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Get started with positioning

Last updated: March 31, 2026 | 2 minutes read

Learn how to configure permissions and start receiving live position updates in iOS.

Step 1: Add location permission​

Add the following key to your Info.plist:

<key>NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription</key>
<string>Location is needed for map localization and navigation.</string>

After declaring the usage description, request location authorization at runtime. iOS shows the system permission dialog only after you call the Core Location authorization API.

import CoreLocation

final class PositionPermissionHandler: NSObject, CLLocationManagerDelegate {
    private let locationManager = CLLocationManager()

    func requestPermission() {
        locationManager.delegate = self
        locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
    }

    func locationManagerDidChangeAuthorization(_ manager: CLLocationManager) {
        switch manager.authorizationStatus {
        case .authorizedWhenInUse, .authorizedAlways:
            print("Location permission granted")
        case .denied, .restricted:
            print("Location permission denied")
        case .notDetermined:
            break
        @unknown default:
            break
        }
    }
}

let permissionHandler = PositionPermissionHandler()
permissionHandler.requestPermission()

If the user denies the request, iOS does not show the permission popup again automatically. In that case, direct the user to the app's Settings screen to enable location access manually.

Step 3: Configure data source and position context​

Create a live DataSourceContext, configure it for position updates, then bind PositionContext to it.

let source = DataSourceContext()
let config = DataSourceConfigurationObject()

config.setPositionAccuracy(.whenMoving)
config.setPositionActivity(.automotive)
config.setPositionDistanceFilter(0)

_ = source.setConfiguration(config, for: .position)
_ = source.start()

let positionContext = PositionContext(context: source)

Step 4: Receive updates​

Use PositionContextDelegate for continuous updates:

final class PositionHandler: NSObject, PositionContextDelegate {
    func positionContext(_ positionContext: PositionContext, didUpdatePosition position: PositionObject) {
        guard position.hasCoordinates() else { return }
        let c = position.getCoordinates()
        print("lat=\(c.latitude) lon=\(c.longitude)")
    }
}

let handler = PositionHandler()
positionContext.delegate = handler
positionContext.startUpdatingPositionDelegate(.improvedPosition)

Read current snapshot​

if let latest = positionContext.getPosition(.improvedPosition) {
    print("speed m/s = \(latest.getSpeed())")
}
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