iOS 13.3.1: a new option to disable UWB location

A few days ago, the Cupertino companyreleased the second beta version of iOS 13.3.1aimed at developers. This did not seem to bring any notable changes to Apple's mobile operating system. But that was without counting the find by Brandon Butch, YouTuber specializing in iOS. The latter in fact highlighted the appearance of a new option in the settings, which was also promised by the Californian company.

So iOS 13.3.1 beta 2 does have a new toggle to disable Ultra Wideband.pic.twitter.com/Tswt7V5GMV

— Brandon Butch (@BrandonButch)January 17, 2020

Disabling UWB

The option in question can be found inSettings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services. It is called “Networking & Wireless” in English. Deactivating this option seems to prevent or in any case limit the operation of Ultra Wide Band.

It is precisely this functionality, exclusive to the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro and which aims to improve the user's position information, particularly in interior spaces, which was the origin of a scandal a few years ago. weeks. Indeed, despite disabling all location features, an iPhone 11 user revealed that iOSkept searching for the location of the iOS device. A few days after this discovery,Apple has calmed things downspecifying that this research is in fact caused by the U1 chip of the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, underlying the UWB function.

The Cupertino company then explained that the iPhone must regularly check if the user is in an area where the UWB function is permitted (which is not the case everywhere), hence the appearance a geolocation icon, remaining visible despite deactivating all geolocation settings.

Except that UWB remains of little use as it stands. It would improve the AirDrop functionality. But it should surely be used in the future on iPhone, once the (still hypothetical) arrival of the object trackerApple AirTagon the market.

It is therefore of no great consequence for the moment to deactivate UWB, as allowed by the new beta of iOS 13.3.1. The addition of this new option was also announced by Apple a few weeks ago, so this is a promise kept, and rather quickly, it must be admitted.

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.