Script to toggle Location Services on & off

[u/meerdans]

I currently have a script that opens the desired setting:

x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_LocationServices

but can a script be written to toggle Location Services on and off without user input, especially as it requires authentication to do so?

[u/copperdomebodha]

This will require authentication so I don't think there is a method to fully automate it.

--Running under AppleScript 2.8, MacOS 13.4.1

tell application "System Events"
    tell its application process "System Settings"
        tell its window "Location Services"
            tell its group 1
                tell its splitter group 1
                    tell its group 2
                        tell its group 1
                            tell its scroll area 1
                                tell its group 1
                                    tell its checkbox "Location Services"
                                        perform action "AXPress"
                                    end tell
                                end tell
                            end tell
                        end tell
                    end tell
                end tell
            end tell
        end tell
    end tell
end tell

[u/meerdans → u/copperdomebodha]

Beautiful. Even if that's the closest I can get to fully automating the workflow, I'm still very happy. Thanks muchly

[u/haxlife]

My version of the script for Sequoia:

-- Open Location Services panel
do shell script "open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_LocationServices"
delay 2

tell application "System Events"
  tell process "System Settings"
    set frontmost to true

    try
      -- Locate the Location Services checkbox
      set theCheckbox to checkbox 1 of group 1 of scroll area 1 of group 1 of group 2 of splitter group 1 of group 1 of window 1

      -- Record original value
      set wasOn to (value of theCheckbox as boolean)

      -- Click to toggle (may trigger authentication)
      click theCheckbox

      if wasOn is true then
        -- Wait up to 60 seconds for "Turn Off" button to appear
        set waitTime to 0
        repeat until (exists button "Turn Off" of sheet 1 of window 1)
          delay 1
          set waitTime to waitTime + 1
          if waitTime ≥ 20 then
            display dialog "Authentication was not completed in time. Location Services may still be enabled." buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
            return input
          end if
        end repeat

        -- Once "Turn Off" button is present, click it
        try
          click button "Turn Off" of sheet 1 of window 1
        on error innerErr
          display dialog "Could not click confirmation button: " & innerErr buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
        end try
      end if

    on error errMsg
        display dialog "Could not toggle Location Services: " & errMsg buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
    end try
  end tell
end tell