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How to Turn Off Location Tracking in you Google Account

Unfortunately, Google has made location tracking in your Google accounts; the company monitors and stores huge amounts of your location data across for the different apps and devices. Cutting ties with this practice is possible, but more challenging than it seems. Whether you use as Android and iPhone, or whether your computer is Mac, and PC, or Chromebook, Google is likely for the bighest part of your digital life.        

Currently, there are some Google services that rely on location information to function, Google Maps being the most obvious that comes to mind, where you aren at going to get very far if Google is not allowed to know where you are. In this case, they have less concerned with Google using our location when relevant, as we are with the company tracking and storing it when we are not aware it is even happening.

Why it isn’t so obvious to disable location tracking

Google’s privacy settings, you might see something also called “Location History.” Just by the name, you’d probably figure it is the main setting controlling whether or not your location activity is stored. That’s definitely true; Google confirms that Location History saves your location data across for the apps and services.

When you disable Location History (and we will talk about how to do that), you are stopping Google from saving much for your location information. Nevertheless, it won’t stop the company from saving for all of it.

There’s another privacy feature that Google uses to track your location, but one that you might not think to disable “Web and App Activity.” This setting saves data generated when you use Google sites, click on ads and use associated apps. Among that data is your location. Here’s Google’s initial description of Web & App Activity:

Saves your activity on Google accounts sites and apps, such as associated info like location, to give you faster searches, better recommendations and more personalized experiences in Maps, Search, and other Google services.

In an expanded for the page about the setting, Google not only collects your location, but your IP address as well. If you have Location History disabled, it is likely you would not have the clue Google is still tracking and storing these types of data.

How to disable “Location History” and “Web & App Activity”

To start, the google.com and select your profile icon in the top right. If you do not see your profile icon, you will need to sign in to your Google Account first. Now, click “Manage Your Google Account.

Now, click either “Manage your data & privacy” under Privacy & personalization, or just click Data and privacy from the menu options at the top of the window. Scroll down, and under History settings you will find for the two settings in question: Web & App Activity, and then Location History beneath it.

Let’s start with Web and App Activity. Select the option, and then click “Turn off.” Google will present a pop-up, warning you that pausing Web & App Activity will reduce the personalization of Google’s services. You might see less relevant search results and recommendations about places.

If all that sounds fine to you, you can click “Pause” to continue. Google should now present in “Setting is off” pop-up, which will then advise you to delete your old Web & App Activity (such a thoughtful gesture). Go ahead and select “Delete old activity,” then choose the time range for the data you did like to delete.

You can repeat the same process for Location History. Once you click the option, and then click “Turn off,” Google will present at the pop-up about how pausing Location History will affect your personalized Google experience. If you can stomach living without recommendations about places visit, and helpful tips about your commute, go ahead and hit “Pause.”

Now again, you will see a pop-up, asking for want to delete your old Location History information. If you want to, select “Delete old activity.” Google will launch the Location History map, complete with pinpoints and other data about the places you have been with Google. You can delete this info by clicking on the trash can towards the bottom right of the screen, clicking the checkbox on the pop-up, and then clicking delete location history.