Where you go, Google goes.  If you use any of Google’s apps, you’re probably being tracked.  There are a few steps you can take if you want to stay off the Google grid and stop them from knowing where you are 24/7.

How to Turn Off Google’s Location Tracking

  1. Open Google.com on your desktop or mobile browser, and log into your Google account by using the button in the top right corner.
  2. Click your user icon in the top right corner and select Manage your Google account.
  3. Click Privacy & personalization.
  4. Click Things you’ve done and places you’ve been.
  5. Click Location history inside the History settings box. This opens Activity Controls.
  6. Beneath Location History, click the button on the right that reads Turn off. This opens a pop-up window.
  7. Scroll to the bottom of this window and click Pause.

Pausing this setting prevents Google from storing location markers associated with specific actions and stops storing information collected from searches or other activity. Turning it off keeps your approximate location private and other places you go, like your home address.

Note that to use certain features effectively, like the Maps app, Google will still need to access your location. However, completing the steps above prevents it from storing any future activity.  Click to learn more.