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How do I enable Yelp to receive my location while the app runs in the background?

Please note that this feature is currently only available to users in the U.S.A. and Canada.

Enabling Yelp to receive your location while the Yelp app runs in the background allows us to give you local tips and help you discover great places while you’re on the go. We'll receive your location from the mobile app and use it to personalize your experience on Yelp, and send you a push notification when you are near new places you might like. You can also update your location settings to other preferences.

Instructions for:


From an iPhone

There are two ways to turn ON Background Location.

Turn on when you see an iOS prompt:
  • Tap Always when you are asked to allow Yelp to access your location
 
Turn on via the app Settings page:
  1. Tap More
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Tap Location Services 
  4. Tap Location Settings 
  5. Tap Location
  6. Tap Always

To turn OFF Background Location follow the same steps as above but tap While using the App or Never.

As long as you select “While Using the App”, you can still use features relying on your current location—such as local search, “Nearby” feeds, and check-ins—without turning on Background Location.

From an Android

To turn ON Background Location
  1. Tap More
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Tap Location Access
  4. If your current setting is Deny: Tap Allow only while using the app in the pop-up, then While using Yelp, Permissions, Location (under Allowed), then Allow all the time
  5. If your current setting is While Using Yelp: Tap While using Yelp, Permissions, Location (under Allowed), then Allow all the time
  6. If your current setting is All the time, you already have background location sharing enabled

To turn OFF Background Location
  1. Tap More
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Tap Location Access
  4. ​Tap your current location setting and change it to Allow only while using the app or Deny
As long as you’ve enabled Location Services, you can still use features relying on your current location—such as local search, “Nearby” feeds, and check-ins—without turning on Background Location.