What location services are and why apps ask for them
Location services let apps know where you are by using GPS, cell towers, or Wi-Fi networks. When you turn them on, your phone or computer can pinpoint your location within a few meters. Apps use this information for different reasons: maps need it to show you where you are, weather apps use it to give you local forecasts, and ride-sharing apps need it to find drivers near you.
You control whether each app gets access to your location. You can turn location services completely off, allow them only when you are actively using an app, or let them run in the background. The choice depends on what you need the app to do and how much battery life you want to preserve — location services use more power than most other phone features.
Key Takeaways
- Location services use GPS, cell towers, or Wi-Fi to tell apps where you are, and they drain battery faster than most other features.
- On iPhones, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services to turn the feature on or off, or to control which apps can access your location.
- On Android phones, swipe down from the top twice to open Quick Settings, then tap Location to turn it on or off, or go to Settings > Location for more control.
- You can set most apps to use your location only while you are actively using them, which saves battery and limits what the app can track.
- On Windows and Mac computers, location services are usually off by default and only turn on when you give an app permission to use them.
Turning location services on or off on an iPhone
Open Settings and tap Privacy. You will see Location Services at the top of the menu. Tap it to see the on-off switch. If the switch is green, location services are on. If it is gray, they are off. Tap the switch to change it.
When location services are on, you will see a small arrow icon next to the battery percentage at the top of your screen. This tells you an app is currently using your location. If you want to control which apps can access your location instead of turning the feature off completely, stay in the Location Services menu. You will see a list of every app that has ever asked for location access. Tap any app name to see three options: Never, While Using, or Always. Choose Never to block that app from your location, While Using to let it know where you are only when you have the app open, or Always to let it track you even when the app is closed.
Turning location services on or off on an Android phone
Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open Quick Settings — the panel with icons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other features. Look for Location and tap it. If it turns blue, location services are on. If it turns gray, they are off. This is the fastest way to toggle the feature.
To control which apps can access your location, open Settings and scroll down to Location. Tap it, then tap App Permissions or App Location Permissions depending on your phone's version. You will see a list of apps. Tap any app name to choose whether it can access your location Always, Only While Using the App, or Never. Most phones also show you which apps have used your location recently, so you can spot apps you did not know were tracking you.
Managing location access on Windows computers
Location services on Windows are usually off by default. If you want to turn them on, open Settings and go to Privacy & Security > Location. You will see an on-off switch at the top. Flip it to turn location services on.
Below that switch, you will see a list of apps that have asked for location access. You can turn location off for individual apps without turning off the feature entirely. This is useful if you want Maps to know where you are but do not want other apps tracking your location. You can also click Change to set a default location instead of letting Windows use your actual GPS position — this is helpful if you want weather and news apps to show information for a city you do not live in.
Managing location access on Mac computers
Open System Settings and go to Privacy & Security > Location Services. You will see an on-off switch. Click it to turn location services on or off. Most Macs have this turned off by default, so you may need to turn it on if an app is asking for your location.
Below the main switch, you will see a list of apps that have requested location access. Click any app name to see whether it has permission to use your location. Unlike iPhone and Android, Mac does not give you a While Using option — apps either have access or they do not. If you want to limit location tracking on a Mac, your best option is to turn off the feature entirely and turn it back on only when you need a specific app to use it.
Why location services drain your battery faster
GPS is one of the most power-hungry features on your phone or computer. It constantly searches for satellites to pinpoint your exact location, which takes energy. Cell tower and Wi-Fi location methods use less power but are less accurate. If you notice your battery draining quickly, check which apps are set to Always for location access — changing them to While Using can add hours to your battery life.
Background location access is the biggest battery drain. An app running location services in the background while you are not using it will drain your battery much faster than an app that only tracks you when it is open. If you do not need an app to know where you are when you are not using it, set it to While Using instead of Always.
What to do if an app keeps asking for location permission
Some apps ask for location access every time you open them, even after you have already said no. This usually means the app is designed to need your location to work properly — a maps app cannot show you directions without knowing where you are. If you keep denying permission and the app keeps asking, you have two choices: give the app permission to use your location, or delete the app and find one that does not need it.
If you have already given an app permission but want to take it away, go back to your location settings and change that app from Always or While Using to Never. The next time the app tries to use your location, it will be blocked. Some apps will show you an error message or ask you to turn location back on, but they will not delete your data or stop working entirely — they just will not be able to show location-based features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off location services stop all apps from knowing where I am?
Yes, turning off location services completely blocks all apps from using GPS, cell towers, or Wi-Fi to find your location. However, apps can still see your location if you manually type in an address or if you are connected to a specific Wi-Fi network that the app recognizes. Turning off the feature just stops automatic tracking.
Can I let Maps use my location but block other apps?
Yes. You do not have to turn off location services entirely. Go to your location settings, find each app, and set Maps to While Using or Always while setting other apps to Never. This way Maps works normally but other apps cannot track you.
What is the difference between While Using and Always?
While Using means the app can only see your location when you have it open and actively using it. Always means the app can track your location even when it is closed and running in the background. Always uses more battery and gives the app more information about your movements, so use it only for apps that genuinely need background tracking.
Why does my phone show a location arrow even when I have location services off?
If you see a location arrow at the top of your screen with location services turned off, it usually means an app is using a different method to find your location — like asking you to type in an address or using your Wi-Fi network name. The arrow should disappear once you close that app or turn off Wi-Fi.
Do I need location services on to use my phone normally?
No. You can use your phone for calls, texts, email, and most apps without location services on. You will only notice a difference with apps that specifically need to know where you are, like Maps, weather apps, or ride-sharing apps. Those apps will ask you to turn location on or will not show location-based features.