Important:
- Some of these steps work only on Android 12 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
- You’ll need to touch your device’s screen for some steps.
- Some Personal Safety app features are available to supervised users. Learn which features are available.
- These steps also work on Fitbit Ace LTE.
- If you have a tablet or device that more than one person uses, each person can have different location access settings.
Turn location on or off for your device
- Open Settings
.
- Tap Location
.
- Turn Use location on or off.
Tip: To add the "Location," toggle to your Quick Settings menu:
- From the top of your screen, swipe down twice.
- Tap Edit
.
- Drag Location
- Apps with location permission can access your device's location to give you location-based info, services, or ads. Learn how to manage location permissions for apps.
- If Location Accuracy (also known as Google Location Services) is on, Location Accuracy can collect data to improve location accuracy and location-based services. Learn about Location Accuracy.
- You can get search results based on your device's location, if your app and browser permissions allow it. Learn how to manage your location when you search on Google.
- You can locate where your device is if you lose it. Learn about Find Hub.
- You can share your device's location with others. Learn about Location Sharing with Google Maps and how to send your location in an emergency.
- You can get earthquake alerts for nearby earthquakes. Learn about earthquake alerts.
- If you have location for time zone enabled, your device can use your location to determine your time zone. Learn about location for time zone.
- When Timeline is on, even when Google apps aren’t in use, your precise device location is regularly saved to your device. Timeline is off by default. You can turn Timeline on or off at any time in your Google Account's Activity controls. Learn more about Timeline.
- Your device's location isn't shared with any apps. Features that use location may not work properly.
- Location Accuracy won’t collect data to improve location accuracy or location-based services. Learn about Location Accuracy.
- You can get search results and ads based on information such as your IP address. Learn how to manage your location when you search on Google.
- You may not be able to locate where your device is if you lose it. Learn about Find Hub.
- You can’t share your device's location with anyone via Google Maps. Learn about Location Sharing with Google Maps.
- Emergency location services or your mobile carrier can still automatically send your device's location to emergency responders when you call or text an emergency number. Learn about emergency location services.
- You can’t get earthquake alerts for earthquakes nearby. Learn about earthquake alerts.
- Your device won’t be able to use location to determine your time zone. Learn about location for time zone.
- Even if you have Timeline turned on, the places your phone goes won’t be saved. Learn about Timeline.
- Apps with the nearby devices permission can still determine the relative position of connected devices. learn how to turn on the Nearby devices permission.
Understand the location settings available on your device
Important: When the location setting is off for your device, apps and services can't get your device's location. You can still get local results and ads based on your IP address.
Google has location-based services, including:
- Location Accuracy for your device (a.k.a. Google Location Services): To get a more accurate location for your device, learn how to manage Location Accuracy.
-
Emergency Location Service for your Android device: Learn how to manage Android Emergency Location Service.
-
Earthquake alerts for your Android device: To get updates for nearby earthquakes on your device, learn how to manage Earthquake alerts.
- Use location for time zone on your device: To get time zone updates based on location, learn how to manage location for time zone.
- Timeline for your Google Account: Timeline is a Google Account setting that helps you go back in time, and remember where you’ve been, by automatically saving your visits and routes to a map on each of your signed-in devices.
- Location Sharing for Google Maps: To let others know where your device is, learn how to share your real-time location via Google Maps.
- Location in Search: To get more helpful results when you search on Google, learn how to manage location permissions for websites and apps.
- Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning: To help apps get better location info, learn how to scan for network or bluetooth devices.
- Nearby devices permission: To enable nearby devices to connect, learn how to turn on the Nearby devices permission.
Help your device get a more accurate location (Location Accuracy, also known as Google Location Services)
Important: Not all devices have wireless signals, GPS, or device sensor data. Location Accuracy uses available signals to estimate location.
To improve device location, Android devices with Google Play services have a Location Accuracy service that uses information from wireless signals, such as Wi-Fi access points, cellular network towers, and GPS, along with device sensor data, such as accelerometer and gyroscope, to allow your device to more quickly and accurately estimate device location, particularly in areas where GPS may be unavailable or obscured, such as indoors or near large buildings. Learn more about Google Play services.
When Location Accuracy is on, Google periodically collects information about sensors and wireless signals near you to contribute to crowdsourced wireless signal locations, using randomly-assigned, temporary, rotating identifiers that aren't associated with a specific person or account. These identifiers automatically and regularly change. These measures prevent you from being identified from the collected data. Learn more about processing of Location Accuracy data.
Tip: The Location Accuracy service is also available on Fitbit Ace LTE.
Turn your device's location accuracy on or off
Android 12 and higher and Fitbit Ace LTE
- Open Settings
- Tap Location
Location Services
- Turn Improve Location Accuracy on or off.