macOS Ventura 13.5 Breaks Location Services Permissions for Apps

The macOS Ventura 13.5 update that Apple released on July 24 has introduced a bug that affects location services.

macos 13 5 location services
Since July, there have been complaints from macOS Ventura users who updated to the new software and then were unable to access and control location permissions for first and third-party apps.

Under System Settings > Privacy and Security > Location Services, macOS Ventura 13.5 has no apps listed. Users are not able to toggle location services for apps on or off, nor can they see which apps have access to their location information at the current time.

If a newly installed app attempts to request location services, there is no option to enable it for that app, which limits the functionality of some apps that Mac users are attempting to access. The location bug has been present since macOS Ventura 13.5 was released, but it has gone under the radar, perhaps because a limited number of Mac apps request location access.

There is no fix for this bug and workarounds that users have tried have not helped. Apple will need to issue an update to macOS to restore the privacy settings to their original state.

There are no location services issues with the prior macOS Ventura 13.4 update nor with macOS Sonoma.

Related Forum: macOS Ventura

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Survey: Nearly 70% of Users Plan to Upgrade to iPhone 17

Monday September 1, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
A new survey has found that nearly seven in ten iPhone owners in the United States plan to upgrade to an iPhone 17 model, signaling strong demand ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of the devices at its September 9 keynote. Smartphone price comparison platform SellCell surveyed over 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users in August to assess upgrade interest and brand loyalty before Apple's event....

Top Rated Comments

Mr. Dee Avatar
27 months ago
And this is why I keep delaying my upgrades. Even when Apple software reaches GM, it’s still a beta for quite some time and that’s usually until the next release.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goonie4life9 Avatar
27 months ago
Folks, not to fear, because Apple Support is on the case! Apple Support has OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED that this is not a bug, because if it was, Apple Support would know about it before any customer did, because Apple Support talks to millions of customers a minute. Now, to address this bug, you'll need to follow the standard troubleshooting steps. First, you'll need to backup and restore your Mac. If that doesn't work, you'll need to Reset Network Settings. If the issue persists, you'll need to Erase and Reinstall your Mac. DO NOT restore your Mac from a backup. If the issue continues, they'll need to gather logs and do an RTA to Engineering. Within 48 hr, Engineering will reply that they are aware of the issue, keep your software up to date, and Apple will provide no further troubleshooting for this issue.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SilvioInfante Avatar
27 months ago
Once upon a time I would have run a macOS software update in the middle of a work day without thinking twice.

These days if I'm working on anything at all, I end up delaying updates for weeks or months. I can't just tolerate Apple's sloppiness and lack of attention today. Too disruptive to the workflow.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
till Avatar
27 months ago
Always a little surprised at the kind of bugs that slip out from giant companies like Apple, with dedicated QA teams. This is the kind of thing that could be caught with automated testing.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bustycat Avatar
27 months ago
It may be a feature for Apple so you're using it wrong
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svenmany Avatar
27 months ago

Folks, not to fear, because Apple Support is on the case! Apple Support has OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED that this is not a bug, because if it was, Apple Support would know about it before any customer did, because Apple Support talks to millions of customers a minute. Now, to address this bug, you'll need to follow the standard troubleshooting steps. First, you'll need to backup and restore your Mac. If that doesn't work, you'll need to Reset Network Settings. If the issue persists, you'll need to Erase and Reinstall your Mac. DO NOT restore your Mac from a backup. If the issue continues, they'll need to gather logs and do an RTA to Engineering. Within 48 hr, Engineering will reply that they are aware of the issue, keep your software up to date, and Apple will provide no further troubleshooting for this issue.
LOL

On the "officially confirmed" part of this post (which I assume was meant to be humorous), I did call Apple support and they quickly confirmed that it was a bug and that they were working on it (but keeping, vewy, vewy quiet about it).

On the official Apple support forums, a volunteer moderator said it wasn't a bug. I'm not aware of any other assertions to that effect. That moderator has received quite a bit of criticism.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)