear. Open Personal Contacts You have two addresses stored in your contact card: Main and Home. Pin & Edit “Main” You pinned the Main address in Maps. Refined the location on the map. Renamed it (but still saved under the type “My Home”). Open “Home” Address in Contacts Refined the location again. Changed the type to “My Home.” Attempted to rename, but no option to change the label. Final Saved Places View Shows two entries both called “Main.” Opening either of them displays the same details for the Home address. Saved Places list only shows the full address text, without the ability to rename them inside Maps. Results Both addresses appear duplicated with the same name (“Main”), even though they point to different underlying addresses. When selecting either entry, Apple Maps incorrectly shows the same Home address details. The Saved Places section does not allow renaming; it defaults to showing the full address string. Issues Identified Sync Conflict Between Contacts & Maps Apple Maps pulls labels/types from Contacts, but the edits don’t update consistently across apps. Duplicate Naming Bug Both “Main” and “Home” collapse into “Main” in Saved Places, making them indistinguishable. One-to-One Mapping Failure Regardless of which saved place you open, Maps shows the same Home entry, meaning the system isn’t correctly binding each saved place to its respective contact address. Renaming Limitation Apple Maps doesn’t allow renaming saved addresses directly — it relies on Contacts. Since Contacts only supports preset labels (Home, Work, School, etc.), custom naming is blocked.
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How to access launchOptions in SceneDelegate?
Previously, when using AppDelegate, I was able to check the app’s launch options (launchOptions) to determine cases such as: Location updates (UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey.location) Background push notifications (UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey.remoteNotification) However, after migrating to the SceneDelegate approach, launchOptions is no longer available — it always returns nil. In my app, I need to branch the code depending on the launch options, but I can’t find a way to achieve this in the SceneDelegate environment. 👉 Is there a way to access launch options in SceneDelegate, similar to how it worked in AppDelegate? Or, if that’s no longer possible, what would be the proper alternative approach? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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121
Sep ’25
MapKit MapReader Not working on iOS 26
I have the following code snippet with a simple map and map reader that shows a pin on the map when the user selects a location struct MapReaderTest: View { @State private var loc: CLLocationCoordinate2D? = nil var body: some View { MapReader { proxy in Map { UserAnnotation() if let loc { Marker(coordinate: loc, label: { Text("Marker") }) } } .onTapGesture { position in let position = proxy.convert(position, from: .local) loc = position } } } } This snippet compiles and works perfectly fine using Xcode version 16.4 building for iOS 18.0 and running on a device. This snippet also works for me when I build using Xcode 26 Beta and run in the canvas or simulator, however it does not work when I compile using Xcode 26 and run it on a physical device(I built and tested for both iOS 18.6 and iOS 26 Beta) Has anyone else had a similar issue / have any ideas for work arounds?
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96
Aug ’25
How to Start with Default Apple Maps Functionality in iOS 18+
Hi everyone, I’m building an iOS 18+ app in Xcode where Apple Maps is central. My goal is to start with the default Apple Maps experience (map view, search bar, pins, directions sheet, etc.) and then customize it for my project. I tried coding it from scratch using MapKit and SwiftUI, but I wasn’t able to get full parity with the basic features of the Maps app. My questions: Is there any sample project, template, or reference that provides the default Apple Maps functionality (views + interactions) as a baseline? Can I copy these into my Xcode project and then extend/customize them? If not, what’s the recommended best practice to get as close as possible to the native Maps app before adding my own features? Any guidance, sample code, or documentation links would be greatly appreciated.
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101
Aug ’25
MKReverseGeocodingRequest and CNPostalAddress from MKMapItem
My app is currently using CLGeocoder to get a CLPlacemark, then using placemark.postalAddress with CNPostalAddressFormatter to get an attributed string for the full address, I then enumerate its attributes to pull out specific elements like just the street or state or zip etc. This is deprecated in iOS 26 with MKReverseGeocodingRequest being the intended replacement. This API returns an MKMapItem which doesn’t provide a CNPostalAddress - you can get a full address as a String but not structured address data that I’m seeing. Am I missing some way to get the postal address? Or is it a non-goal to provide that anymore? Thanks!
