AndroidTutor2018- There’s often a trade-off between privacy and convenience when it comes to technology. The same location sensing that tells you there’s a good coffee shop nearby or that automatically displays your boarding card at the airport can also be used for ill. Here’s how to turn off Android location tracking if you no longer want it.
How to use Google Maps offline
How to protect yourself from apps that leak your private data
If your phone isn't nearby, you can disable location tracking across multiple devices using your Google Account / © AndroidPIT.com
What sort of location tracking does Android do?
The very first time you set up an Android device, you’ll be asked if you want to share your location data. If you say yes, then Google automatically adds your movements to your Location History, which you can look at in the Timeline section of your Google Account.
As Google puts it, location history “helps you get useful information – for example automatic commute predictions or improved search results – by creating a private map of where you go with your logged-in devices.”
Do you want to share your location? / © ANDROIDPIT
If the map is private, what’s the problem?
We didn’t say there was a problem! But not everybody is entirely comfortable with every step they take being tracked. If you lose your device then that data could be seen by somebody with malicious intent. If you were a burglar, wouldn’t it be great to see not only where somebody lives, but when they leave for and return from work?
It's also possible that location data could one day be used against you in court, especially if it showed you going somewhere you shouldn't. And of course, some people just aren’t comfortable with private organizations such as Google knowing every aspect of their lives.
What’s the downside to turning off Android location tracking?
You’ll lose some of the things that make Android so good. Google Now is more like Google Meh if it doesn’t know your favorite places, and some apps aren’t much use without location services enabled. On the upside, less GPS use means less drain on your battery.
How to turn off Android location tracking
Step 1 is to go to Settings > Location. In Lollipop it tells you what's been using the GPS. / © AndroidPIT.com
There are two ways to stop Google looking at where you’re going. On a computer, go into https://www.google.com/settings/accounthistory > Places You Go > Manage Activity and then tap on Pause Location History; a pop-up tells you what you are and aren’t disabling, and provides a link to where you can delete your location history altogether.
On an Android phone it’s even simpler.
Open Settings
Scroll down to Location
You’ll see an on/off switch in the top right. Use this to turn location services on or off altogether.
Tap on Location > Google Location History
Once again there’s a button in the top right that lets you turn your location history on or off
If you also want to delete your location history, you can do that here too: under Location History tap Delete Location History. Once deleted this information can’t be recovered.
You can do two things here: disable location history and delete it. / © AndroidPIT.com
How to turn off location tracking on an iPhone or iPad
If you have an Android phone and an Apple tablet or an Android tablet and an Apple Phone, you’ll need to check the iOS location settings too: Apple can store your location data and give it to apps too. To turn that off, go into Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Assuming Location Services are on, you should now see a list of apps with two bits of information: a button showing whether access to Location Services is on or off for that app, and a little arrow if it’s used your location data recently.
There’s another screen in here, System Services, and that enables you to turn off system-level use of your location for features such as location-based ads, web browser search suggestions, setting the time zone and so on. Simply turn off any services you want to shut down.
How to turn Android location tracking back on
If you find yourself missing Google Now or you decide your movements aren’t interesting enough to worry about other people seeing them, it’s easy enough to re-enable Android location tracking. This time all you need to do is:
Open Settings
Scroll down to Location
Tap on Location > Google Location Settings
Tap on Location Reporting and use the on-screen button to turn it on
Tap on Location History and use the on-screen button to turn it on
It’s a similar process with Apple devices: go back into Settings > Privacy > Location Services and use the buttons to switch services back on.
One thing you can't do when you re-enable Location History is recover old data you've deleted. / © AndroidPIT.com
What do you think? Does the usefulness of Android location tracking outweigh the potential privacy issues, or should we limit how much information we share as a matter of course? Let us know in the comments below.
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3 Karen J. Sep 22, 2015 Link to comment
This article interested me particularly coz i have a Domestic Violence Restraining Order out against a very abusive & scary ex. I'm trying to protect my girl & i in everyway & this is one step further in doing that.
Thank You
0
Reply
2 Deon Sep 19, 2015 Link to comment
kfvjhfifuhk
0
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Write a comment!
How to use Google Maps offline
How to protect yourself from apps that leak your private data
If your phone isn't nearby, you can disable location tracking across multiple devices using your Google Account / © AndroidPIT.com
What sort of location tracking does Android do?
