digital
How to Stop Location Tracking
A clear guide on disabling tracking on phones, apps, vehicles, and smart devices.
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DIGITAL SAFETY
How to Stop Location Tracking
1. iPhone steps
These steps are for recent versions of iOS. Menu names can vary slightly by version.
Turn off system location services
- Open Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Location Services.
- Option choices:
- To fully disable: toggle Location Services to Off.
- To limit: leave it On and adjust app-by-app instead.
Check location access for each app
- In Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, scroll through the app list.
- Tap each app you are concerned about.
- Set to:
- Never – app cannot use location.
- Ask Next Time Or When I Share – app must ask each time.
- While Using the App – only when app is on screen.
- Consider turning off Precise Location for apps you keep enabled, so they only see approximate location.
Review System Services
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.
- Review items like:
- Find My iPhone
- Location-Based Alerts
- Location-Based Suggestions
- Share My Location
- Toggle off any services you do not want using your location.
Turn off “Share My Location” and Find My
- Open Settings.
- Tap your name/Apple ID banner at the top.
- Tap Find My.
- Tap Share My Location and toggle it Off if you do not want others to see your live location.
- Under Find My iPhone, you can toggle it off if safe to do so. This also turns off the ability for your iCloud account to track the phone.
Review Family Sharing and people who can see your location
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap Family Sharing (if shown).
- Review who is in your family group.
- In the Find My app:
- Open Find My.
- Tap the People tab.
- Check who can see your location.
- Tap a person you do not want to share with and choose Stop Sharing My Location.
Disable location in the browser
- For Safari:
- Go to Settings > Safari.
- Scroll to Location (under “Settings for Websites”).
- Select options such as Deny or Ask.
- For other browsers (Chrome, Firefox):
- Open the browser’s own Settings.
- Look for Privacy or Site Settings.
- Turn off access to location or set to “ask first.”
Changes on your phone may be visible to someone who closely watches your device or account. Consider where and when you adjust settings.
2. Android steps
Menus vary between brands (Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.), but most use similar wording.
Turn off overall location
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Location (sometimes under Security & privacy or Connections).
- Toggle Use location to Off to block most location access.
Check app location permissions
- Go to Settings > Privacy or Security & privacy (wording can differ).
- Tap Permission manager or App permissions.
- Tap Location.
- Review the list of apps under:
- Allowed all the time
- Allowed only while in use
- Denied
- Tap any app you are concerned about and choose:
- Deny, or
- Allow only while using the app.
- If available, turn off Use precise location so the app only sees an approximate area.
Turn off Google Location services
- Open Settings.
- Tap Location.
- Tap Location services or Advanced (names vary).
- Review and adjust:
- Google Location Accuracy – you can turn this off.
- Google Location History – you can pause or delete location history.
- Google Location Sharing – review if you share your real-time location with anyone.
Review “Find My Device” and account sharing
- Open Settings and tap Security or Security & privacy.
- Look for Find My Device.
- Turn off if you do not want the Google account to see the device’s location, if that is safe for you.
- In the Google app or Settings > Google:
- Check your account for Family or Location sharing.
- Stop sharing with anyone you do not want to have your location.
Disable location in the browser
- Open your browser (Chrome, Samsung Internet, Firefox, etc.).
- Go to the browser’s Settings.
- Find Site settings or Permissions.
- Tap Location.
- Block location or set sites to “Ask first.”
Some Android devices include brand-specific tracking or cloud accounts. You can review those under your manufacturer’s account settings (for example, Samsung account).
3. Car tracking
Cars can be tracked in several ways. Some involve the vehicle system; some involve separate devices.
Built-in connected car systems
- Examples include manufacturer apps that show:
- Vehicle location
- Trip history
- Remote lock/unlock or start
- Options to consider:
- Check the car’s manual or in-dash menu for privacy or data sharing settings.
- Log into the manufacturer’s app or website and:
- Review who has account access.
- Change the account password if safe.
- Turn off location or trip-history features if possible.
- Ask the dealer or a trusted mechanic to:
- Explain what data your car sends.
- Show where you can turn off or limit those services, if available.
Aftermarket GPS trackers
- Trackers can be:
- Plugged into the OBD-II port under the dashboard.
- Wired to the battery or other power source.
- Hidden in the vehicle interior, often with magnets or adhesive.
- Options to check:
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect for unfamiliar devices wired to power or plugged into the OBD-II port.
- If a device is found, you can ask:
- What it is
- Whether removal will affect vehicle safety
- Consider whether removing a tracker might change the other person’s behavior and plan around that.
Phone-based car tracking
- Some people track a car by tracking the phone of the person using the car.
- In that case, changes to car tracking may involve:
- Adjusting location services on the phone.
- Reviewing connected car apps on the phone and their permissions.
- Signing out of car-related apps on shared devices.
4. Apps with hidden tracking
Location tracking can be built into common apps, not just dedicated GPS tools.
Types of apps to review
- Maps and navigation (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze).
- Family locator apps.
- Social media (Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, etc.).
- Photo-sharing apps that keep location in photo details.
- Fitness and running apps that track routes.
- Rideshare and delivery apps.
- Workplace or school apps with attendance or check-in features.
Steps to reduce app-based tracking
- Check the phone’s location permissions list:
- On iPhone, through Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- On Android, through Settings > Privacy > Permission manager > Location or similar.
- Change any app you do not fully trust to:
- Never (iPhone), or
- Deny (Android).
- Review in-app location or check-in features:
- Turn off “share live location” options.
- Disable “friends nearby” or “location-based suggestions.”
- Turn off automatic “location tags” on posts or photos.
Look for signs of stalkerware or hidden apps
- Unfamiliar apps with generic names (for example, “System Services,” “Device Manager,” “SecurityControl”) that you did not install.
- Apps with Device Admin or special access permissions on Android.
- Apps hidden in folders or using icons that look like something else (for example, a calculator).
- Battery draining faster than usual, or high data use without clear reason.
- Options:
- Review installed apps and their permissions.
- Check Special access or Device admin apps in Android settings.
- Consider a professional malware or security check if that is available to you.
If you are concerned about hidden tracking, it can be safer to use a different device for planning, communications, or research rather than trying to fully “clean” a monitored device.
5. When to switch to a safe device
Sometimes turning off settings is not enough to stop tracking or monitoring.
Signs a separate device may be safer
- The other person:
- Regularly knows where you are without explanation.
- Mentions places you went that you did not share.
- Appears at locations unexpectedly over time.
- Your phone:
- Was set up by the other person, including accounts and passwords.
- Is shared with the other person or they know your unlock code.
- Shows signs of tampering or unexplained configuration changes.
- Attempts to change settings:
- Are reversed without you doing it.
- Cause conflict, pressure, or questioning.
Options for a safer device
- Use a separate phone that:
- You set up yourself with a new account and password.
- Is kept physically separate and not shared.
- Does not sign into shared cloud accounts (for example, shared Apple ID or Google account).
- Consider:
- Using the safer device only in locations where it is unlikely to be discovered.
- Keeping the original device unchanged if altering it might raise suspicion.
- Use the safer device for:
- Planning and information gathering.
- Contacting services, including organizations listed on information hubs such as DV.Support.
- Storing important notes or photos that you do not want visible on a monitored device.
Before switching devices, consider how the other person might respond if they notice changes, and plan your steps in a way that feels lower-risk to you.