There’s a reason why apps frequently ask you for permission to access your location, even when they function adequately without it. Many companies like Google use your location services to provide accurate weather reports or the most up-to-date traffic incidents. In other cases, apps may want your location activity simply for their own market research. If you’re iffy about what information you’re sharing, or you just prefer to stay incognito, here’s how to disable location services on your iOS and Android smartphone. Show
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Please note: While it’s easy to disable location services altogether on your iOS or Android device, you can also disable it for specific apps only. Some apps rely on location services to function properly so you may want to make some exceptions. We’ll show you how to do that as well. How to disable location services on an Android phoneDue to the nature of Android versions and the variety of skins that manufacturers layer over the software, the following steps may vary based on which smartphone you own. However, the process should be similar enough to follow along. The pictures demo the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus running Android 10 under Samsung’s OneUI skin. To disable location services on your Android device, you’ll want to navigate to its location settings.
How to disable location services for specific appsIf you’re an avid user of Google Maps or any GPS-based application, you may not want to disable your location services as it’ll hinder its functionality. Luckily, it’s just as simple to disable a specific app instead of all at once.
How to disable Google location servicesNo matter what Android smartphone you have, there will be Google-specific location services operating in the background. Here’s how to disable those as well.
One-time accessAndroid now has the ability to allow apps to ask for one-time access to location services to complete certain tasks. When this notification pops up, you can choose Only this time to have the app access location once and then disable again (iOS has a similar feature). This can be very useful for getting certain information without the need to give an app broad permissions. How to disable location services on an iPhoneDisabling location services on an iPhone is a little more straightforward as iOS hasn’t really changed its appearance and settings over the generations.
How to disable location services for specific appsTo keep apps that rely on your location functioning, you’ll want to disable location services for specific ones and not all.
Allow access onceLike Android, iOS apps will ask if they can only use location data once to perform a specific task. When you see the notification come up, you can choose Allow Once so that the app can perform its function, but doesn’t get any lasting tabs on your location once it’s done. You can manage the settings for these notifications in the Tracking section under Privacy, where the default should be allowing apps to ask you permission. Developers are now required to use this feature on iOS, so you shouldn’t have any apps that can sneak around it. Note that this feature allows approximate location data for compatible apps, so the app won’t know precisely where you are. If an app can be enabled for approximate location, you will see a map when the alert comes up with a small Precise button you can toggle on or off. Always toggle it off for increased privacy. Editors' Recommendations
How do I turn off location on my Camera?Disable the Camera's Location Settings. Select the Camera app from the “all apps” section.. Tap left menu on the display.. Click “Settings,” then toggle “Save location” to off.. How do I change my location settings on my Camera?Change your camera location settings. Open the Settings app.. Tap Privacy. Location Services. To turn on, set the Camera permission to While Using the App. To turn off, set the Camera permission to Never.. How do you turn off location on Camera iPhone?Here's how: Go to Settings > Privacy, then select Location Services. Select an app, then turn Precise Location on or off.
How do I find my location on my Camera?On Android smartphones:. Open the default Gallery app and select the image.. Now, tap on the three-horizontal dot from the top-right corner.. Select 'Info' or 'details' option (based on the gallery app you are using). Here, you can see the location of the image along with other details like size, shutter speed, ISO, etc.. |