The very first time you set up an Android device, you’ll be asked if you want to share your location data. If you say yes, then Google automatically adds your movements to your Location History, which you can look at in the Timeline section of your Google Account.
As Google puts it, location history “helps you get useful information – for example automatic commute predictions or improved search results – by creating a private map of where you go with your logged-in devices.”
Do you want to share your location? / © ANDROIDPIT
If the map is private, what’s the problem?
We didn’t say there was a problem! But not everybody is entirely comfortable with every step they take being tracked. If you lose your device then that data could be seen by somebody with malicious intent. If you were a burglar, wouldn’t it be great to see not only where somebody lives, but when they leave for and return from work?
It's also possible that location data could one day be used against you in court, especially if it showed you going somewhere you shouldn't. And of course, some people just aren’t comfortable with private organizations such as Google knowing every aspect of their lives.
What’s the downside to turning off Android location tracking?
You’ll lose some of the things that make Android so good. Google Now is more like Google Meh if it doesn’t know your favorite places, and some apps aren’t much use without location services enabled. On the upside, less GPS use means less drain on your battery.
How to turn off Android location tracking
Step 1 is to go to Settings > Location. In Lollipop it tells you what's been using the GPS. / © AndroidPIT.com
There are two ways to stop Google looking at where you’re going. On a computer, go into https://www.google.com/settings/accounthistory > Places You Go > Manage Activity and then tap on Pause Location History; a pop-up tells you what you are and aren’t disabling, and provides a link to where you can delete your location history altogether.
On an Android phone it’s even simpler.
Open Settings
Scroll down to Location
You’ll see an on/off switch in the top right. Use this to turn location services on or off altogether.
Tap on Location > Google Location History
Once again there’s a button in the top right that lets you turn your location history on or off
If you also want to delete your location history, you can do that here too: under Location History tap Delete Location History. Once deleted this information can’t be recovered.
You can do two things here: disable location history and delete it. / © AndroidPIT.com
How to turn off location tracking on an iPhone or iPad
If you have an Android phone and an Apple tablet or an Android tablet and an Apple Phone, you’ll need to check the iOS location settings too: Apple can store your location data and give it to apps too. To turn that off, go into Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Assuming Location Services are on, you should now see a list of apps with two bits of information: a button showing whether access to Location Services is on or off for that app, and a little arrow if it’s used your location data recently.
There’s another screen in here, System Services, and that enables you to turn off system-level use of your location for features such as location-based ads, web browser search suggestions, setting the time zone and so on. Simply turn off any services you want to shut down.
How to turn Android location tracking back on
If you find yourself missing Google Now or you decide your movements aren’t interesting enough to worry about other people seeing them, it’s easy enough to re-enable Android location tracking. This time all you need to do is:
Open Settings
Scroll down to Location
Tap on Location > Google Location Settings
Tap on Location Reporting and use the on-screen button to turn it on
Tap on Location History and use the on-screen button to turn it on
It’s a similar process with Apple devices: go back into Settings > Privacy > Location Services and use the buttons to switch services back on.
One thing you can't do when you re-enable Location History is recover old data you've deleted. / © AndroidPIT.com
What do you think? Does the usefulness of Android location tracking outweigh the potential privacy issues, or should we limit how much information we share as a matter of course? Let us know in the comments below.
198 Shares
Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Share on Google+ 198 Shares
More from the web
These 8 Supplements Will Strengthen And Grow Your PhysiqueBodybuilding.com
Why It's Time To Start Using GrubhubThe Crave by Grubhub
Monterey Park, California: This Brilliant Company Is Disrupting a $200 Billion IndustryEverQuote Insurance Quotes
California Residents Rush to Qualify for Online Conceal Carry After Potential Full Ban on Bump Stocks!National Concealed
by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links
2 comments
Write new comment:
SubmitCancel
3 Karen J. Sep 22, 2015 Link to comment
This article interested me particularly coz i have a Domestic Violence Restraining Order out against a very abusive & scary ex. I'm trying to protect my girl & i in everyway & this is one step further in doing that.
Thank You
0
Reply
2 Deon Sep 19, 2015 Link to comment
kfvjhfifuhk
0
Reply
Write a comment!
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