How to view which apps accessing your location data

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This article will show you how to view which apps accessing your location data. Apps on your Phone can find out where you are, but you have to let them. Here’s how to find out what apps can use your GPS location and stop them from doing so. Even though privacy is very important, letting some apps watch our location makes them much more useful, and sometimes it’s even necessary.

You can’t expect Google Maps to work properly if Google doesn’t know where you are. Does that note-taking app, on the other hand, need to know where you are? Maybe, maybe not. How you feel about these things is up to you, and we’re not here to fight about it. We’re here to show you how to decide which apps can track your location and when they can do so. Technology has made it so that your cell phone can do a lot of different things.

One of these things is knowing where you are with a lot of accuracy. In fact, some apps can’t work unless they know where you are. Of course, you can’t expect Google Maps to work right if it doesn’t know where you are. But you have a good point in wondering why a texting app like WhatsApp needs to know where you are. If you want to keep your online data safe, it’s best if third parties don’t know much about you.

How to view which apps accessing your location data on iOS

See which apps are using your data

1. Open Settings
2. Scroll down and tap Privacy
3. Tap Location Services

Restrict or revoke access to your location services

1. Open Settings
2. Scroll down and tap Privacy
3. Tap Location Services
4. Tap the app you wish to revoke or restrict the access of

Once you’re in the Location Services section for a specific app, you can choose one of the following choices to limit or remove access.

• Never
• Ask Next Time Or When I Share
• While using the App
• While using the App or Widgets
• Always

Toggle off Location Services

1. Open Settings
2. Scroll down and tap Privacy
3. Tap Location Services
4. Toggle off Location Services

How to view which apps accessing your location data on Android

Change location permissions per app

1. Tap to open the Settings app. Alternatively, swipe a finger down from the top to expand the shade and then tap the Cog icon.
2. Tap Location.
3. On Samsung phones, tap App Permissions. On Pixel phones, tap App Access to Location.
4. All apps are divided into three categories: Allowed All The Time, Allowed Only While In Use, and Denied.
5. Tap the app you want to modify.

Opt out of ads personalization

1. Tap to open the Settings app. Alternatively, swipe a finger down from the top to expand the shade and then tap the Cog icon.
2. Tap Google.
3. Tap Ads.
4. Tap the Toggle next to Opt Out of Ads Personalization.

Prevent Google from storing your location

1. Tap to open the Settings app. Alternatively, swipe a finger down from the top to expand the shade and then tap the Cog icon.
2. Tap Google.
3. Tap Manage Your Google Account.
4. Tap the Account tab at the bottom if it isn’t selected by default.
5. Tap the Data & Personalization category toward the top.
6. Tap Location History.
7. Tap the Toggle next to Location History to disable this service.
8. Tap the People & Sharing category toward the top.
9. Tap Manage Location Sharing.
10. Remove individuals you don’t want to see your location.

FAQs