Where your device thinks you are, and how to change it

Your phone or computer reports a location in two ways: through GPS (which reads satellite signals and is very accurate), and through your internet connection (which is less precise but works indoors). Changing which one your device uses, or turning one off entirely, shifts where apps and websites think you are located. The steps differ between iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac because each operating system stores location settings in a different place.

Most people change location settings to stop apps from tracking them, to use a different region in a streaming service, or to test how an app behaves in different places. You can change the setting globally — affecting all apps at once — or per app, so that one program sees your real location while another does not.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services to turn GPS on or off for all apps, or scroll down to control individual apps.
  • On Android, open Settings > Location and toggle the master switch, then tap App Permissions to control which apps can see your location.
  • On Windows, Settings > Privacy & Security > Location shows your current setting; toggle it off to disable location for all programs.
  • On Mac, System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services lets you turn location off entirely or uncheck individual apps.
  • Turning off location saves battery life and prevents apps from tracking your movements, but some features like maps and weather will not work without it.

Changing location on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Privacy. Then tap Location Services. The first toggle at the top turns location off for your entire phone — when it is off, no app can see where you are, and GPS stops running. If you leave it on but want to block specific apps, scroll down the list and tap each app name. You will see three options: Never (the app cannot access location), While Using (only when the app is open), or Always (the app can track you in the background).

Most apps should be set to While Using or Never. Apps like Maps and Weather need location to work properly, but apps like a note-taking program or a game do not. If an app is set to Always and you did not choose that, change it to While Using or Never. You can also tap System Services at the bottom of the Location Services screen to see which background processes are using location — things like Find My iPhone, emergency SOS, and HomeKit. Turn off any you do not use.

Changing location on Android

Open Settings and tap Location (the exact name varies by phone maker — Samsung calls it Location, Google Pixel calls it Location). At the top, toggle the master switch off to disable location for all apps. If you want location on but need to block certain apps, keep the toggle on and tap App Permissions or App-level Permissions (the name depends on your phone). You will see a list of apps that have asked for location access. Tap each one and choose Deny, Allow Only While Using This App, or Allow All the Time.

On some Android phones, you can also choose whether location uses GPS only, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth only, or a combination. Tap Location Services or Advanced Location Settings to see this option. GPS drains battery faster but is more accurate. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth location is less precise but uses less power. If you are indoors and do not need high accuracy, switching to Wi-Fi only can extend your battery life.

Changing location on Windows

Open Settings and go to Privacy & Security > Location. You will see a toggle at the top that says Location. Turn it off to disable location for all programs on your computer. When location is off, Windows will not report your position to any app or website, and your computer will not use GPS (most Windows computers do not have GPS anyway — they use your internet connection to estimate location).

If you want location on but need to block specific apps, keep the toggle on and scroll down to see App Permissions. You will see a list of programs that have asked for location access. Toggle each one off if you do not want it to know where you are. Some built-in Windows apps like Maps and Weather will appear here. You can also click Change to see which apps have permission and remove access from any of them.

Changing location on Mac

Open System Settings and go to Privacy & Security > Location Services. You will see a toggle at the top. Turn it off to disable location for your entire Mac. When it is off, no app can see your location, and your Mac will not use Wi-Fi signals to estimate where you are.

If you want location on but need to control which apps can use it, keep the toggle on and look at the list below. You will see apps like Maps, Weather, and any third-party programs that have asked for location access. Click the arrow next to each app to see its permission status. Uncheck any app you do not want to have location access. You can also click Details next to an app to see exactly when it last used your location.

Why you might want to turn location off

Turning off location saves battery life because your phone or computer no longer has to run GPS or check Wi-Fi signals constantly. It also stops apps from tracking where you go and when you go there — data that some apps sell to advertisers or use to build a profile of your habits. If you use a phone for work and do not want your employer to know where you are outside work hours, turning off location or setting work apps to While Using Only prevents background tracking.

The trade-off is that some features stop working. Maps cannot show your current position. Weather apps cannot show local conditions. Location-based reminders (like "remind me to call when I get home") will not trigger. If you need these features, keep location on but set individual apps to While Using Only instead of Always, which gives you the benefit of location when you need it without constant background tracking.

What happens when you change location settings

Changes take effect when ready. If you turn off location, apps will stop receiving your position right away. If you change an app from Always to While Using, it can still see your location when the app is open, but not when it is in the background. Some apps will ask you again for permission the next time you open them — this is normal and means the app is checking whether your setting has changed.

Changing location settings does not affect your phone bill, your internet speed, or your service plan. It only controls what information your device shares with apps and websites. If you change your mind, you can turn location back on or change app permissions back to Always at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off location stop my phone from being tracked?

Turning off location stops apps and websites from knowing where you are, but it does not stop your phone company from knowing your location — they track you through cell towers. If you want complete privacy from your carrier, you would need to not use your phone. For privacy from apps, turning off location or setting apps to While Using is effective.

Will my phone still work if I turn off location?

Yes. Your phone will work normally. Calls, texts, and internet will not be affected. Only features that depend on knowing where you are — like Maps showing your position, weather showing local conditions, or location-based reminders — will stop working. Everything else works the same.

Can I turn off location for just one app?

Yes. On all four operating systems, you can set location to off for individual apps while leaving it on for others. On iPhone and Mac, set the app to Never. On Android and Windows, toggle the app off in the App Permissions list. The app will not be able to see your location, but other apps will still have access if you allow them.

Does location use a lot of battery?

GPS uses more battery than Wi-Fi location because it is constantly reading satellite signals. If your battery drains quickly, turning off location or switching to Wi-Fi-only location can help. On Android, you can choose which method your phone uses. On iPhone, you cannot choose the method, but turning off location entirely or setting apps to While Using Only reduces battery drain.

What is the difference between GPS and Wi-Fi location?

GPS reads signals from satellites and is accurate to within a few meters, but only works outdoors and drains battery quickly. Wi-Fi location estimates your position based on nearby Wi-Fi networks and works indoors, but is less precise — sometimes off by a few hundred meters. Most phones use both: GPS when outdoors, Wi-Fi when indoors.