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WLOCAuthorized iOS location testing

WLOC · FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Certificate, MITM, location cache, diagnostics — all common questions in one place. Search to find your answer.

Getting Started

Do I need a jailbreak or a computer?

No. WLOC works on any iPhone without jailbreak. Everything happens on your iPhone — no Mac, no PC, no jailbreak.

Does the current WLOC path need a third-party VPN or proxy?

No. The current testing Profile includes a certificate and a VPN tunnel and does not require a separate third-party VPN client. Older client guides are legacy and are not the default path. Prices for those clients are unspecified here.

Does WLOC work on all iOS versions?

This page does not publish a support matrix. iOS 27 beta 6 and later is a known blocked observation. Every other iOS version is unverified here, and unverified is not supported. The current testing Profile includes a certificate and a VPN tunnel and does not require a separate third-party VPN client.

Can I test without buying anything?

Any free allowance is unspecified here. This page does not state a price, a location-write quota, or a favorites quota.

Setup & Certificate

Why do I need to install a CA certificate?

WLOC uses HTTPS decryption (MITM) to modify Apple's network-location response. A CA certificate lets your proxy tool decrypt and re-sign the traffic. This certificate only lives on your iPhone — you can remove it anytime in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.

How do I install and trust the MITM certificate?

1) Enable HTTPS decryption in your proxy tool. 2) Add gs-loc.apple.com and gs-loc-cn.apple.com to the MITM hostname list. 3) In iOS Settings > General > About > Certificate Trust Settings, enable trust for your proxy tool's CA certificate. 4) Run WLOC diagnostics to verify everything works.

The certificate shows 'Not Trusted' — what do I do?

After installing the certificate via your proxy tool, you must manually trust it: iOS Settings > General > About > Certificate Trust Settings > toggle ON your proxy's CA. This is a separate step from installation.

Is the CA certificate safe?

The certificate is generated by your proxy tool and stays on your iPhone. It is used only to decrypt and inspect gs-loc.apple.com and gs-loc-cn.apple.com traffic locally. Remove it when you are done testing. WLOC does not have access to your certificate.

Diagnostics & Troubleshooting

I saved a target location, but the target app still shows my real location. Why?

A saved target proves only that WLOC has the coordinate. In diagnostics, compare the latest request and patch timestamps with the moment you reopened the target app. If either timestamp is stale, repair that network-path layer first. If both are fresh, fully close and reopen the target app, record its location permission, and compare one controlled indoor attempt. GPS, app cache, IP region, account state, or server rules may still determine the result; WLOC cannot clear locationd or guarantee that an app adopts the patched network result.

Diagnostics says 'Waiting for location request' — what does that mean?

The target is saved, but diagnostics has not observed a fresh compatible Apple network-location request. Reopen the target app with the permission required by your authorized test, then check whether the latest request timestamp advances. If it does not, review the compatible client, host-scoped HTTPS setup, and request path. A permission change is a controlled diagnostic step, not proof that a cache was cleared.

The diagnostic shows 'MITM missing' — how do I fix it?

This means HTTPS decryption is not working. Check: (1) HTTPS decryption is enabled in your proxy tool. (2) gs-loc.apple.com and gs-loc-cn.apple.com are in the MITM hostname list. (3) The CA certificate is trusted in iOS Settings. (4) The proxy/VPN is connected.

How do I know if the location change actually worked?

Diagnostics can record a mode and timestamps. They are not proof the target app adopted the location. Open the target app and record what it shows.

Location Cache & Recovery

Why does a map show the target while another app still shows the real place?

The target app may use strong GPS, cache, different permissions, IP region, account rules, or server checks. Compare its evidence with the WLOC diagnostic timeline. Some apps are more dependent on the network-location signal than others.

How do I leave a test?

Clear the target or submit Restore, then check the iPhone and the target app again. A cleared target, passthrough status, or submitted Restore is not proof the iPhone or the target app is already back. WLOC cannot clear iOS or target-app cache.

How long does iOS location cache last?

Apple does not publish a fixed WLOC-specific cache lifetime. Treat a stale result as evidence to classify, not a timer to wait out: compare the latest request and patch timestamps, fully close and reopen the target app, review and restore its permission, and repeat one controlled indoor comparison. Restart the authorized test device only as a later stale-state escalation. WLOC cannot clear locationd or guarantee when an app will discard its own cache.

WGS84, GCJ-02 & Coordinate Systems

What is the difference between WGS84, GCJ-02, and BD-09?

WGS84 is the global GPS standard. GCJ-02 is a Chinese national standard that adds an offset to WGS84 coordinates. BD-09 is Baidu's proprietary system with an additional offset. WLOC normalizes everything to WGS84 internally and shows a meter-level warning when converting mainland-China coordinates.

Why does my coordinate look slightly off after parsing?

When you paste a map link from a Chinese map provider (Amap, Baidu), the original coordinate may be in GCJ-02 or BD-09. WLOC converts it to WGS84 and shows the original system for verification. A small meter-level difference is expected after conversion.

Privacy & Data

Where are my test locations stored?

On your iPhone — they stay in the app's local storage (Application Support directory). The Worker handles parsing and setup generation, not location history storage. WLOC is local-first.

What data does WLOC send to its servers?

WLOC sends anonymous product analytics (random installation ID, no coordinates, no personal info) to wloc.app for operational monitoring. Location parsing, coordinate conversion, and module generation requests go to the Worker, which does not store coordinates. The analytics system does not accept raw coordinates, map links, email addresses, or any PII.

How do I delete all my data?

Open WLOC > Settings > 'Delete All Local Data'. This permanently removes favorites, routes, connection profiles, diagnostic results, the anonymous installation ID, and queued analytics events. App Store subscriptions are managed separately in iOS Settings.

Subscription & Pricing

How much does WLOC Pro cost?

The price, billing period, and any trial length are unspecified here. This page does not state a trial length or a dollar amount.

What does the free tier include?

Any free allowance is unspecified here. This page does not state a location-write quota or a favorites quota.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Open iOS Settings > tap your name > Subscriptions > WLOC Pro. You can cancel auto-renewal there. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. WLOC does not have access to your subscription management.

I bought the old Lifetime version — do I need to subscribe?

No. Legacy Lifetime purchasers keep full access permanently. Your access is preserved whether it was verified through the App Store or migrated from the 1.0 release.