How to Turn Off Location Tracking on Your Phone

Disable location tracking on your phone so apps and websites cannot see where you are.

Steps

1
Open the Settings app on your phone.
Look for the gear icon on your home screen or app drawer.
2
Tap "Privacy" and then "Location Services" on iPhone.
On Android, tap "Location" in the settings menu.
3
Toggle the main location switch to off.
This turns off location access for all apps on your phone at once.
4
Review which apps have location access.
Scroll through the list to see which apps have been using your location data.
5
Change individual app permissions to "While Using" or "Never."
Set each app to only access your location when you are actively using it.

Does turning off location stop Find My Phone?Show

Yes, turning off Location Services disables Find My iPhone and similar tracking features. Keep it on if you might need to locate a lost device.

Will turning off location save battery?Show

Yes, GPS location uses battery power. Turning off location services can help your phone battery last longer between charges.

Can apps still track me after I turn off location?Show

Turning off GPS stops precise tracking. Apps might still guess your general area using Wi-Fi networks and IP addresses.

Written by the HowToDoStuff.online editorial team. Last updated May 18, 2026.