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Open Settings > Location > App location permissions, select any app listed under Allowed all the time, and change it to Allow only while using the app, Ask every time or allow when I share, or Don’t allow. If the app only needs a general area, turn off Use precise location. These controls are per app, so they usually preserve location features in apps you still trust while stopping unnecessary background access.
Android menus differ by version and manufacturer. If these labels are missing, search Settings for location or use the phone maker’s support instructions.
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What “background location” means on Android
Android treats location use after an app is closed or sent to the home screen as background access. The permission to inspect first is Allow all the time: it lets an app use your location at any time, rather than only while you are actively using it. Google’s Android Help instructions for app location permissions group apps by the access they currently have, making this setting the quickest way to find apps that can request location while out of view.
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Start with a per-app permission review
Open the permission list
- Open Settings.
- Tap Location.
- Tap App location permissions.
- Review the groups named Allowed all the time, Allowed only while in use, Ask every time or allow when I share, and Not allowed.
On Pixel phones, Google notes that some of these steps require Android 11 or newer. Other manufacturers can use different wording or place the menu elsewhere. If you cannot find the path, use Settings search for “location,” then look for an app-permission or permission-manager result. Google directs users to the device manufacturer when the documented steps do not match their phone.
Use the app’s shortcut when that is faster
Find the app icon in the launcher or app list, touch and hold it, tap App info, then Permissions and Location. This route opens the same app-specific location control without first reviewing every app.
Identify which apps actually need background access
For each app in Allowed all the time, ask whether its main feature must work when you are not looking at it. If the answer is no, choose a narrower permission. Do not assume that an app appearing in the list is misbehaving; the list shows the permission granted, not how often the app has used it. The practical goal is to remove permission that the feature does not need.
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| Choice | Scope | What changes | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allow only while using the app | One app | Location is available while you are using the app. | Features that depend on background access may stop working. |
| Ask every time or allow when I share | One app | The app asks when you open it; access lasts until the app is closed, according to Android Help. | You see more prompts and must decide repeatedly. |
| Don’t allow | One app | The app is denied device-location access, including while you use it. | Any location-dependent feature in that app can fail. |
| Approximate location | One app | The app receives a general area rather than the device’s precise position. | Some features require more accuracy. |
| Device-wide Use location off | All apps and many system features | Apps cannot receive the device’s location while the switch is off. | Lost-device, sharing, alert, time-zone, and emergency behavior need special consideration. |
| Location Accuracy off | Device location-estimation service | Changes which wireless signals and sensors are used to estimate location. | Location features can become less accurate or unavailable. |
The first four choices are app permissions. The last two are device or system-service controls, so they have wider effects.
How to stop a specific app from tracking in the background
Option 1: Allow only while using the app
- Open Settings > Location > App location permissions.
- Tap the app under Allowed all the time.
- Select Allow only while using the app.
- Use the app normally and test the feature that needs location.
This is usually the best compromise when you need location during active use but do not want the app to access it after you leave. A navigation, delivery, or weather feature that expects background updates may no longer behave as before; if that feature is essential, Android may require a broader permission.
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Option 2: Ask every time or allow when I share
- Open the app’s Location permission page.
- Choose Ask every time or allow when I share, if your device offers that label.
- When you open the app, approve location only for that session when you need it.
- Close the app when finished so the temporary access ends as described by Android Help.
This option is useful for an app you use occasionally. It adds prompts, but the decision appears at the moment the app requests access rather than leaving a standing permission.
Option 3: Don’t allow
- Open the app’s location permission page.
- Tap Don’t allow.
- Reopen the app and check whether any required feature now reports that location is unavailable.
With this setting, Android denies that app access to device location. It is the clearest choice when the app has no location-dependent purpose for you. You can return to the same page and grant access later.
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Reduce precision without denying location
Android can provide an approximate area when an app does not need an exact position. On the app’s location permission screen, turn off Use precise location where that switch is available. Google describes approximate location as an area of about 3 square kilometers; precise location can identify the device’s exact location. The 3-square-kilometer description is an explanation of the approximate option, not a guarantee that every reading will form a perfect circle or remain identical in all conditions.
Approximate location still grants location access. It reduces the detail shared with that app; it does not stop the app from receiving a general area. If a feature needs exact positioning, it may ask you to turn precise location back on.
When to turn off location for the whole device
Use the global switch for a broad pause
- Open Settings.
- Tap Location.
- Turn off Use location.
According to Google’s Android device-location guide, this prevents apps from receiving the device’s location while it is off. It is broader than changing one app’s permission and is appropriate when you want a temporary device-wide pause, such as during a privacy check.
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Understand what the global switch can disrupt
- Finding a lost phone can be affected.
- Real-time location sharing in Google Maps can stop working.
- Nearby earthquake alerts may not work.
- Location-based time-zone behavior can be affected.
