If you own an iPhone 11 or any higher iPhone device, and you cherish your privacy, then you’ll want to turn off the ultraband U1 chip on your phone.
This article is going to show you how to disable ultra wideband U1 Chip to prevent background location tracking.
For those who aren’t clear on why people decide to disable the U1 chip on their iPhones, I’ll explain better.
Like the H1 and W1 chips created specifically for AirPods, the U1 is a customized chip created by Apple.
The U1 chip, in contrast to the other two chips, is intended to precisely measure the separation between U1 chip-equipped devices.
Ultra-wideband, a short-range radio technology used for wireless data transmission, is what the U in U1 stands for.
However, this technology is illegal in some nations, so Apple must constantly gather location information from the device to determine whether the user is in a supported area.
This U1 chip technology is currently being used by the iPhone 11 to improve AirDrop, which can identify the closest device and prioritize showing it in sharing options.
However, some iPhone owners expressed their displeasure over the fact that their smartphones were recording location information even when location services were turned off.
Following consumer complaints that the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro continued to gather location information even when location services were disabled, Apple released a new setting to iOS 13.3.1 that makes it possible to disable the new Ultra Wideband U1 chip.
Simply follow these easy instructions that’ll be discussed next to disable the U1 chip on your iPhone if you are concerned about its use.
How to Disable Ultra Wideband U1 chip on iPhone 11 and 11 Pro
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Tap Location Services, then Privacy, as you scroll down.
- from the list, select System Services.
- Find the Networking & Wireless option, then turn off the location for it.
Your iPhone will stop constantly tracking your location once you confirm that the U1 chip is fully disabled.
Keep in mind that by turning this off, your iPhone will no longer use location services to improve Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.
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FAQ
Can You Turn Off The U1 Chip?
The U1 chip, also known as an ultra-wideband chip, is a feature of Apple’s iPhone 11 models, iPhone 12 models, and iPhone 13 models that enable them to accurately locate and connect with other U1-equipped devices. Additionally, the chip gives enhanced spatial awareness. However, it is possible to disable the U1 chip.
How Do You Know If Your iPhone Has A U1 Chip?
Whether you have the normal model, a tiny version, the Pro or Pro Max, the chip is included in every iPhone from the 11, 12, and 13 series. The Apple Watch Series 6 and 7 both include a U1 chip.
So if you use any of these apple products, keep in mind that it has a chip.
How Do I Turn Off Apple Tracking?
Navigate to Tracking under Settings > Privacy on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Navigate to Tracking under Settings > General > Privacy on Apple TV.
Tap to turn tracking permission for a specific app on or off.
What Apple Products Have The U1 Chip?
One of the major supporters of UWB is Apple.
It created its own UWB chip, the U1, which is used in Apple Watches, AirTags, and iPhones.
The “precision locating” feature of more recent iPhones works in this manner to direct you to an AirTag-enabled keychain or Apple Watch that is nearby.
What Is Ultra Wideband Used For?
The radio-based communication technique known as ultra-wideband (UWB) enables quick and reliable data transmission across small distances.
UWB is frequently the technology of choice for interior localization of moving assets in complicated and space-sensitive locations because of its unmatched precision, transmission speed, and dependability.
What Distance Can An AirTag Track?
Roughly 30 feet
However, AirTags have a functionally limitless range as long as there is a nearby iPhone user, whereas their range is limited to around 30 feet.
What Is The U1 Chip Used For?
Apple’s U1 chip enables its most current iPhone models to precisely locate and connect with other U1-equipped or ultra-wideband-capable devices.
Does UWB Interfere With Wi-Fi?
Since UWB operates between 3.1 and 10.6 GHz, there is little chance of any signal interference, which is frequently the case with Bluetooth and Wifi.
Can UWB Penetrate Walls?
Yes, it can. The lower frequency components of a UWB signal are what give it its intriguing ability to pass through walls and other obstructions
What Is The Difference Between UWB And Bluetooth?
While UWB is a wireless network technology that can transport a wide range of frequency bands while consuming very little power, Bluetooth is a wireless technology that is used to link devices in close proximity.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve discussed the Ultra Wideband U1 Chip and we’ve also seen how to disable the ultra-wideband U1 chip to prevent background location tracking on iPhone 11 and 11 Pro iPhones.
So if you want to ensure your utmost privacy, you can follow the steps found in this article to disable the UWB chip on your iPhone.
Do you have any other questions regarding the subject discussed? Please share them with us in the comments section.
