Choose which apps use your Android phone’s location

You can let apps use your phone’s location to take actions for you or give you information. For example, apps can use your phone's location to see commute traffic or find nearby restaurants.
Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 10 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Find which apps use your phone’s location

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap Location  App permission.
   • If you don't see "Location," tap Security & location  Location.
   • If you have a work profile, tap Advanced  Location.
3. Under ”Allowed all the time" and “Allowed only while in use,” view the apps that can use your phone's location.
4. To change the app's permissions, tap it, then choose the location access for the app.

Stop an app from using your phone’s location

You can control which apps can see and use your phone’s location and when. For example, you could let Google Maps use your phone's location to give you driving directions, but not share the location with a game or social media app.

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap Location.
   • If you don't see "Location," tap Security & location  Location.
   • If you have a work profile, tap Advanced  Location.
3. Tap App permission or App level permissions. 
4. Find an app.
5. Choose an option:
   • Allow all the time: The app can use your location at any time.
   • Allow only while using the app: The app can use your location only when you're using that app.
   • Deny: The app can never use your location, even when you’re using the app.  

Tip: To stop all apps from using your phone's location, learn how to turn off location for your phone.

Learn how closely an app sees your phone’s location

Important: If an app has permission to use your phone's location, it can use your phone’s approximate location, precise location, or both.

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap Apps & notifications.
3. Tap an app. If you can’t find the app you want, first tap See all apps.
4. Tap Permissions  More   All permissions.
5. Under "Location," you can find the type of location the app requested. If you don't find "Location," this app hasn’t asked for your phone’s location.

Types of location access apps can request:

• Approximate location: The app can see that your phone is within a large area, a few hundred meters wide.
• Precise location: The app can see your phone’s exact location, like a dot on a map.
• In the foreground: The app can use your location only when the app is open on your screen or running in the background.
• In the background: The app can use location info at any time, even if you aren’t using it. 

Why apps ask you to change location settings

• "Change location setting?": The app needs your phone’s location turned on to work properly.
• "Improve location accuracy?": If location is already turned on for an app, the app can ask you to turn on more settings or sensors to better find your phone's location.
• Wi-Fi connection: An app can ask you to turn on Wi-Fi or let your phone look for Wi-Fi networks. Scanning for Wi-Fi helps find your phone's location more accurately.
• Google Location Services: Let apps find your phone’s location more accurately. Learn how Google Location Accuracy improves your location info. Google Location Accuracy is also known as Google Location Services.

Change other location settings

• Get info based on your phone’s location: 
  Learn how to turn on location.
• Help apps get better location info: 
  Learn how to turn on nearby network or device scanning for your phone.
• Remember where you go, and manage your list of where you’ve been:
  Learn how to turn on Location History for your Google Account.
• Help Google Maps get your phone's location: 
  Learn how to improve your location’s accuracy in Google Maps.