Where to find location settings on your device

Location tracking lives in your device settings, not in individual apps. On most phones and computers, you can turn it off completely, or turn it off for specific apps while leaving it on for others. The exact path depends on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac.

The fastest way is to search your settings for the word "location" — every device has a search box at the top of settings. Type it in and you'll land on the right page in seconds. If search doesn't work on your device, the manual paths below will get you there.

Key Takeaways

  • Location can be turned off entirely in your device settings, or turned off for individual apps while keeping it on for maps and weather.
  • On iPhones, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services; on Android, go to Settings > Location; on Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location; on Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
  • Turning off location for an app does not delete past location history — it only stops new tracking from that moment forward.
  • Some apps like maps and weather work poorly or not at all without location, so you may want to leave location on but disable it for apps you don't trust.

Disabling location on an iPhone

Open Settings and tap Privacy. Then tap Location Services at the top. You'll see a toggle switch next to "Location Services" — tap it to turn off location entirely. When it's off, no app can see your location, and your phone will stop sending location data to Apple.

If you want to keep location on for maps or weather but turn it off for other apps, leave the toggle on. Scroll down and you'll see a list of every app that has ever asked for location. Tap any app name and you'll see three options: Never, While Using, or Always. Choose "Never" to block that app from seeing your location. "While Using" means the app can see your location only when it's open on your screen. "Always" means the app can see your location even when it's closed.

At the bottom of the Location Services page, you'll also see System Services. Tap it to see what Apple's own services are tracking — things like Maps, Find My, and HomeKit. You can turn off location for any of these too.

Disabling location on an Android phone

Open Settings and tap Location. You'll see a toggle at the top that says "Location" — tap it to turn off location entirely. When it's off, no app can see your location.

If you want to keep location on but block specific apps, leave the toggle on. Tap "App permissions" or "App location permissions" (the exact name varies by phone maker). You'll see a list of apps that have asked for location. Tap any app and choose "Don't allow" to block it. Some phones also let you choose "Allow only while using the app," which means the app can see your location only when it's open.

On some Android phones, you'll also see an option for "Location Services" or "Improve Location Accuracy." This controls whether your phone uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to pinpoint your location more precisely. You can turn this off if you want less precise location data, though it may make maps less accurate.

Disabling location on Windows

Open Settings and go to Privacy & Security. Tap Location on the left side. You'll see a toggle that says "Location" — tap it to turn off location entirely for your computer.

If you want to keep location on but block specific apps, leave the toggle on. Scroll down to "App permissions" and you'll see a list of apps that have asked for location. Toggle off any app you want to block. Some apps will show "Allow" or "Don't allow" instead of a toggle — click the app name to change its setting.

Windows also shows "Location history" on this page. This is a record of places your computer has been. You can tap "Clear" to delete past location history, though this does not stop future tracking — you still need to turn off the Location toggle or block individual apps.

Disabling location on a Mac

Click the Apple menu and go to System Settings. Click Privacy & Security on the left. Then click Location Services. You'll see a checkbox next to "Enable Location Services" — uncheck it to turn off location entirely.

If you want to keep location on but block specific apps, leave the checkbox checked. You'll see a list of apps below. Click any app and you'll see options to allow or deny location access. Some apps will also show a dropdown menu where you can choose "Never," "While Using," or "Always."

At the bottom of the Location Services page, you may see "System Services." Click the Details button to see what Apple's own services are tracking. You can uncheck any service you want to block.

What happens when you turn off location

When you turn off location entirely, your device stops sending location data to apps and to the company that made your device. Maps will not work. Weather apps will not know your location. Find My (on iPhones) will not work. Any app that relies on knowing where you are will either stop working or ask you to enter your location manually.

Turning off location for a single app does not affect other apps — only that app loses access. If you turn off location for Facebook but leave it on for Maps, Maps will still work and Facebook will not be able to see your location.

Turning off location does not delete the location history your device has already recorded. If you want to delete past location data, you need to look for a separate "Location History" or "Timeline" setting in your device or in individual apps. On iPhones, this is in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations. On Android, it's usually in Google Maps settings under "Your Timeline" or in Google Account settings under "Manage your Google Activity."

Why apps ask for location and what to do about it

Apps ask for location for different reasons. Maps needs it to show you where you are. Weather apps need it to show your local forecast. Social media apps ask for it so they can tag your posts or show you ads for nearby businesses. Flashlight apps and note-taking apps sometimes ask for location even though they don't need it — this is a red flag.

You don't have to give every app location access. If an app asks for location and you don't see why it needs it, tap "Don't Allow" or "Never." The app will usually still work, just without location features. If an app stops working after you deny location, you can always go back to settings and turn it back on for that app only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off location stop my phone from being tracked?

Turning off location stops apps and your device maker from knowing where you are. It does not stop your phone company (your cellular carrier) from knowing which cell towers your phone connects to — that's how they route calls and texts. If you want to prevent that, you would need to turn off your phone entirely or switch to airplane mode.

Will my maps app still work if I turn off location?

Maps will still open, but it won't know where you are. You can still search for addresses and get directions, but you'll have to type in your starting point instead of the app finding it automatically. If you use maps often, it's better to leave location on for maps but turn it off for apps you don't trust.

Can I turn off location for just one app without turning it off for everything?

Yes. On all devices, you can go to location settings and find the list of apps, then choose "Never" or "Don't allow" for the specific app. Other apps will still have location access. This is the best option if you want to use maps or weather but don't want certain apps tracking you.

If I turn off location, will it drain my battery faster or slower?

Turning off location will make your battery last slightly longer, because your device won't be using GPS or checking location data. The difference is usually small — a few percent over a full day — but it adds up if you leave location off all the time.

What's the difference between "While Using" and "Always" for location?

"While Using" means the app can see your location only when it's open and you're looking at it. "Always" means the app can see your location even when it's closed and running in the background. Choose "While Using" if you want the app to have location access but only when you're actively using it.