Turn location on or off for your device

You can turn location mode on or off completely, or just change your device's location accuracy mode. Each mode uses different sources to estimate your device’s location.

When location is turned on for your device, Google can use your Location History to get useful information — like automatic commute predictions or better search results — based on the places that you've been with your Android device.

Some of this information applies only to devices running Android 5.0 and higher. If your device is running 4.4 or lower, the Menu icon looks like this

. If your device is running 4.3 or lower, the Settings icon looks like this

Change your location mode

Choose your location mode based on the following factors:

How accurate you want the location estimate to be
How long it takes to determine your location
How much battery power location services uses

If you turn off location completely for your device, it mean that apps (both Google and non-Google apps) can’t use your device location and many useful features will be turned off.

Steps to turn location on or off for your device

On your mobile device, open Google Settings or the Settings menu .
Touch Location.
Use the switch to turn Location services on or off. When the switch at the top of the screen is Off, your device location isn’t shared with any apps. When the switch at the top of the screen is On, you can choose one of the following modes:
- High accuracy: High accuracy mode uses GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular networks, and other sensors to get the highest-accuracy location for your device. It uses Google's location service to help estimate your location faster and more accurately.
- Battery saving: Battery saving mode estimates your location using low battery-intensive location sources, such as Wi-Fi and cellular networks. It uses Google's location service to help estimate your location faster and more accurately.
- Device only: Device only mode estimates your location using GPS only. It doesn’t use Google's location service to provide location information. This mode may use more battery power and take longer to determine your location.

You’ll see the location icon at the top of your screen when your device’s precise location is being used by any app. This icon doesn’t necessarily indicate GPS activity — it just means that a mode using more power to determine your location is turned on.

Tip: You can quickly change your location settings using the Quick Settings menu. Swipe down with two fingers from the top of any screen. Touch and hold the Location tile to turn location on or off for your device.

Note: If you turn location on from the Quick Settings menu, you’ll see a consent dialog. If you choose Disagree, your device will be in "Device only" mode, which may affect your apps' performance.

Elena is an Android expert and author of this help page. Leave her feedback below about the page.

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