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Simulate Location Hack in Apple Maps Gone in iOS 11

pruppert

pruppert

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 30, 2008
423
78
This was a little known capability, but you used to be able to change the Apple Maps plist setting for __internal__PlaceCardLocationSimulation to true, in com.apple.Maps.plist. This would reveal a button in Apple Maps to simulate you GPS for all apps to any location on Earth to you choosing. This did not require a jailbreak. Google it to learn more.

This was super useful to avoid geo-restrictions on apps like the blackouts in MLB At Bat. Sadly, this seems to have been removed in iOS 11. Does anyone know if there is a workaround or another plist setting? Does anyone know how to find these private/internal plist settings for iOS? Maybe there is an alternate in iOS 11.
 
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VolceOntra said:
Can you try Xcode and set a location? I used that to cheat on Pokémon Go before realizing I didn’t care about that game.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried it on iOS 11, but I'm pretty certain the Xcode technique still works since it's part of the official dev tools. The downside there is that it is a semi-tethered solution. This other technique was a totally untethered way to simulate directly on the iOS device. It was great.

I can't find an English picture of it, but it was as easy as setting a pin in Maps and tapping the Simulate Location button pictured below:
 

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So I can use that to get the trial of YouTube TV? I want to see if it’s any good.

I don’t believe there are any settings in the Developer menu for location simulation. I’ll have to try this.
 
I have backuped my iPhone just now but there is no com.apple.Maps.plist in the list. It seems that Apple removed it in iOS 11. It might be available by modifying the other three files, but I didn't try as there is no spare device for me.
 

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Thanks. What app are you using to look through the backup? I had used iBackupBot in the past, but it no longer works.
 
Yep, disabled. iBackupBot has seemed pretty clunky on Mac for a while.

Of those three, I would guess MapsSupport.plist is the most likely candidate to re-add the setting (assuming no other Maps plist exists in some other directory).
 
pruppert said:
This was a little known capability, but you used to be able to change the Apple Maps plist setting for __internal__PlaceCardLocationSimulation to true, in com.apple.Maps.plist. This would reveal a button in Apple Maps to simulate you GPS for all apps to any location on Earth to you choosing. This did not require a jailbreak. Google it to learn more.

This was super useful to avoid geo-restrictions on apps like the blackouts in MLB At Bat. Sadly, this seems to have been removed in iOS 11. Does anyone know if there is a workaround or another plist setting? Does anyone know how to find these private/internal plist settings for iOS? Maybe there is an alternate in iOS 11.
Click to expand...
Have u find a way ? I used to do the samething and used to work perfectly and easy. Thabks
 
Nope. Never found a way, but I was never able to test the new plists mentioned by wayi above. That is an option that remains to be tried and might work. Let me know if you are able to try and what the result is.
 
in the official iOS 11, com.apple.Maps.plist is present but after pasting the simulation command line and restore, it didn't come up with the simulate location. please anyone found a way out yet ? i'm using 3utools
 
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I read the sqlite database from my official iOS 11 backup files. it is located in
Code: 
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/YOURBACKUP_HASH/Manifest.db

following preferences are Apple maps realated
Code: 
HomeDomain   Library/SpringBoard/ApplicationShortcuts/com.apple.Maps.plist   
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.MapsSupport.plist   
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.TransitWidget.plist   
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.plist   
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.MapsSuggestions.plist   
AppDomainPlugin-com.apple.Maps.Widget   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.Widget.plist   
AppDomainGroup-group.com.apple.Maps   Library/Preferences/group.com.apple.Maps.plist   
AppDomain-com.apple.Maps   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.plist

The com.apple.Maps.plist are the same as my iOS 10 after upgrade, but no 'Simulate Location' in Apple Maps app.

I think this hack is used by Apple Maps test team to do testing internally. Now they changed the method. If anyone works in Apple Maps testing team would know the new way :(
 
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seganw said:
I read the sqlite database from my official iOS 11 backup files. it is located in
Code: 
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/YOURBACKUP_HASH/Manifest.db

following preferences are Apple maps realated
Code: 
HomeDomain   Library/SpringBoard/ApplicationShortcuts/com.apple.Maps.plist  
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.MapsSupport.plist  
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.TransitWidget.plist  
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.plist  
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.MapsSuggestions.plist  
AppDomainPlugin-com.apple.Maps.Widget   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.Widget.plist  
AppDomainGroup-group.com.apple.Maps   Library/Preferences/group.com.apple.Maps.plist  
AppDomain-com.apple.Maps   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.plist

The com.apple.Maps.plist are the same as my iOS 10 after upgrade, but no 'Simulate Location' in Apple Maps app.

I think this hack is used by Apple Maps test team to do testing internally. Now they changed the method. If anyone works in Apple Maps testing team would know the new way :(
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update! Have you tried inserting the ___internal___ key into any of the other plists to see if it would revive the function?
 
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seganw said:
I read the sqlite database from my official iOS 11 backup files. it is located in
Code: 
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/YOURBACKUP_HASH/Manifest.db

following preferences are Apple maps realated
Code: 
HomeDomain   Library/SpringBoard/ApplicationShortcuts/com.apple.Maps.plist  
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.MapsSupport.plist  
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.TransitWidget.plist  
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.plist  
HomeDomain   Library/Preferences/com.apple.MapsSuggestions.plist  
AppDomainPlugin-com.apple.Maps.Widget   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.Widget.plist  
AppDomainGroup-group.com.apple.Maps   Library/Preferences/group.com.apple.Maps.plist  
AppDomain-com.apple.Maps   Library/Preferences/com.apple.Maps.plist

The com.apple.Maps.plist are the same as my iOS 10 after upgrade, but no 'Simulate Location' in Apple Maps app.

I think this hack is used by Apple Maps test team to do testing internally. Now they changed the method. If anyone works in Apple Maps testing team would know the new way :(
Click to expand...

Please let us know if you did get through with it and anyone on the test team here, kindly do us a favor of that
 
omg! of course i find out that there was a way to do this after i already updated... lol
one of the few features i miss from android
 
Apple is no longer signing 10.3.3. If anyone is interested in working on this together, shoot me a private message. Really hoping to find a solution.
 
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