Is it possible to get the user's location when both cellular data and Wi-Fi are disabled?

Question

I was recently in Scotland with a Canadian telephone, and in order to avoid roaming, my cellular data was disconnected during the trip. However, the pictures I shot showed clear geotags, which meant that my location was still available for my camera apps (although I couldn’t see these locations on the map until I got home).

My question is: how can I get location data in a situation where I can’t display a map because I don’t have an Internet connection? And just in order to improve my understanding of how location recovery happens? If cellular data is turned off, is GPS still available or can only location be determined using nearby Wi-Fi access points at this point? And finally, if both cellular data and wi-fi are disabled on the device, can the location still be retrieved (that is, the GPS is still active)?

Any information on this subject is welcome - all I am trying to do is handle all the possible situations created by the presence or absence of location services, and an Internet connection in the application, where I (if possible) display and save the user's location,

Thanks!

Answer 1

iOS devices that have actual GPS equipment can provide accurate location data even if there is no Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

Of course, most mapping applications require an Internet connection to display the map. But if you have a map application with local map data, you can see a map with your position even without an Internet connection.

On devices with actual GPS, location services work fine, without the Internet. This may take a little longer in your place, but it still works fine. Of course, on iOS devices without real GPS, you need a cellular or Wi-Fi signal to get any location data.