Location Services Not Working on your Mac Device? Solutions

There are many advantages to turning on Location Services on a Mac. To function properly and effectively, some programs, websites, and system functions may require knowledge of your precise location. 

For instance, in order to set up and use the Find My Mac feature on your Mac device, Location Services must be enabled and functional. This is due to the fact that Find My Mac will make use of Location Services to find your friends or trace your belongings (such as an Airtag or an iPhone, iPad, or Mac) in the event that they are lost or stolen.

Now, there are sometimes when it appears like Location services aren’t working on your device and you’re not sure what to do to fix the issue. Thankfully, we’ve put this guide together with this question in mind, to help you fix Location Services and get it working properly on your Mac.

Enable Location Services on your Device

When it appears that Location Services is not working on your device, it’s important to first verify whether you’ve previously enabled Location Services on your Mac in order to address this problem. 

Your precise location is used by a large number of native and third-party apps, including Microsoft Teams and Slack. This is where you should start if your apps are having trouble determining where you currently are, so follow these steps:

• Open Spotlight Search by pressing Command+Spacebar, then type “System Preferences” and hit Return.
• Select Security and Privacy.
• At your screen’s bottom left corner, tap on the lock symbol.
• Use Touch ID or a password to confirm your action.
• Verify that Location Services are turned on. Check the box next to “Enable Location Services” if it isn’t already checked.
• Scroll down, then click on Details to check System Services after that has been enabled.
• To receive Siri and Safari suggestions on your Mac, turn on location-based suggestions.
• Additionally, you can enable Significant Locations to let your Mac identify key locations. The Calendar app and Apple Maps will then offer recommendations.
• For modifications to be saved, click Done.
• To save changes, click the Unlock symbol.

Once you turn on this function, your Mac will use your IP address to determine where you are when it’s connected to Wi-Fi.

Enable Location Services for your Mac’s Apps

The second thing you should verify is whether or not you’ve given installed Mac apps the necessary permission to view your location. Sometimes, we install an app without giving it permission to view our location. 

Due to this, the app is unable to retrieve the information or material that is appropriate for your location. Find My, which is linked to your iCloud account, is the most significant app that needs access to your location. To enable Location Services for your apps, follow these steps:

• Open Spotlight Search by pressing Command+Spacebar, then type “System Preferences” and hit Return. You can also select the System Preferences icon from the dock.
• Select Security and Privacy.
• At the bottom, click the lock icon.
• Use Touch ID or a passcode to confirm your action.
• Select the checkbox beside the name of the app you want to turn on location services for.
• To save changes, tap the Unlock icon in the lower left corner.

There you go, you should be able to use the location services for your apps now.

Check your Mac’s Date and Time Settings

The date and time settings on your Mac need to reflect your current location. Your apps won’t function properly or offer you relevant suggestions till then. Check your Mac’s date and time settings by following these steps:

• On the Dock, click the Launchpad icon.
• Select the System Preferences icon.
• Then select Date and Time.
• To access the features, tap on the lock icon at the bottom-left corner of the Date and Time window.
• Use Touch ID or a passcode to confirm your action.
• Toggle on Automatically Set Date and Time by clicking.
• Click the Time Zone tab after that.
• Choose Time Zone Automatically Using Current Location by clicking on it.
• To save changes, click the Unlock symbol.

Restart your Device

We advise restarting your device after enabling Location Services for your Mac, and its programs, and reviewing the Date & Time Settings. Your system will get a new start after you’ve applied the settings. To restart your Mac, follow these easy steps:

• In the top-left corner, click the Apple icon.
• Choose Restart.

Update your Mac Device

Your last option is to update macOS if you continue to experience problems with Location Services on your Mac. There is a possibility that this problem on your device is caused by a software flaw. This is especially if you are using an outdated model, so you should seriously think about updating the macOS version.

By heading to System Preferences > Software Update on your Mac device, you’ll be able to check for updates. Click the Update Now button if there’s a later version you need to update to.

Summarily, turning on Location Services on your Mac device is crucial to proper functioning, especially to access all your preferred web content and to track your other devices. If your Mac’s Location Services are not working, try any of the fixes we’ve suggested in this article. Also, don’t forget to recommend this article to your friends and loved ones.

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