Tag shots with location, or turn it off
With Tag shots with location on, which is the default, and location allowed, each new still and take records where it was taken and which way the camera pointed. Turn it off in Settings, General. The sun overlay works either way.
Viewfinder asks for location while you use the app. The same permission places the sun.
What is recorded
- The position, from a fix no older than two minutes. A shot taken with no fresh fix is not tagged.
- The bearing, the direction the camera pointed, but only when it is referenced to true north. A magnetic-only heading is left out.
- How far the camera was tilted up or down.
Where it shows
- A still's GPS tags, with the bearing.
- The shot's page in Shots, with a map and Open in Maps.
- The Located filter in Shots.
- The Full PDF shot list: GPS, bearing, a map code and an Apple Maps link.
A take keeps its position in the app's shot record. Saved to Photos, the take's place goes on the Photos item.
Turn it off
- Open Settings and go to General.
- Turn off Tag shots with location.
New shots are then not tagged. Shots already taken keep their position. If the switch is on and iOS location access is off, Settings says "Location access is off, so new shots are not tagged", with a row to open the iPhone's Settings.
On iPhone Duo, part-folded, a shot is tagged with no bearing or tilt, because the camera and the motion sensor can be on different halves.
If that didn't work
If shots arrive without a position, step outside for a fix and check that location access is allowed for Viewfinder in the iPhone's Settings.
Related
Updated November 2, 2026