How to set up and use location settings on your smartphone without risking your privacy

Location features quietly power a lot of useful things on modern smartphones: maps, weather, ride‑hailing, food delivery and local search. Used well, they save time and reduce friction in everyday life.

Used carelessly, they can share far more about your habits than you realise. The good news is that Android and iPhone both give you fine control, if you know where to look and what to change.

What location services actually do

Your device can estimate where you are using GPS, nearby Wi‑Fi networks, cell towers and sometimes Bluetooth. Apps then ask the system for that information, instead of accessing the sensors directly.

This means you can often control access per app, and also decide how accurate the position should be. High accuracy is essential for navigation, but many apps only need your general area to work properly.

Key location options on Android

On most recent Android devices, openSettingsand look forLocationorSecurity & privacythenLocation. At the top you can usually toggle location on or off for the entire device.

Below that, you will see a list of apps that have recently used your position. Tapping an app lets you choose between options such asAllow all the time,Allow only while in useorDeny. For non‑navigation apps, “while in use” is usually enough.

Key location options on iPhone

On iOS, go toSettings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Here you can turn location on or off for the whole device, and scroll through all apps that have requested it.

Tap an app to see options likeNever,Ask Next Time Or When I Share,While Using the Appor sometimesAlways. In many cases, “While Using the App” strikes a good balance between functionality and privacy.

Understanding precise vs approximate location

Both Android and iPhone allow you to switch between precise and approximate access for each app. Precise location uses GPS and other signals to find your exact position, which is crucial for turn‑by‑turn directions or running trackers.

Approximate location gives a broader area, often enough for local weather, general search results or simple shopping apps. For apps that do not need to know your exact position, using approximate location reduces how detailed your location history can be.

System services that quietly use location

Apart from regular apps, your device has system services that can also use your position. On Android, look in the Location settings for options such asWi‑Fi scanning,Bluetooth scanningorEmergency location services.

On iPhone, inSettings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, scroll toSystem Services. Here you will find options likeFind My iPhone,Location-Based Alerts,Share My Locationand more. Read the short explanations and disable the ones you are sure you do not need.

When it makes sense to keep location on

There are features that are meaningfully better with location left enabled. Navigation, ride‑hailing, running or cycling trackers and emergency services all rely on reasonably accurate data to work properly.

Features likeFind My Deviceon Android andFind Myon iPhone need access to your position to help you recover a missing device. For most people, it is worth leaving these on even if you turn off some other options.

When you might want to limit or disable it

Some apps request your position primarily for analytics or targeted advertising. If an app that does not obviously need your location asks for it, consider selectingDenyor only allowing it once.

You can also turn off location at the system level when you are not using travel or delivery services. On both Android and iPhone, a quick settings tile or control centre icon lets you switch it off temporarily without digging through menus.

Practical tips to improve privacy

First, review existing permissions. On Android, use theApp location permissionslist in Location settings. On iPhone, scroll through all apps inLocation Services. Remove “Always” access from any app that does not truly need it.

Second, turn off location saving in your Google or Apple account if you prefer not to keep a long‑term timeline of your movements. These options live under your account’s privacy or data settings, usually labelled as activity or location history.

Balancing convenience and control

Location features can make everyday tasks smoother, but they should work on your terms. A quick review every few months keeps unnecessary tracking in check without losing useful tools like navigation or device finding.

By setting sensible defaults, such as “while in use” access and approximate location where possible, you get most of the benefits with far less exposure of your daily routines.