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TurnOffLocation Devices Android

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How to turn off location on Android

Android keeps three separate switches: Use location for the whole phone, one location permission for each app, and a precise-or-approximate choice under any app you have allowed. Google documents that with device location off, emergency location services or your mobile carrier can still send your device's location to emergency responders when you call or text an emergency number.

Android 17

The master switch

Turn off location for the whole phone

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. Use location
  4. Off

From the vendor’s own page · Android 12 and up as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Help — Manage your Android device's location settings, Android Help — Manage your Android device's location settings (When Location is off), Android Help — Get help during an emergency with your Android phone

Do they get told?This is not documented. Google prints the steps for Use location and says nothing about anyone being told. What is documented is the effect on its own services: you can't share your device's location with anyone via Google Maps, and even with Timeline turned on, the places your phone goes won't be saved.
Who can still see you
Off
Every app on this phone
Google says your device's location isn't shared with any apps, and that you can't share your location with anyone via Google Maps.
Still on
Emergency Location Service
Google documents that it can still send your device's location to emergency responders when you call or text an emergency number.
Still visible
Your carrier and the network
Google says you can still get local results and ads based on your IP address, and your carrier can still send your location on an emergency call.

Google also prints a shortcut: swipe down twice from the top of your screen, tap Edit, and drag Location into your Quick Settings.

One app at a time

Take location away from one app

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Apps
  3. the app
  4. Permissions
  5. Location
  6. Don't allow

From the vendor’s own page · Android 11 and up as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Help — Change app permissions on your Android phone

Who can still see you
Off
That one app
Google's wording for Don't allow: the app cannot use the permission, even when you're using the app.
Still on
Every other app, and the phone
Only one app's permission changed. Use location stays on and every other app keeps the access you gave it.
Still visible
The network
Your carrier and any site you open still place you roughly by cell tower and IP address.

Google's other choices on the same screen: All the time means any time, even when you're not using the app; Allow only while using the app means only while that app is open; Ask every time means it asks each time you open it.

Change one app from the location list

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. App location permissions
  4. the app
  5. Don't allow

From the vendor’s own page · Android 11 and up as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Help — Manage location permissions for apps, Samsung — How to activate my location and change settings for location permissions

Who can still see you
Off
That one app
The app moves to Not allowed and can no longer use your location, even while you are using it.
Still on
Every other app on the list
This screen shows every app that can use your location. The ones you don't change keep the access they have.
Still visible
The network
Your carrier and any site you open still place you roughly by cell tower and IP address.

Samsung Galaxy: Samsung prints Settings › Location › App permissions, with the choices Allow only while using the app, Allow all the time and Deny.

Precise or approximate

Give one app approximate location only

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. App location permissions
  4. the app
  5. Use precise location
  6. Off

From the vendor’s own page · Android 12 and higher as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Help — Manage location permissions for apps, Android Help — Manage your Android device's location settings (Location Accuracy)

Who can still see you
Off
That app's exact position
Google says the app can then tell only that your device is in an area about 3 square kilometers.
Still on
The app's location permission
The app still has location access. This narrows what it gets; it does not take the permission away.
Still visible
The network
Your carrier and any site you open still place you roughly by cell tower and IP address.

Google's definitions: approximate location means the app can tell your device is in an area about 3 square kilometers; precise location means it can tell your device's exact location.

Sharing with people

Pause your live location sharing

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. Location services
  4. Google Location Sharing
  5. Use Location Sharing
  6. Off

From the vendor’s own page · Android (current release), read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Google Account Help — Manage your Location Sharing settings (Android)

Do they get told?This is not documented. Google says nothing about whether the people you share with are told when you turn this off. What is documented is the effect: your shares stay in place but won't be updated with your real-time location until you turn the setting on again.
Who can still see you
Off
Everyone you share with
Google says your shares aren't updated with your real-time location while this is off. The shares themselves stay in place.
Still on
The rest of your phone
Google says you can use other location services on your device, such as Google Maps, while this setting is off.
Still visible
The network
Your carrier and any site you open still place you roughly by cell tower and IP address.

To end a share instead of pausing it, Google prints Settings › Location › Location services › Google Location Sharing, then Stop next to the person's name.

System services and history

Turn off Google Location Accuracy

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. Location Services
  4. Location Accuracy
  5. Improve Location Accuracy
  6. Off

From the vendor’s own page · Android 12 and higher as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Help — Manage your Android device's location settings (Location Accuracy)

Who can still see you
Off
Google's Location Accuracy service
Google says wireless signals and sensor data are then not collected by the service, and only GPS and device sensors are used to place you.
Still on
Use location and app permissions
These are separate switches and stay as they were. Google warns apps may then not be able to get your device's precise location.
Still visible
Emergency responders and the network
Google says emergency services or your carrier can still send your location, enhanced by Location Accuracy, on an emergency call or text.

Android 11 and lower: Google prints Settings › Location › Advanced › Location Accuracy.