- Emergency location services or the mobile carrier may still automatically send location to emergency responders when an emergency number is called or texted.
Because of those effects, turning off Use location is not a substitute for reviewing individual apps when your concern is one unnecessary background permission.
Do not confuse app precision with Location Accuracy
Android has a separate system setting called Location Accuracy. On Android 12 and later, open Settings > Location > Location Services > Location Accuracy. On Android 11 and lower, the documented path is Settings > Location > Advanced > Location Accuracy.
Location Accuracy uses available wireless signals and sensors to estimate the device’s position. It is not the same as granting one app precise location. On Android 12 and later, you can leave Location Accuracy on for the device while giving an individual app approximate location through Use precise location.
Turning Location Accuracy off can reduce the availability or accuracy of Maps and lost-device features. Change it only when you understand that device-wide trade-off; it does not replace the per-app review.
Review Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning controls
On Android 12 and later, Location Services can also show separate Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning controls. These scans can help the phone obtain better location information. They are system controls, not another name for an app’s Location permission, and their availability and behavior can vary by device. If your goal is to reduce the signals used for location estimation, review these switches after handling app permissions.
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Location Accuracy and Google Play services
Google’s separate Location Accuracy explanation says Google Play services may periodically use location, including in the background, for the service’s accuracy purpose. That platform service is distinct from an individual app’s permission. Do not treat a description of Google Play services as evidence that every installed app has background access, and do not assume that changing one app’s permission changes the device’s accuracy service.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Android version and manufacturer differences
Android 12 and newer
- Per-app approximate-versus-precise controls are documented for Android 12 and higher.
- Location Accuracy is under Location Services.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning controls may appear under Location Services.
Android 11 and older
- Location Accuracy is documented under Location > Advanced.
- The exact app-permission labels can differ, and some newer choices may not be present.
Manufacturer overlays
Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and other manufacturers can rename menus, add a permission manager, or place the same control under a different heading. If the listed path does not match, search Settings for location, permissions, or the app name. Check the phone maker’s support page for the exact model and Android version. Avoid relying on screenshots from another device: labels and available choices can change after an update.
What to do when a feature stops working
The app cannot find your position while open
Check the app’s Location permission first. If it is set to Don’t allow, change it to Allow only while using the app if you want active-use access. If approximate location is enabled and the feature needs more precision, turn on Use precise location for that app.
Background updates no longer arrive
That result can be expected after changing Allow all the time to Allow only while using the app. Decide whether the background feature is important enough to justify the broader permission. If it is, restore Allow all the time only for that app; otherwise, keep the narrower setting and open the app when you need a refresh.
Maps or lost-device tools are less accurate
Check whether Use location or Location Accuracy is off. Re-enabling the relevant system setting can restore the device-level signals those features use. This is separate from granting a particular app precise permission.
The setting is missing
Verify the Android version, search Settings, and consult the manufacturer’s instructions. Some permission screens expose fewer choices on older releases or use a different label for temporary access.
What Android’s background-location policy means for you
Google Play’s background-location guidance says an app should request background location only when it is required for core functionality and provides significant user benefit. It also says location should not be requested solely for advertising or analytics and recommends the minimum scope needed, such as foreground access instead of background access where possible.
That is a policy standard for app developers, not a personal permission reset. It does not prove that a particular app never uses location, and it does not revoke a permission already granted on your phone. Your Android settings remain the direct control.
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These steps govern Android location-permission access. They do not establish that every form of location inference has stopped. Apps and services can infer coarse context through other signals or data, and the official pages cited here do not quantify or fully describe those mechanisms. Therefore, a denied or approximate Location permission should be described accurately: it limits that app’s access to Android’s device-location service; it is not a guarantee that all possible location inference disappears.
A practical privacy checklist
- Review Allowed all the time first.
- Change unnecessary background access to Allow only while using the app.
- Use Ask every time or allow when I share for occasional apps when available.
- Choose Don’t allow when the app has no location feature you need.
- Turn off Use precise location when a general area is sufficient.
- Use Settings > Location > Use location off only when you accept device-wide feature impacts.
- Keep the app-level precision setting distinct from Location Accuracy.
- Review Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning under Location Services on Android 12 and later.
- After changing a permission, test the feature you care about and decide whether the trade-off is acceptable.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop an app from tracking me when I am not using it?
In Settings > Location > App location permissions, select the app under Allowed all the time and choose Allow only while using the app, Ask every time or allow when I share, or Don’t allow.
Is approximate location the same as turning location off?
No. Approximate location still shares a general area, described by Android as about 3 square kilometers. Turning off the app’s permission denies that app location access.
Does turning off Location Accuracy revoke app permissions?
No. Location Accuracy changes the device service’s signal sources and estimation behavior. Review each app’s Location permission separately.
Will emergency services still receive my location if I turn off Use location?
Android states that emergency location services or the mobile carrier may still automatically send location to emergency responders when an emergency number is called or texted.
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