How to stop sharing your location, app by app
In-app switches are not the same as device permissions. Here is how to actually stop sharing on iPhone and Android, and in each major app.
There are two separate layers here, and confusing them is why people think they have stopped sharing when they have not.
- The in-app switch tells the app to stop showing your location to other people.
- The device permission stops the app getting your location in the first place.
The device permission is the stronger one. It works regardless of how the app behaves, and it is the one to use if you want certainty.
Device level, which covers everything at once
iPhone Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. You can turn the whole thing off with the master switch, or scroll to a specific app and set it to Never. Per app you can also turn off Precise Location, which leaves the app with only an approximate area.
Note that turning off Location Services does not disable system features like Find My iPhone, which is a separate setting.
Android Settings → Location → App permissions (wording varies by manufacturer), then pick the app and choose Don’t allow. You can also switch off Use precise location for an app that only needs a rough area.
On both platforms, prefer While using the app over Always for anything that does not need background access. Background access is what lets an app keep updating your position when you are not using it.
App by app
Snapchat. Open the Map, tap the settings icon on the map screen, turn on Ghost Mode. Be aware of what that does and does not do: Snapchat states your location is still shared with Snap in Ghost Mode, so it hides you from friends rather than from the company. For a harder stop, set Snapchat’s location permission to Never at device level. Snapchat also notes that with “While using” permission your Map location can expire after around 24 hours, whereas “Always” keeps updating friends in the background.
Google Maps. Profile picture → Location sharing → select the person → Stop. Worth opening even if you think you are not sharing, because “until you turn this off” arrangements from years ago live here.
WhatsApp. Open the chat where you shared it and tap Stop sharing. It also stops on its own after 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours depending on what you chose.
Apple Find My. People tab → select the person → Stop Sharing My Location. Or Me tab → turn off Share My Location entirely.
Life360 and similar apps. Leave the circle, or turn off sharing in the app, and then also remove the device permission. Deleting the account is the thorough option if you are done with it.
Do the annual sweep
Most people are sharing with more people than they realise, because sharing is set up in a moment and never reviewed.
Once a year, open: Google Maps sharing, Find My, Snapchat Map settings, and any family app you have installed. Read the actual list of names. Remove anyone you would not add today.
Then check your app permissions list for anything set to Always that does not need it. Old delivery apps, old travel apps, apps you forgot you had.
If stopping might not be safe
If you are turning off sharing because someone is monitoring you and you are worried about their reaction, please be careful about acting quickly.
Abruptly disappearing from a map can be noticeable and can escalate a situation. Domestic-abuse support services deal with exactly this and can help you plan it safely, including checking for other things you might not have thought of. That advice is worth more than any settings guide, including this one.
Where Nearby fits
We build Nearby, and the relevant point is that there is much less to switch off.
There is no account and no ongoing sharing to forget about. A meetup expires by itself, live positions are never stored, and you can turn sharing off inside the app while staying in the chat. Leaving a meetup removes you from everyone’s map immediately.
If you want everything gone, the data deletion page removes your name, avatar, chat messages, and memberships, with no login needed.
For the wider picture on what is actually risky, see is location sharing safe.
Nearby is free on Google Play, with no account and nothing left running afterwards.
Common questions
What is the difference between turning off sharing in an app and in phone settings?
An in-app switch asks the app to stop showing your location to others. A device permission stops the app receiving your location at all. The device permission is the stronger control, because it does not depend on the app behaving as you expect.
How do I turn off location sharing on Snapchat?
Open Snap Map, tap the settings icon on the map screen, and turn on Ghost Mode. That hides you from other Snapchatters, though Snapchat says your location is still shared with Snap itself. To go further, set Snapchat's location permission to Never in your phone's settings.
Will people be told when I stop sharing my location?
It varies. Some apps show that sharing has ended or that a person is no longer visible, so assume it may be noticeable. If that matters for your safety, seek specialist advice before changing anything rather than acting quickly.