Permissions & Troubleshooting
GPS Toolbox requests system access only for relevant features. You may deny a permission and continue using features that do not depend on it.
Permission purposes
| Permission | Trigger | Purpose | Effect if denied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location While Using | Home, maps, measurement, altitude, speed, camera, track following | Show or sample current location | Current-location features are unavailable |
| Always Location | Background track recording and live sharing | Continue updating after the app enters the background or the screen locks | Recording or sharing may stop in the background |
| Camera | Watermark Camera and point attachment capture | Take photos | Capture is unavailable; other content remains accessible |
| Add to Photos | After Watermark Camera capture | Save the finished photo to the system library | Watermarked photos cannot be saved to Photos |
| Photos Picker | Add an attachment to a point | Import only the photo or video you select | You cannot attach media from Photos |
| Local Network | A LAN-hosted location-sharing service | Connect to a service on the same local network | LAN development servers cannot be reached |
| Motion and sensors | Level and magnetic-field utilities | Read device attitude or sensor data | The related sensor utility is unavailable |
The app uses the system Photos picker and does not request full-library read access. You control which items are selected.
Change permissions
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security, choose Location Services, Camera, Photos, or Motion & Fitness, and select GPS Toolbox.
After access is disabled, the app stops receiving new data through that system API. Data already saved locally, in iCloud, in Photos, or on the live-sharing server is not deleted automatically. See Privacy Policy.
Common issues
No current location on the map
Confirm permission and wait for a location fix. Indoor positioning can be slow. You can also tap the location control in the lower-right corner of the map.
Background recording or sharing stops
Confirm Always location access. Low Power Mode, force-quitting the app, or device-management policies may stop background activity. The system location indicator should remain visible while background access is active.
Speed is zero or unavailable
This is normal while stationary, moving slowly, under poor signal, or before iOS has a reliable speed estimate. Move steadily in an open area before evaluating the reading.
Compass or magnetic readings are abnormal
Move away from magnets, MagSafe accessories, speakers, motors, metal desks, and high-current equipment. Follow the system calibration prompt when shown.
A watermarked photo was not saved
Make sure GPS Toolbox may add photos and that the device has available storage. The app does not silently overwrite other photos when saving fails.
iCloud sync is not active
Confirm that the device is signed in to an Apple Account and iCloud Drive is enabled. Restart the app after changing the sync switch. If the cloud container is unavailable, the app falls back to local storage for that launch.