Turn Gps off on Android

Turning your GPS off on an Android is a good way to increase battery life, as well as being a good security measure to take. Android includes multiple ways to track your location, each helps to increase your accuracy. However, if you do not want to be tracked at all, you will need to disable each one.

Steps

Turning GPS Off

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen. This will open up a grid or list of different togglable preferences, such as Brightness, WiFi, Auto Rotate, etc.
  2. Find and tap on the GPS toggleable icon. This will turn off all GPS services on your device.

Customizing GPS options

  1. Click on the "apps drawer" icon. Depending on your device, this icon will look like a grid of 3x3 square dots or 4x4 square dots. It will likely be found on the bottom of your screen.
  2. Find and click on the "Settings" icon. Depending on your device, this icon's appearance may differ. It should be called Settings on all devices, though.
    • If you are having trouble finding Settings, try just searching for it. Within the apps drawer, click on the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the screen and type "Settings."
  3. Scroll down and tap on Location. Within the settings screen, scroll down a bit to find the word, "Location." It should be under the Personal header.
    • Again, if you have trouble finding it, just search for it via the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
  4. Choose your Mode. Tap on Mode to choose either High accuracy, Battery saving, or Device only.
    • High accuracy: Uses GPS, WiFi, and mobile networks to determine your location. This mode will require you to also enable WiFi. By detecting WiFi networks, your location can be determined to a high degree of accuracy. By enabling mobile network detection, the location accuracy will be improved by determining your distance from the nearest cell tower.
    • Battery Saving: Uses WiFi and Mobile Networks. This mode uses no GPS tracking, which is the feature that will drain the most battery. The location will not be as accurate if you are driving or away from mobile networks or WiFi networks.
    • Device Only: Uses only GPS to determine your location. If you are taking a long road trip, this is likely the mode you will want to use. It will not require you to be connected to WiFi or even any mobile networks.
  5. Understand Google Location History. Near the bottom of the screen, you will likely see something called Google Location History. This allows Google to store information about where you have been and make predictions based on that information. These predictions could include faster routes on common commutes, better search results, or restaurant recommendations.
    • If you are concerned with being tracked, it is recommended to not enable this feature as it gives a large amount of private information to a large corporation.
  6. Understand E911. At the top of the Location menu, you will see an option for E911. This cannot be turned off because it helps emergency services find you.
  7. Take additional steps. If you are concerned with corporations or authorities tracking you, turning GPS off may not be enough. Consider these steps:



Warnings

  • Make sure you don't turn off the GPS when you need it for apps like Google Navigate.

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