Show Current Location and Update Location in MKMapView in Swift

I am learning how to use the new Swift language (only Swift, no Objective-C). To do it, I want to do a simple view with a map (MKMapView). I want to find and update the location of the user (like in the Apple Map app).

I tried this, but nothing happened:

import MapKit
import CoreLocation

class MapView : UIViewController, CLLocationManagerDelegate {

    @IBOutlet weak var map: MKMapView!
    var locationManager: CLLocationManager!

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        if (CLLocationManager.locationServicesEnabled())
        {
            locationManager = CLLocationManager()
            locationManager.delegate = self
            locationManager.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyBest
            locationManager.requestAlwaysAuthorization()
            locationManager.startUpdatingLocation()
        }
    }
}

Could you please help me?


You have to override CLLocationManager.didUpdateLocations (part of CLLocationManagerDelegate) to get notified when the location manager retrieves the current location:

func locationManager(_ manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {
    if let location = locations.last{
        let center = CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: location.coordinate.latitude, longitude: location.coordinate.longitude)
        let region = MKCoordinateRegion(center: center, span: MKCoordinateSpan(latitudeDelta: 0.01, longitudeDelta: 0.01))
        self.map.setRegion(region, animated: true)
    }
}

NOTE: If your target is iOS 8 or above, you must include the NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription or NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription key in your Info.plist to get the location services to work.


100% working, easy steps and tested

Import libraries:

import MapKit
import CoreLocation

set delegates:

CLLocationManagerDelegate,MKMapViewDelegate

Take variable:

let locationManager = CLLocationManager()

write this code on viewDidLoad():

self.locationManager.requestAlwaysAuthorization()

    // For use in foreground
    self.locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()

    if CLLocationManager.locationServicesEnabled() {
        locationManager.delegate = self
        locationManager.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyBest
        locationManager.startUpdatingLocation()
    }

    mapView.delegate = self
    mapView.mapType = .standard
    mapView.isZoomEnabled = true
    mapView.isScrollEnabled = true

    if let coor = mapView.userLocation.location?.coordinate{
        mapView.setCenter(coor, animated: true)
    }

Write delegate method for location:

func locationManager(_ manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {
    let locValue:CLLocationCoordinate2D = manager.location!.coordinate

    mapView.mapType = MKMapType.standard

    let span = MKCoordinateSpanMake(0.05, 0.05)
    let region = MKCoordinateRegion(center: locValue, span: span)
    mapView.setRegion(region, animated: true)

    let annotation = MKPointAnnotation()
    annotation.coordinate = locValue
    annotation.title = "Javed Multani"
    annotation.subtitle = "current location"
    mapView.addAnnotation(annotation)

    //centerMap(locValue)
}

Do not forgot to set permission in info.plist

<key>NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription</key>
<string>This application requires location services to work</string>

<key>NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription</key>
<string>This application requires location services to work</string>

It's look like:

enter image description here


For swift 3 and XCode 8 I find this answer:

  • First, you need set privacy into info.plist. Insert string NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription with your description why you want get user location. For example, set string "For map in application".

  • Second, use this code example

    @IBOutlet weak var mapView: MKMapView!
    
    private var locationManager: CLLocationManager!
    private var currentLocation: CLLocation?
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
    
        mapView.delegate = self
    
        locationManager = CLLocationManager()
        locationManager.delegate = self
        locationManager.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyBest
    
        // Check for Location Services
    
        if CLLocationManager.locationServicesEnabled() {
            locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
            locationManager.startUpdatingLocation()
        }
    }
    
    // MARK - CLLocationManagerDelegate
    
    func locationManager(_ manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {
        defer { currentLocation = locations.last }
    
        if currentLocation == nil {
            // Zoom to user location
            if let userLocation = locations.last {
                let viewRegion = MKCoordinateRegionMakeWithDistance(userLocation.coordinate, 2000, 2000)
                mapView.setRegion(viewRegion, animated: false)
            }
        }
    }
    
  • Third, set User Location flag in storyboard for mapView.


MyLocation is a Swift iOS Demo.

You can use this demo for the following:

  1. Show the current location.

  2. Choose other location: in this case stop tracking the location.

  3. Add a push pin to a MKMapView(iOS) when touching.


Hi Sometimes setting the showsUserLocation in code doesn't work for some weird reason.

So try a combination of the following.

In viewDidLoad()

  self.mapView.showsUserLocation = true

Go to your storyboard in Xcode, on the right panel's attribute inspector tick the User location check box, like in the attached image. run your app and you should be able to see the User location

enter image description here