How to make sure you’re not accidentally sharing your location with someone

February 25, 2023

By Kim Komando

Did you know that Twitter records your exact GPS location when you post? This could be dangerous if you’re tweeting from home. Here’s how to put a stop to it.

Your devices and apps have ways of keeping tabs on you, among them knowing where you are at any time. The bad news is that this is often something you’re not aware of. The good news is that you have some control over this.

Location

Your phone keeps track of you to show you the nearest hotspots. Your GPS app needs to know where you are to guide you to your destination. Your social media apps want to know where you are to serve you with more relevant ads.

You can fiddle with these settings as needed but you must be thorough. Let’s say you turn off location tracking on your phone but don’t do the same with your laptop. It defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

We’ll show you how to change your device and account settings.

Google

Your Google account is tied to various apps and services, so let’s start there.

Location History

Location History saves your location wherever you take your mobile device. It’s off by default, but you may have turned it on and forgotten about it. No problem. Here’s how to turn it off:

• Sign in to your account at myaccount.google.com or through the Google app.
• Go to Data & privacy > Location History.
• Tap or click Turn off and confirm your selection.
• While you’re here, make sure Auto-delete is On.
• One last thing: Open up Devices on this account to see a list of devices saving your location.
  • Tap or click Turn off to disable these devices.

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Location sharing

Location Sharing lets you share your location from your devices with people you choose. You may be using this setting with your loved ones, but let’s check to be sure.

• Sign in to your account at myaccount.google.com or through the Google app.
• Go to Data & privacy > Location Sharing.
• If you’re not sharing your location with anyone, there’s nothing to do here.
• People you’re sharing your location with will be listed here.
• Tap or click Stop next to the name of anyone you want to stop sharing your location with.

Location tracking on your iPhone

Location Services has two parts: a global setting to stop sharing your location with Apple and individual settings for each app you have installed on your iPhone. Let’s go over the controls for this service:

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
• From here, you have the option to switch off Location Services completely.
• Alternatively, you turn off Location Services for individual apps by scrolling down the list and tapping the ones you want to change.

Location sharing

Location Sharing lets you share your location with family and friends in Messages, Find My and other services.

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Share My Location.
• If you’re sharing your location with anyone, you’ll see their names here.
• Switch off Share My Location anytime.

Location tracking on your Android phone

Choose between turning off location tracking completely or fine-tuning each app’s setting.

• Go to Settings > Location and toggle off Use Location.
• If you leave the setting on, scroll down and change the settings for each app by tapping on them.

RELATED: How to change emergency alert settings on your phone

Location sharing on Google Maps

You can share your location with friends and family through Google Maps. Here’s how to check up on that.

• Open the Google Maps app and tap your profile.
• Tap Location Sharing. If you’re not sharing your location with anyone, there’s nothing more to do.
• People you’re sharing your location with will be listed here.
• Tap a profile, then tap Stop for anyone you want to stop sharing your location with.

Location settings on Windows

You can turn location services off entirely on your Windows PC or for individual apps.

• Go to Start > Settings > Privacy > Location.
• Click Change, then toggle off Location for this device.
• Toggling off Location for this device also prevents apps from knowing your location.
• When Allow apps to access your location is switched on, scroll down and toggle off the setting for each app.

Location services on macOS

Here’s how to change location services for your Mac:

• Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
• Switch off Location Services.
• If you want some apps to know your location, switch Location Services on or off for each app in the list.

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