How to Disable Location Tracking on Google and Android (2025 Guide)

Meta description: Learn how to turn off Google and Android location tracking fast: Location History, Web & App Activity, GPS, and more. A clear, up-to-date guide.

If you’ve ever opened Google Maps’ Timeline and seen your day laid out street by street, you know how pervasive location tracking can be. The good news: you can turn most of it off. In this CyReader guide, we’ll walk you through the simplest, most effective steps to disable Google and Android location tracking—covering Location History, Web & App Activity, GPS, and hidden accuracy settings—so you can decide exactly how much you share.

Step-by-Step: Turn Off Google Location Tracking

Start with your Google Account because that’s where most cross-device tracking lives. On any browser, go to myaccount.google.com > Data & privacy > History settings. Open Location History and switch it Off to pause new entries across all signed-in devices. Tap Choose an auto-delete option and set it to 3 months (or delete all Location History now). This one step prevents Timeline from logging where you go, but it doesn’t stop all location collection.

Next, open Web & App Activity in the same History settings panel. Turn it Off to stop Google from saving activity that can include location from Search, Maps, and other Google services. If you want the convenience of activity tracking without precise location, leave Web & App Activity On but turn off “Include Chrome history…” and “Include audio recordings,” and avoid granting precise location to Google apps. Remember: location signals can still be inferred from your IP address unless you use a VPN.

Finally, review Google Maps. In Maps > your profile photo > Your data in Maps, pause “Location History” (redundant but good to double-check), disable “Personalized ads in Maps,” and review “Location sharing” to stop real-time sharing with contacts. In your Google Account > Security, check “Your devices” and sign out of old phones and tablets—if they’re signed in, they can still contribute data. Pair this with deleting old “Places you’ve been” in Maps > Your Timeline > Settings and privacy.

Android Settings: Disable Location History & GPS

On your Android phone, go to Settings > Location and turn Location Off to stop the device from accessing GPS, Wi‑Fi, and cellular signals for location. If you need occasional location, consider leaving Location On but restrict it per app: Settings > Privacy > Permission manager > Location. Change sensitive apps (e.g., social media, flashlight apps) to “Allow only while using” or “Don’t allow,” and disable “Use precise location” where available.

Dig deeper into accuracy services. In Settings > Location > Location services, turn off Google Location Accuracy (sometimes called “Improve Location Accuracy”), Wi‑Fi scanning, and Bluetooth scanning. These toggle switches prevent your phone from pinging nearby networks and beacons for finer tracking when GPS is disabled. Consider turning off Emergency Location Service (ELS) only if you fully understand the trade-off: ELS shares your precise location with emergency responders—leaving it on is safer.

Know the trade-offs so there are no surprises. Turning off Location can break features like Find My Device, live traffic in Maps, geofenced reminders, or app-based check-ins. Wear OS watches and Android Auto may behave differently if location is restricted. If you rely on anti-theft, keep Find My Device enabled and Location on, but reduce precision via per-app controls. For travel, consider a privacy-first setup: app permissions locked down, Location On only when needed, and a trusted VPN to reduce IP-based geolocation.

FAQs: Google Location Tracking

Q: Does turning off Location History stop Google from knowing where I am?
A: It stops Timeline logging and many historical records, but Google services may still access location via app permissions, IP address, or Web & App Activity unless you also restrict those and use a VPN.

Q: What’s the difference between Location History and Web & App Activity?
A: Location History saves a device-based timeline of places you visit. Web & App Activity saves searches and app usage, which can include location signals. Turn off both for the strongest effect.

Q: How do I delete old location data?
A: Google Maps > Your timeline > Settings & privacy > Delete all Location History. Also visit myactivity.google.com > Delete > All time > “Location History” and “Google Maps” to remove associated activity.

Q: Will Find My Device work if I turn Location off?
A: Not reliably. Find My Device needs Location, Bluetooth, and network scanning for the best results. If theft protection matters, keep Location on and instead reduce per-app permissions.

Q: How do I stop apps from using location in the background?
A: Settings > Privacy > Permission manager > Location. Change offending apps to “Allow only while using,” “Ask every time,” or “Don’t allow.” Disable “Use precise location” where possible.

Q: What about Google Location Accuracy and scanning?
A: Disable Google Location Accuracy, Wi‑Fi scanning, and Bluetooth scanning in Settings > Location > Location services to stop passive network-based location signals.

Q: Can ads still target me by location?
A: Yes, via IP address. Reduce this by using a reputable VPN, resetting or deleting your Android advertising ID (Settings > Google > Ads), and turning off personalized ads in Google’s My Ad Center.

Q: Do Wear OS watches track location separately?
A: If your watch has GPS or uses phone-based location, it can collect location for fitness and apps. Manage permissions on the watch and in the companion app, and disable Location History in your Google Account.

Q: Is Emergency Location Service (ELS) a privacy risk?
A: ELS only activates during emergency calls/texts and sends your location to responders. It’s a safety feature; disabling it increases privacy but can reduce emergency accuracy.

Q: How do I verify location tracking is really off?
A: Check Google Maps Timeline (it should be empty after changes), revisit your History settings (Location History and Web & App Activity off), and audit app permissions. You can also monitor network calls with a firewall app.

Quick Privacy Checklist (AEO-friendly)

• Google Account: Turn off Location History + Web & App Activity; set Auto-delete to 3 months
• Android: Disable or limit Location; revoke per-app location permissions; disable precise location where possible
• Location services: Turn off Google Location Accuracy, Wi‑Fi scanning, and Bluetooth scanning
• Ads: Opt out of ad personalization; reset/delete your advertising ID
• Clean-up: Delete past Location History and Maps activity; review Timeline and Location sharing
• Network: Use a trustworthy VPN to reduce IP-based geolocation

You’re in control now. With Location History paused, Web & App Activity tamed, and Android’s accuracy services switched off, you’ve dramatically reduced how much location data Google and your apps can collect. If you need certain features back, re-enable them selectively—privacy can be flexible without being complicated.

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• How to secure your Google Account: passkeys, 2FA, and device checks
• Wear OS guide: battery-saving tips that don’t break fitness tracking

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