Check Apps Using Your Location on Mobile

This guide shows you how to see which apps on your phone currently have access to your location, and how to revoke that access if you want. You’ll learn the exact steps for both Android and iPhone, plus how to spot apps that are using your location in the background. No special tools are needed—just your phone’s settings.

What You’ll Need

Your Android phone or iPhone
Your device’s passcode or biometric unlock (Face ID, fingerprint) to access some settings

Step-by-Step

On Android (including Samsung, Google Pixel, and most others)

Open Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon, or find the Settings app in your app drawer.
Go to Location. Scroll down and tap “Location” (on some phones it’s under “Security & privacy” or “Privacy”).
Tap “App location permissions.” This shows a list of all apps that have asked for location access. You’ll see three categories: “Allow all the time,” “Allow only while using the app,” and “Don’t allow.”
Review each app. Tap an app to see its current permission. You can change it to “Allow only while using the app” or “Don’t allow” if you don’t want it to have access.
Check recent location requests. On some Android versions, there’s a “Recent location requests” section that shows which apps have accessed your location in the last 24 hours. This is useful for spotting sneaky background usage.

On iPhone (iOS)

Open Settings. Tap the gear icon on your home screen.
Tap “Privacy & Security.” Then tap “Location Services” at the top.
Review the list. You’ll see every app that has requested location access, with a label like “While Using the App,” “Always,” or “Never.”
Change an app’s permission. Tap the app name to choose a different option. For most apps, “While Using the App” is a good balance.
Check system services. Scroll to the bottom and tap “System Services” to see things like “Find My iPhone” and “Emergency SOS” that also use location. You can turn off the ones you don’t need, but be careful—some are important for security.

Common Mistakes

Denying location to a navigation app. If you block Google Maps or Apple Maps entirely, they won’t be able to give you directions. Choose “While Using” instead.
Forgetting about system-level location. On Android, there’s also a “Location services” toggle that turns off all location for the whole phone. If you turn that off, no app can get your location, but it also breaks Find My Device and weather apps.
Assuming “Always” is necessary. Many apps request “Always” but only need it for a specific feature (like a widget). Check if you actually use that feature before granting it.
Not checking after updates. When you update an app, it may ask for new permissions. Review permissions periodically.

Tips

Use the “While Using” option whenever possible. This gives the app location access only when you’re actively using it, which is the most privacy-friendly default.
Turn off “Precise Location” on iPhone. For each app, you can toggle off “Precise Location” to give only an approximate location (within a few miles). This is great for weather apps that don’t need your exact address.
On Android, use “App info” shortcuts. Long-press an app icon and tap “App info” to quickly jump to its permissions, rather than digging through Settings each time.
Set a reminder to check monthly. Permissions can change after app updates, so a monthly review keeps you in control.
Use the location indicator. On both Android and iPhone, a small icon (like a dot or arrow) appears in the status bar when an app is using your location. If you see it often, check which app is active.

Troubleshooting

I can’t see the location settings on Android. Some manufacturers (like Samsung) put location under “Connections” or “Biometrics and security.” Use the search bar in Settings and type “Location permissions” to jump directly.

I changed a permission but the app still uses location. First, force-close the app (swipe it away from recent apps) and reopen it. If it still uses location, the app might be using a system-level service. Check if you’ve enabled “Find My Device” or “Google Location Sharing”—those can trigger location requests.

My iPhone shows “Location Services” is grayed out. This happens if you’ve set up Screen Time restrictions. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Location Services and make sure it’s set to “Allow.”

An app doesn’t appear in the location list at all. If an app has never asked for location, it won’t be listed. That’s normal. If you think it should be there, try opening the app and using a location-based feature—it should prompt for permission.

I turned off location for an app, but it still shows my location. Some apps use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to infer location even without GPS. To block that, you’d need to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for that app (on Android, you can restrict these in the app’s permissions). On iPhone, you can turn off “Bluetooth Sharing” in Settings > Privacy & Security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s the difference between “While Using” and “Always” on iPhone?
“While Using” lets the app see your location only when you have the app open. “Always” allows background access, which is needed for features like location-based alerts or automatic check-ins.

Q: Does turning off location for an app delete its location history?
No, it only stops future access. The app may still have stored location data from before. To clear that, you’d need to delete the app or check its own settings for data deletion.

Q: Can I see which apps used my location in the last hour?
On Android 12 and later, go to Settings > Location > Recent location requests. On iPhone, you can see a list in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, but it doesn’t show timestamps—only the permission type.

Q: Is it safe to deny location to most apps?
Yes. Most apps work fine without precise location. Only navigation, ride-hailing, and weather apps genuinely need it. Denying location won’t harm your phone’s functionality.

Q: Why does an app ask for location when I open it, even if I already said no?
Some apps re-prompt after updates or if you’ve cleared the app’s data. If you don’t want to be asked again, you can select “Don’t allow” and also disable the app’s ability to ask (on Android, tap the app in Settings > Location and choose “Don’t allow”—it won’t ask again).

Q: Does turning off location services save battery?
It can, because GPS and network location are power-hungry. However, modern phones are efficient, and the savings are often minimal. You’ll get more battery benefit from turning off background app refresh.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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