Stop Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. Location Services
  4. Wi-Fi scanning
  5. Off

From the vendor’s own page · Android 12 and higher as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Help — Manage your Android device's location settings (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning)

Who can still see you
Off
Scanning for nearby networks
Google offers these scans to help apps get better location info. Turning them off stops your device scanning for that purpose.
Still on
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth themselves
This is a scanning setting, not the radios. Use location and every app's permission are separate and stay as they are.
Still visible
The network
Your carrier and any Wi-Fi network you actually join still place you, and any site you open still sees your IP address.

Bluetooth scanning sits on the same screen; on Android 11 and lower Google prints Settings › Location › Wi-Fi scanning or Bluetooth scanning.

Stop Timeline saving where you go

inside the Google Maps app
Path
  1. Google Maps
  2. your profile picture or initial
  3. Your Timeline
  4. More
  5. Location & privacy settings
  6. Timeline is on
  7. Turn off

From the vendor’s own page · Google Maps Android app version 11.106 and up as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Google Maps Help — Manage your Google Maps Timeline (Android)

Who can still see you
Off
Your own Timeline
Google stops saving your visits and routes to this device. Timeline is a record kept for you, not a share with anyone else.
Still on
Other Google location settings
Google warns that settings such as Search Services History or Web & App Activity may still save location data to your account.
Still visible
Your IP address and your photos
Google says location from your device's general area and IP address may still be saved, and photos may carry location from your camera app.

The same dropdown offers Turn off and delete activity, which also removes what Timeline has already saved.

Turn it back on, or fix it

Turn location back on

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. Use location
  4. On

From the vendor’s own page · Android 12 and up as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Help — Manage your Android device's location settings

Who can still see you
Off
App permissions you removed
Turning Use location on hands no app its permission back. An app you set to Don't allow stays that way until you change it.
Still on
Apps you still allow
Google says apps with location permission can access your device's location again, and you can share your location with others.
Still visible
The network
Your carrier and any site you open placed you roughly by cell tower and IP address while location was off too.

The same toggle sits in Quick Settings once you swipe down twice, tap Edit and drag Location in.

Fix an app that can't find you

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. Location Services
  4. Location Accuracy
  5. Improve Location Accuracy
  6. On

From the vendor’s own page · Android 12 and higher as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Help — Manage your Android device's location settings (Location Accuracy)

Who can still see you
Off
Use location and app permissions
Location Accuracy is a separate setting. If Use location is off, or the app is set to Don't allow, this changes nothing.
Still on
Your device's location sources
Google says your device then uses GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks and sensors together to get the most accurate location.
Still visible
Google's wireless signal data
Google says it periodically collects nearby sensor and wireless signal info, using temporary rotating identifiers, while this is on.

Google's reason to try this: if you turn off Location Accuracy, apps may not be able to get your device's precise location.

Turn work profile location back on

in Android Settings
Path
  1. Settings
  2. Location
  3. Location for work profile
  4. On

From the vendor’s own page · Android 7.0 or later as named on Google's page, read 2026-09-17 · checked 2026-09-17 · source: Android Enterprise Help — Turn your work profile location on or off

Who can still see you
Off
Your personal apps
This switch covers work apps only, and Google says work profile location follows the device's own Use location switch.
Still on
Work apps and your administrator
Google says if any of your work apps collect location data, your administrator might be able to see your location.
Still visible
The network
Your carrier and any site you open still place you roughly by cell tower and IP address, whichever profile switches are set.

Google's note: on a company-owned device you get a notification when your organization requires location access for a work app, and it then can't be disabled.

If someone is tracking you against your will, turning a setting off may not be the safest first step. Read this first.

Related

Where to go next

Question Does airplane mode turn off location? No. Airplane mode is a switch for radios: Apple's page says it "turns off all radios except for Bluetooth", and Google's says Wi-Fi and Bluetooth go off with it. Neither company's airplane-mode page mentions Location Services, GPS or location of any kind. Question How to turn off location without notifying It depends on the app, and only Apple and Snapchat answer it in writing. Apple says the person you stop sharing with won't be notified, and its own safety guide adds that they may notice you have stopped; Snapchat says friends you pick for a location setting aren't notified when you choose them. Life360, Google Maps and Instagram document what the other person's screen shows instead, which is not the same promise. Question Location Services is greyed out Usually something is holding the switch, not breaking it. On an iPhone that is normally Screen Time: Content & Privacy Restrictions can lock a Settings row until it is set back to Allow. On a work, school or family-managed device, a management profile or an Android administrator can do the same thing, and the phone will not let you override it. App guide Google Maps Google Maps has three separate location switches. Location sharing sends your live position to people you chose, Timeline keeps a record of where you have been, and the app's location permission in phone settings decides whether Maps can read your position at all. Turning one off leaves the other two on. App guide Photos & Camera A photo can carry the place it was taken in three copies at once: the one you send, the original in your library, and every new photo the camera takes. Apple and Google document a different switch for each. Turning one off leaves the other two as they were. App guide Snapchat Ghost Mode hides you from friends on Snap Map, and Snapchat documents that your location is still shared with Snap while you are in it. The location permission in your phone's settings is a different switch, and it is the one that stops Snapchat receiving your position at all.