How to Disable Location Tracking on Your Phone for Better Privacy

If you value your privacy, disabling location tracking should be a top priority. Your phone constantly logs your whereabouts, and companies, advertisers, and even hackers can use this data to monitor your movements. From hyper-targeted ads to potential security threats, leaving location tracking on puts your personal data at risk.

Many apps collect and sell location data without you realizing it, creating detailed profiles of where you go and when. Cybercriminals can also exploit this information for stalking or identity theft.

The good news? You can take back control. This guide will show you how to disable location tracking on iPhone and Android, helping you protect your privacy and keep your data secure.

Why You Should Disable Location Tracking

Location tracking isn’t just about convenience—it’s also a major privacy risk. While it helps with navigation and app recommendations, the trade-off is that companies, advertisers, and even cybercriminals can access and exploit your location data. Here’s why you should consider turning it off:

1. Privacy Risks: Your Data Is Being Sold

Many apps track your location—even when you're not using them. Tech companies collect and sell this data to advertisers, data brokers, and third parties, building detailed profiles about your daily movements. This information can be used to predict your routines, preferences, and habits—often without your explicit consent. In fact, a 2021 global survey found that 66% of adults feel tech companies have too much control over their personal data.

2. Security Threats: Your Location Can Be Misused

Location data isn’t just valuable to companies—it can also be dangerous in the wrong hands. Hackers and cybercriminals can use it for cyberstalking, identity theft, or tracking your real-time movements. In extreme cases, bad actors have exploited location data for harassment, theft, or even physical harm.

3. Battery Drain & Performance Issues

Keeping location services on means your phone is constantly pinging GPS, Wi-Fi networks, and cell towers to track your location. This drains your battery faster and can slow down performance, especially if multiple apps are accessing location data in the background.

How to Disable Location Tracking on iPhone

Protecting your privacy involves managing your iPhone's location settings. Here's how to disable location tracking:

1. Turn Off Location Services Entirely

• Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.​
• Toggle off Location Services.​

Note: Disabling Location Services may affect the functionality of certain apps.​

2. Manage App-Specific Location Tracking

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.​
• Select an app to adjust its location access:​
  
  • Never: Prevents access to Location Services information.​
  • Ask Next Time Or When I Share: Allows you to choose Always While Using App, Allow Once, or Don't Allow.​
  • While Using the App: Allows access to Location Services only when the app or one of its features is visible on screen.​
  • Always: Allows access to your location even when the app is in the background.​

Tip: For apps that don't require precise location, consider turning off Precise Location to share only your approximate location.​

3. Disable System Services Tracking

• Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.​
• Toggle off services that don't need location access, such as Location-Based Apple Ads or Suggestions.​

Note: Disabling certain system services may affect device functionality.​

4. Stop Location Sharing with Others

• Open the Find My app.​
• Tap People.​
• Select a person you want to stop sharing your location with.​
• Tap Stop Sharing My Location.​

Alternatively, to stop sharing your location with all contacts:

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Share My Location.​
• Toggle off Share My Location.​

Note: When you stop sharing your location, the people you previously shared with may notice that you've stopped.​

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and disable location tracking on your iPhone, enhancing your privacy and control over personal data.

How to Disable Location Tracking on Android

Protecting your privacy involves managing your Android device's location settings. Here's how to disable location tracking:

1. Turn Off Location Access Globally

• Navigate to Settings > Location.
• Toggle off Use location.

Note: Disabling location services entirely may affect the functionality of certain apps that rely on location data.

2. Manage App-Specific Location Permissions

• Go to Settings > Location > App permissions.
• Select each app to adjust its location access:
  
  • Allow all the time: Grants access to your location at any time.
  • Allow only while using the app: Allows access only when the app is in use.
  • Ask every time: Prompts you each time the app requests location access.
  • Don't allow: Denies access to your location.

Tip: For apps that don't require precise location, consider disabling Use precise location to share only your approximate location.

3. Disable Google Location History

• Open the Google app.
• Tap Manage your Google Account.
• Navigate to Data & privacy > Location History.
• Toggle off Location History.

Note: Turning off Location History stops Google from saving your movements, but it doesn't disable location services on your device.

4. Turn Off Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Scanning

• Navigate to Settings > Location > Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning.
• Toggle off both Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning.

Note: Disabling these settings prevents apps and services from using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to enhance location accuracy when location services are off.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and disable location tracking on your Android device, enhancing your privacy and control over personal data.

Other Ways to Strengthen Your Privacy

Beyond turning off device location tracking, there are additional steps you can take to protect your location information and personal data from unnecessary exposure. These measures help prevent apps, advertisers, and even cybercriminals from accessing your device tracking data without your consent.

• Limit Ad Tracking: Many apps automatically send data about your activity to advertisers, tailoring search results and ads based on your habits. Disabling personalized ad tracking reduces the amount of data collected, limiting how companies determine your interests and serve targeted content.
• Use a VPN: A VPN encrypts your connection, making it harder for third parties to monitor your map locations and browsing history. This adds an extra layer of privacy when using public Wi-Fi or any network where location information could be at risk.
• Disable Background App Refresh: Even when you're not actively using them, apps may refresh in the background and automatically send data. This can include location information, search history, and app activity. Disabling this feature ensures that apps only update when manually opened, giving you better control over what data they access.
• Review Third-Party Apps: Regularly review installed apps and their permissions. Some apps may have enabled location tracking by default, granting them unnecessary access to your movements. If an app doesn’t need device tracking, revoke its permission or delete it entirely.
• Be Notified of Location Requests: On iOS and Android, your phone may notify you when an app is actively using location information. If you receive unexpected prompts, investigate why the app requires access and consider adjusting the settings to limit its reach.
• Manage File and Location Sharing: Some services and cloud storage platforms automatically send metadata, including location details, when you share a file. Adjusting these settings prevents unintended exposure of your location information in shared documents or media.

Final Thoughts

Your phone is constantly collecting location information, and while this can be useful for navigation or personalized search results, it also comes with serious privacy risks. Apps, advertisers, and even cybercriminals can use device tracking to monitor your movements, often without you realizing it.

Disabling device location tracking puts you in control of your data. By adjusting your settings, you prevent apps from automatically sending your whereabouts to third parties. It also reduces targeted ads, minimizes security risks, and helps extend battery life.

But turning off tracking once isn’t enough. Make it a habit to review your privacy settings regularly. Check which apps have enabled location access, adjust permissions manually, and keep an eye on privacy updates from iOS or Android. Your device may also send notifications when an app is actively using location services—take these as a reminder to audit your settings.

At the end of the day, protecting your privacy is about making informed choices. Take a few minutes to update your device tracking settings and ensure your data stays in your hands—not someone else’s.

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