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| How to Turn Off Location on Android |
Learn how to turn off location on Android with step-by-step methods, app controls, privacy tips, and battery-saving settings for modern Android phones.
Your Android phone knows where you are—sometimes more precisely than you realize. If you care about privacy, battery life, or simply don’t want apps tracking your movements, learning how to turn off location on Android is essential. The good news? Android gives you granular control—system-wide, app-by-app, and even temporarily.
This guide walks you through every reliable method to disable or limit location access on modern Android devices (Android 12–15+), explains what actually changes when you do, and shows smarter alternatives when you don’t want to go fully “off-grid.”
Location services power maps, ride-hailing, weather, and emergency features—but they also raise real privacy questions. If you want tighter control, this tutorial shows how to turn off location on Android safely without breaking essentials. We’ll cover quick toggles, deep settings, app permissions, and smart compromises that keep your phone usable and private.
What “Location” Means on Android (Quick Context)
Android determines location using a mix of signals:
- GPS (satellites for high accuracy outdoors)
- Wi-Fi scanning (nearby networks)
- Mobile networks (cell towers)
- Bluetooth beacons (indoors)
Turning location off disables these signals at the system level. Limiting location per app keeps the system on while restricting access.
For official background, Google explains how Android location works in its Location Services documentation on the Google Help Center.
How to Turn Off Location on Android (System-Wide)
This is the fastest way to stop all location access across your phone.
Method 1: From Quick Settings (Fastest)
- Swipe down from the top of your screen.
- Find Location.
- Tap it Off.
Result: All apps lose access until you turn it back on.
Tip: If you don’t see the tile, tap the pencil/edit icon and add Location to Quick Settings.
Method 2: From Settings (Universal)
- Open Settings.
- Tap Location.
- Toggle Use location Off.
This works across Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi, Infinix, Tecno, and other Android brands (menus may be worded slightly differently).
How to Turn Off Location for Specific Apps (Recommended)
If you still want Maps or Ride apps to work—but nothing else—this is the smarter move.
App-by-App Location Control
- Go to Settings → Location.
- Tap App location permissions (or Location app access).
- Select an app.
- Choose one:
- Don’t allow
- Allow only while using the app
- Ask every time
- Allow all the time (least private)
Best practice:
Use Allow only while using the app for navigation apps and Don’t allow for social, games, and shopping apps.
For deeper permission hygiene, see our internal guide on Android App Permissions and Privacy Controls (recommended read).
How to Turn Off Google Location History (Very Important)
Even with location disabled, Google may still store past movement data if Location History is on.
Disable Location History
- Open Settings → Google.
- Tap Manage your Google Account.
- Go to Data & privacy.
- Find Location History.
- Turn it Off.
Google’s official explanation of this feature is available on the Google Account Privacy page.
Turn Off Location for System Services (Advanced Control)
Android also uses location for system features you may want to limit.
- Settings → Location
- Tap Location services
You’ll see options like:
- Wi-Fi scanning
- Bluetooth scanning
- Emergency Location Service
- Google Location Accuracy
What to Adjust
- Turn Wi-Fi & Bluetooth scanning Off for better privacy.
- Keep Emergency Location Service On for safety.
- Switch accuracy to Device only (GPS) if available.
How to Turn Off Location on Samsung Phones
Samsung adds a layer on top of Android.
- Settings → Location
- Toggle Off
- For apps: App location permissions
Samsung’s official support documentation confirms this behavior across One UI versions.
How to Turn Off Location on Xiaomi, Infinix, Tecno, and Other Brands
Most follow stock Android logic:
- Settings → Privacy & security → Location
- Or Settings → Location
If menus differ, search “Location” inside Settings.
What Happens When You Turn Off Location?
Features That May Stop Working
- Google Maps navigation
- Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt)
- Weather accuracy
- Find My Device
- Some camera geo-tagging
Benefits You Gain
- Better privacy
- Less background tracking
- Improved battery life
- Reduced data usage
This trade-off is normal. That’s why many users prefer per-app control instead of total shutdown.
Smarter Alternative: Temporary Location Access
Android supports one-time location access.
When an app asks for location:
- Choose Only this time
- Location is revoked once you close the app
This is ideal for occasional map checks without permanent tracking.
How to Check Which Apps Used Location Recently
- Settings → Location
- Tap Location access history
You’ll see apps that accessed your location in the last 24 hours. If something looks suspicious, revoke access immediately.
For more Android safety checks, see our internal article on How to Secure Your Android Phone in 2026.
Take 2 minutes right now to review your app location permissions. You’ll be surprised how many apps don’t need access at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Android still track me if location is off?
System-level location is disabled, but network metadata (like IP region) may still suggest a general area. It’s far less precise.
Does airplane mode turn off location?
Mostly yes, but GPS can still function on some devices unless location is disabled separately.
Is turning off location safe?
Yes. Keep Emergency Location Service enabled for emergencies.
Final
If privacy matters to you, don’t leave location access on autopilot. Use what you’ve learned to turn off location on Android system-wide or—better—lock it down per app. Review permissions monthly, update your phone regularly, and stay intentional about what data you share.
Next step: Audit your app permissions today and bookmark this guide for future updates.
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