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135
Aug ’25
Problem receiving Remote Notification in the background after Review Rejected
I created an app. One if its functionalities is receive Remote Notification in the background, while app is monitoring Significant Location Changes (SLC). This functionality worked fine. I was receiving these notifications correctly. Sometimes instantly, sometime with small or large delay. And then I send the app for review. It was rejected with 3 remarks: The app or metadata includes information about third-party platforms that may not be relevant for App Store users, who are focused on experiences offered by the app itself (I wrote that app communication works both for iOS and Android.) The app declares support for audio in the UIBackgroundModes key in your Info.plist but we are unable to locate any features that require persistent audio. EULA (End User License Agreement) is missing for in-app purchases. After the rejection the app is no longer receiving these notifications. They are there, since the app receives them, when I open app, or significant location change is detected. It also works, when I run the app directly from Xcode (in debug mode), not from TestFlight nor in Sandbox. It seem to me like Apple somehow spoiled my background capabilities on purpose or accidentally. Is it possible? What can I do with it? Is it the case that I should just fix the review remarks and send the app back to review, and once the app passes it, it will work again? Or should I not count on it? Any suggestions? I asked Apple using: https://developer.apple.com/contact/topic/#!/topic/select but so far no response.
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Aug ’25
Live Weather Radar Overlay in CarPlay Maps
Hi all — I wanted to share an idea I recently submitted through Feedback Assistant that I think could improve safety and usability for drivers using CarPlay: Add an option to overlay live weather radar (rain, snow, storms, etc.) directly onto CarPlay Maps while navigating. Similar to how traffic conditions are shown now, this would allow drivers to visually track incoming weather in real time without switching apps or relying on separate devices. Why this matters: • Enhances driver safety by increasing situational awareness • Helps with trip planning and route adjustments around severe weather • Reduces distractions by integrating everything into one screen • Useful for everyday drivers, long-haul travelers, and first responders I submitted this via Feedback Assistant, but I’d love to know what others think. If you also see value in this feature, consider submitting your own version via Feedback Assistant so Apple sees there’s interest. Let’s push for smarter, safer navigation — thanks for reading!
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699
Jul ’25
Dynamic Location Tracking using CLServiceSession and CLBackgroundActivitySession
Hello, I'm currently implementing code to track routes and determine if users have arrived at their destination using CLServiceSession, CLBackgroundActivitySession, and CLLocationUpdate.liveUpdates. I want to obtain location data across all app states: foreground, background, and terminated. I have two questions: Background Location Indicator Issue: I'm using CLBackgroundActivitySession to get location updates in the background. Normally, the background location indicator (blue bar) doesn't appear at the top left of the screen for my app. However, when another app (e.g., LiveUpdatesSample) activates CLBackgroundActivitySession, my app's background location indicator suddenly becomes visible. Can you explain why this happens? or Can I Control showsBackgroundLocationIndicator in CLBackgroundActivitySession Session Management: Is there a way to terminate all currently active CLBackgroundActivitySessions? I understand that when CLBackgroundActivitySession is activated and the app is terminated and then relaunched, a new CLBackgroundActivitySession needs to be created. In this case, are the previously created and running CLBackgroundActivitySessions automatically released when the app is relaunched?
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134
Jul ’25
Replacement for deprecated CLPlacemark.region?
Hello, I use CLGeocoder to get the CLLocationCoordinate2D and CLRegion for an address. Now that this is deprecated in OS 26, I don't see a replacement for that property on MKMapItem via MKMapItemRequest and PlaceDescriptor. I've filed FB19027378 on this issue. Basically I have some addresses that have a street address, and others that just have a city. With CLGeocoder, when geocoding just the city, the CLRegion was set such that I could show my map zoomed out just right. I'm not sure how to do that now. Thanks!
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90
Jul ’25