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Simulate Location Hack in Apple Maps Gone in iOS 11 | MacRumors Forums

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Simulate Location Hack in Apple Maps Gone in iOS 11

pruppert

macrumors 6502

Original poster

Jan 30, 2008
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.
Reactions: seganw

VolceOntra

macrumors 6502
Apr 25, 2007
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.

pruppert

macrumors 6502

Original poster

Jan 30, 2008
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.
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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mariusignorello

macrumors 68020
Jun 9, 2013 2,048 3,062
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.

wayi

macrumors newbie
Jul 17, 2017 Crowded Beijing
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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pruppert

macrumors 6502

Original poster

Jan 30, 2008
Thanks. What app are you using to look through the backup? I had used iBackupBot in the past, but it no longer works.

wayi

macrumors newbie
Jul 17, 2017 Crowded Beijing
Thanks. What app are you using to look through the backup? I had used iBackupBot in the past, but it no longer works.
It's iBackupBot for Win Ver 5.4.4 and it works properly on my device. Did you disable encrypted backup when backing up?

pruppert

macrumors 6502

Original poster

Jan 30, 2008
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).

betopesco

macrumors newbie
Sep 19, 2017
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.
Have u find a way ? I used to do the samething and used to work perfectly and easy. Thabks

pruppert

macrumors 6502

Original poster

Jan 30, 2008
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.

gladney247

macrumors newbie
Sep 22, 2017 United States
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
Reactions: pruppert

seganw

macrumors newbie
Sep 24, 2017
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
Reactions: gladney247

Vedran

macrumors newbie
Feb 18, 2006
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
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?
Reactions: gladney247

gladney247

macrumors newbie
Sep 22, 2017 United States
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
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

Nozuka

macrumors 68040
Jul 3, 2012 3,038 4,731
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

gladney247

macrumors newbie
Sep 22, 2017 United States
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
Were you able to fix it on ios11 ? If yes share how you were able to please

gladney247

macrumors newbie
Sep 22, 2017 United States
Seems no one has figured this out yet. Please find solutions.

marzie126

macrumors newbie
Oct 2, 2017 UK

gladney247

macrumors newbie
Sep 22, 2017 United States
No update yet. But want to check if it’s fixed in iOS 11.0.1

gladney247

macrumors newbie
Sep 22, 2017 United States
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
please let us know if you fixed it correctly.

Nozuka

macrumors 68040
Jul 3, 2012 3,038 4,731

gladney247

macrumors newbie
Sep 22, 2017 United States
No update yet. But want to check if it’s fixed in iOS 11.0.1
The solution for now is downgrading back to ios 10.3.3 ow that apple still sign it

Vedran

macrumors newbie
Feb 18, 2006
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.

gladney247

macrumors newbie
Sep 22, 2017 United States
Aur
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.
Sure I'll be really to work it out. I've tried many options and yet I couldn't get it done.

openstacker

macrumors newbie
Oct 7, 2017
who knows how to find these private/internal plist settings for iOS?

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