Which apps can see where you are, and how do you limit their access?

A weather app asks for your location, then a shopping app asks for it too. Some requests make sense, while others deserve a closer look. You do not have to give every app permanent access just to use your phone.

Start by checking location permissions in your phone’s settings. You can deny access, allow it only while an app is open or choose an approximate location on supported devices. The labels vary by phone and operating system, and turning off one permission does not erase information an app already collected.

Understand what location permission controls

Location permission lets an app request your device’s location through the operating system. A navigation app may need it to give directions. A ride-hailing app may use it to find your pickup point. A torch app, on the other hand, has little obvious reason to know where you are.

Allowing access only while an app is in use is different from allowing it all the time. Background access may be useful for a delivery app during an active order or a safety feature you deliberately set up, but you should know why the app needs it.

Denying the device permission is not the same as becoming invisible. A website or app may estimate a rough location from your internet address, information you enter or other signals. Your mobile network also needs information about your connection to provide service. Changing one setting cannot stop every form of location collection.

Check location access on Android

Android menus vary between Samsung, Pixel, Tecno, Infinix and other phones. Search for Location in Settings if the path below looks different.

Open Settings and tap Location.
Choose App location permissions or a similarly named option.
Review the apps allowed all the time and those allowed only while in use.
Tap an app you want to change.
Select an available option, such as Allow only while using the app, Ask every time or Don’t allow.
If the phone offers a Use precise location switch, turn it off when an approximate location is enough.

You can also go through Settings, Apps, select an app, then open Permissions and Location. Google’s Android location guide explains these choices. Older phones may offer fewer options.

Begin with apps allowed all the time. Ask whether each one needs background location for a feature you actually use. If you are not sure, try allowing it only while the app is open and see whether anything important stops working.

Change location settings on iPhone

On an iPhone, open Settings, then Privacy & Security, and choose Location Services. Review the apps in the list and tap one to see the access options available to it.

Depending on the app and iOS version, options can include Never, Ask Next Time Or When I Share, While Using the App and Always. Some apps also offer a Precise Location switch. Choose the least access that still lets you use the feature you need.

If you choose Never for a maps app, it may not be able to show your current position automatically. You can still enter a location manually in some services. A weather app may work with a city you select instead of your exact position.

Decide which apps need precise location

Directions, a ride pickup and emergency assistance can require a more accurate position than a general weather forecast. Approximate location is a useful compromise when an app only needs to know your area.

Try changing one app at a time. Open it afterwards and check whether the feature you rely on works. If a taxi app cannot find your pickup point accurately, you may need to allow precise location while using it or enter the pickup point yourself. You can change the permission again later.

Do not leave an app with permanent access just because you once needed it for a single task. For instance, after a delivery has arrived, check whether background access is still useful to you. Some apps offer their own in-app tracking switches in addition to the phone’s permission.

Review system-wide location carefully

Android and iPhone both let you turn location services off more broadly. That can stop many apps from getting the device location through normal location services, but it can also affect maps, weather, ride pickup and device-finding features.

Before switching it off for the whole phone, consider whether changing individual apps would meet your goal with fewer side effects. If you rely on locating a lost Android phone, check how your chosen Find Hub settings work. Our guide to setting up Find Hub covers preparation before the phone goes missing.

Emergency calls and network functions may handle location differently from ordinary apps. Do not rely on a privacy setting as a guarantee that your location can never be determined.

Check Google Maps Timeline separately

Device location permission and Google Maps Timeline are not the same switch. Timeline can save visits and routes when the feature is enabled, subject to the account and device settings. If you want to stop new Timeline recording or review saved information, open Maps and check Timeline settings separately.

Our guide to turning off Google Location History explains the Timeline controls. Turning off an app’s location permission does not automatically erase past Timeline entries. Similarly, turning Timeline off does not remove location permission from every other app. Read the options carefully before deleting anything you may want to keep, and remember that menus can change.

Some photos can also contain location information if the camera was allowed to save it. Review your camera settings and the sharing options of the app you use before sending a picture whose location you prefer to keep private.

Check what happens when you share a live location

A chat app can share your live location with selected contacts when you start that feature. Review active location-sharing sessions inside the app and stop any you no longer want. Revoking the app’s device permission may interrupt updates, but it is still worth checking the sharing session directly.

If another person has access to your phone or account, permission changes alone may not address the problem. Secure the account, review signed-in devices and use a strong screen lock. If you are concerned that changing settings could put you at risk, seek support from someone you trust and plan a safe way to make changes.

Remove apps and data you do not need

Uninstall an app you no longer use if you do not need its services. Removing it from your phone does not necessarily delete the account or data stored by the company. Check its privacy settings and deletion process if you want to request removal of stored information.

App-store data safety information can help you understand a developer’s stated practices, but Google notes that the absence of a sharing notice is not proof that an app never shares location data. Review permissions, read the provider’s policy and keep only access that serves a purpose you understand.