How to turn on photo location on iPhone and Android

iPhone

1. 1Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services and make sure Location Services is on.
2. 2Scroll down and tap Camera.
3. 3Choose While Using the App.
4. 4Turn on Precise Location. Without it, photos get an approximate location that can be several kilometres off.

From now on, every photo and video taken with the Camera app carries its location.

Google Pixel and other phones with Google Camera

1. 1Make sure location is on: swipe down from the top of the screen and check the Location tile.
2. 2Open the Camera app and open its settings (the gear icon, or swipe down in the camera view).
3. 3Turn on Save location. If Android asks for location permission, allow it while using the app.

Samsung Galaxy

1. 1Open the Camera app and tap the gear icon.
2. 2Turn on Location tags.
3. 3Allow location access for the Camera if asked, and make sure Location is on in quick settings.

Check that it works

Take a test photo outdoors, then open it and swipe up. You should see a map with the place. You can also drop it into the photo location finder to see the exact coordinates the phone saved.

The first photo after opening the camera can miss its location if the phone hasn't found a GPS signal yet. Waiting a few seconds outdoors fixes it.

Does it drain the battery?

Barely. The camera asks for a location only while it's open, and phones reuse the position they already have from Wi-Fi and cell towers. The difference over a day of travel is too small to notice.

Keeping location in photos you share

Location is saved in the original file. It's removed when photos go through Instagram, Facebook, X or WhatsApp, and kept when you use AirDrop, email, a cloud drive or send the photo as a file. If you'd rather not share it, see how to remove location from photos.