TecnoOrange 
It amazes me how many apps request access to my location without a real reason. A calculator that wants to know where I am, a puzzle game that needs GPS. It makes no sense. I reviewed my location permissions a year ago and discovered that over 30 apps had access to my location when only about 5 actually needed it.
Table of contents
Table of contents
- Why you should review location permissions on Android
- How to disable location for specific apps step by step
- How to identify which apps are using your location
- Effects of disabling location per app
- Additional privacy tips for Android
- How apps track your location without GPS permission
- FAQ: Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
Why you should review location permissions on Android
Your location is one of the most sensitive pieces of data your phone constantly collects. Knowing where you are at every moment reveals your daily routine, workplace, home, shops you visit, and much more. If a malicious or unethical app has access to your location, it can build a complete profile of your life.
Disabling location for specific apps on Android that don’t need it is one of the easiest ways to improve your privacy. You don’t need to turn off GPS entirely, just manage which apps can use it and which can’t.
Apps that actually need your location:
- Google Maps and navigation: To give you directions.
- Uber, Bolt, Lyft: To know where to pick you up.
- DoorDash, Uber Eats: To deliver food to your address.
- Weather apps: To give you local weather.
- WhatsApp (optional): To share live location.
Apps that should NOT have access:
- Games of any kind
- Calculators, flashlights, clocks
- Photo editing apps
- Social media (unless you geotag posts)
- Any app that works perfectly without GPS
Pro-tip: Android 12 and later shows a green indicator in the status bar when an app is using your location. If you see that icon and you’re not using Maps or navigation, check which app is requesting it.
How to disable location for specific apps step by step
Method 1: From Android settings
This is the main and most complete method for managing location permissions.
- Open Settings on your Android.
- Go to Privacy or Permissions (varies by brand).
- Tap Permission manager > Location.
- You’ll see a list of all apps with location permission.
- Tap each app you want to restrict.
- Select “Don’t allow” or “Allow only while using the app.”
Method 2: From each app’s settings
You can also manage permissions from the app itself:
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Select the app in question.
- Tap Permissions.
- Find Location and change the permission.
Method 3: From the location indicator
On Android 12+ you can do it directly:
- When you see the green location icon in the status bar, tap it.
- It will show which app is using the location.
- Tap the app and select “Deny.”
| Permission option | What it does | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Allow all the time | App can access location at any moment | Only trusted navigation apps |
| Allow only while using the app | Access only when app is open | Most apps that need GPS |
| Don’t allow | App cannot access your location | Apps that don’t need GPS |
How to identify which apps are using your location
Android has built-in tools to show you exactly which apps have accessed your location.
Privacy dashboard
- Open Settings > Privacy > Privacy dashboard.
- You’ll see a chart with recently requested permissions.
- Tap Location to see which apps have used it.
Google Location History
If you have Google location enabled, you can see your complete history:
- Go to myaccount.google.com in your browser.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Go to Data & privacy > Location History.
- Review and delete data if you want.
I use this feature to see which apps have accessed my location in the past few days. If an app shows up there that shouldn’t, I restrict it immediately.
Pro-tip: Review your location permissions every time you update your apps. Some updates may request new permissions they didn’t ask for before.
Effects of disabling location per app
Before removing an app’s permission, it helps to know what might happen. It’s not always consequence-free.
Apps that work without any problem
Most apps work perfectly without location access. Calculators, photo editors, offline games, music players, and productivity tools don’t need to know where you are.
Apps that partially lose functionality
Some apps work but lose specific features. Social media can’t geolocate your posts. Shopping apps won’t show nearby stores. Fitness apps won’t track your running route.
Apps that stop working properly
Navigation apps obviously need your location. If you remove it from Google Maps, it can’t give you directions. Same with ride-sharing apps like Uber or delivery services.
My personal strategy is:
- Allow all the time: Google Maps, Waze.
- Allow only while using: Uber, DoorDash, fitness apps.
- Don’t allow: Everything else.
Additional privacy tips for Android
Managing location is only part of privacy. Here are some additional tips that complement this protection.
Use approximate location
Since Android 12, you can give apps your approximate location instead of the exact one. This is enough for most apps that only need to know your city or neighborhood, not your exact address.
Disable WiFi and Bluetooth scanning
Android can use nearby WiFi and Bluetooth networks to improve location accuracy. If you want more privacy:
- Go to Settings > Location > Location services.
- Disable WiFi scanning and Bluetooth scanning.
Review other app permissions
Location isn’t the only sensitive permission. Also check who has access to your camera, microphone, contacts, and storage. Android makes this easy in Settings > Privacy > Permission manager.
How apps track your location without GPS permission
Many people think that if they turn off GPS, no app can know where they are. Unfortunately, that’s not true. There are other methods apps can use to estimate your location, and it’s good to know about them:
WiFi and mobile networks
Your phone can estimate your location based on nearby WiFi networks and cell towers. Even with GPS off, Android can determine your city or neighborhood quite accurately using this information. To disable this, go to Settings > Location > Location services and turn off “Improve accuracy” (Use WiFi and Bluetooth).
Accelerometer and gyroscope data
Some apps can infer your activity (walking, driving, sitting) using your phone’s motion sensors. This doesn’t reveal your exact location but does reveal behavior patterns.
Photos with EXIF metadata
When you take a photo, your phone can embed GPS coordinates in the image’s metadata. If you then share that photo on social media without removing metadata, anyone can see where you took it. To prevent this, disable photo geolocation in the camera app.
IP address
Your IP address can roughly reveal which city or region you’re in. This is unavoidable unless you use a VPN. It’s not as precise as GPS, but advertising apps use it to segment ads by location.
Warning: Disabling an app’s location permission doesn’t mean the app can’t get location information through other means. For maximum privacy, combine permission management with VPN use and disabling WiFi/Bluetooth scanning.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Does disabling location for an app affect notifications?
It can affect location-based notifications, like nearby store offers or local weather alerts. But general app notifications will continue to work.
Can I disable location only for certain features of an app?
It depends on the app. Some apps allow configuring which features use location within their own settings. But at the Android level, the permission is granted or denied completely.
Can apps access my location if I close the app?
Only if they have “Allow all the time” permission. If you give them “Allow only while using the app,” they cannot access location when closed or in the background.
Is it safe to share my location on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for shared location, which is quite secure. But remember that if you share live location, the recipient can see where you are for the entire duration of the share.
Do I need root to manage location permissions?
No. Android lets you manage all location permissions without root. Permission management is a native system feature since Android 6.0.
Conclusion
Disabling location for specific apps on Android is one of the best ways to protect your privacy without complicating your life. It takes five minutes and gives you enormous control over who can know where you are.
You don’t need to turn off GPS entirely or stop using useful apps. You just need to be selective: allow location for apps that genuinely need it and deny it to the rest. Your privacy will thank you.