What location settings do and how to change them

Android lets you control whether apps can see your physical location, and you can turn location services on or off entirely. The steps differ slightly depending on your Android version and phone manufacturer, but the core process is the same: go to Settings, find Location, and toggle it on or off. You can also set individual apps to never use location, to use it only while the app is open, or to use it anytime.

Location services use GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi networks, and cell towers to figure out where you are. Turning location off saves battery and stops apps from tracking you, but some features stop working — maps won't show your position, weather apps won't auto-update for your area, and ride-sharing apps can't find you. You can turn location back on whenever you need it.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings, then Location, and toggle the switch on or off to control whether your phone uses location services at all.
  • Individual apps can be set to "Allow all the time", "Allow only while using the app", or "Don't allow" — find these settings in Settings > Apps or in each app's own settings.
  • Turning location off saves battery but breaks maps, weather, and location-based reminders until you turn it back on.
  • On some phones, location settings are under Settings > Location; on others, they may be under Settings > Privacy or Settings > Apps & Notifications.

Turn location services on or off for your whole phone

Open Settings and look for Location. On most Android phones this is under Settings > Location. Tap the toggle switch at the top to turn location on or off. When it is off, no app can use your location, and your phone uses less battery.

If you cannot find Location in Settings, try Settings > Privacy > Location, or Settings > Apps & Notifications > App permissions > Location. The exact path depends on your phone's manufacturer and Android version. Once you find it, the toggle switch works the same way on all phones.

Control location access for individual apps

You can let some apps use your location while blocking others. Open Settings > Apps (or Application Manager on older phones). Find the app you want to change, tap it, then tap Permissions. Look for Location and tap it to see your options.

Most Android phones offer three choices: Allow all the time, Allow only while using the app, or Don't allow. "Allow only while using the app" is the middle ground — the app can see your location when you are actively using it, but not when it is running in the background. Choose "Don't allow" to block an app from location entirely.

You can also change app permissions directly from Settings > Location > App permissions. This view shows all your apps in one list, so you can see at a glance which ones have location access.

Find location settings on different Android versions

Android 12 and newer: Go to Settings > Location. The toggle is at the top. Tap App permissions to see which apps have access.

Android 11 and earlier: Go to Settings > Location. If Location is not there, try Settings > Privacy > Location or Settings > Apps & Notifications > App permissions > Location. Once you find it, the controls work the same way.

Samsung phones: Go to Settings > Location. If you do not see it, try Settings > Apps > Permissions > Location.

Google Pixel phones: Go to Settings > Location. This is usually the most direct path on Pixel devices.

What happens when you turn location off

When location is off, your phone stops using GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi to figure out where you are. Maps will not show your position on the map. Weather apps will not auto-update for your location. Ride-sharing apps cannot find you. Location-based reminders will not trigger. Some social media apps will not let you tag your location in posts.

Turning location off does save battery, because GPS uses significant power. If you only need location sometimes, you can leave it off and turn it on when you need maps or a ride. You can also set individual apps to "Allow only while using the app" so they can use location when you open them, but not when they run in the background.

Why an app might not respect your location settings

Some apps ask for other permissions that let them figure out your location without using the Location permission. For example, an app with permission to access your contacts or your calendar might infer where you are based on meeting locations or contact addresses. An app with permission to access your camera or microphone might use that data in ways that reveal your location.

If you want to block an app from knowing your location by any method, you may need to deny it multiple permissions, not just Location. Check the Permissions section for each app and think about what data it actually needs to do its job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off location stop Google from tracking me?

Turning off location stops apps from using your phone's GPS and location services. However, if you are signed into a Google account, Google may still store location history based on your activity. To stop Google's location tracking, go to myactivity.google.com, find Location settings, and turn off Location History. This is separate from your phone's location toggle.

Can I set location to on for maps but off for other apps?

Yes. Turn location on for your whole phone, then go to Settings > Apps and find each app you want to block. Set those apps to "Don't allow" for location. Maps will still work, but those other apps cannot use your location.

Will my phone still work if I turn location off?

Yes. Turning off location only stops apps from knowing where you are. Calls, texts, data, and everything else work normally. The only features that stop working are ones that need to know your location, like maps navigation or location-based reminders.

How do I know which apps are using my location right now?

On Android 12 and newer, open Settings > Location > App permissions. Apps with a location icon next to their name have used location recently. On older Android versions, this information may not be visible in the same way, but you can still see which apps have permission to use location.

Can I fake my location on Android?

Android does not have a built-in feature to fake your location. Some apps claim to do this, but they often do not work reliably and may violate the terms of service for apps like maps or ride-sharing. If you need to hide your location from an app, the safest method is to deny that app location permission entirely.