How To Delete Your Google Location Data On Android and Chrome
Why Google Location History
When Google tracks your location data, it can use that to inform other applications like Google Maps about the kinds of places that you regualarly visit, as well as predict locations that you might like and/or be interested in going to.
While this can be a benefit to certain consumers, particularly tourists and adventurous explorers, it can also be a cause for alarm if you do not like the idea of a tech company keeping an eye on you.
Thankfully, once you know how to do it, turning off location data on Android powered devices is relatively very simple, and that is what we are going to explain in this how-to guide.
How To Delete Google Location History Data On Android
If you are using an Android phone or a tablet that already has Google’s applications baked into the device, then the process of deleting the Google location data is relatively straightforward.
1. First things first, you will want to open your Google Maps app.
2. Next, make sure that you are signed in to your Google account, as this would be where your location data has been tracked.
3. Then, open up Google Maps. Once Maps is loaded up, tap your account icon that is located in the top right of the screen, just next to the Search bar.
4. In the menu that comes up, tap the ‘Your Timeline’ option, followed by the icon diaplaying three vertical dots in the top right of the screen.
5. In the dropdown menu that comes up, tap the bottom option ‘Settings and privacy’ which would bring you to a new options menu.
6. Under the ‘Location settings’ submenu, tap ‘Delete all Location History,’ check the box and hit on delete.
How To Permanently Switch Off Google Location Data On Android
Now that your location history has been cleared, you might want to never be tracked by Google again, but how do you go about it? Fortunately, that is also a super simple process that can also be done through your Google Maps settings.
To permanently stop Google from tracking your location data, simply follow the above steps to go back to the ‘Settings and privacy menu.’
1. Now, scroll down to ‘Location settings’ and search for both the ‘Location is on’ and ‘Location History is on’ options.
2. You can tap into both of these, then hit the blue slider to permanently switch off Google location data tracking. You might be prompted to confirm your Google account for these options, in which case an extra tap on your desired profile is all that’s needed.
How To Stop Individual Websites From Tracking Your Location
The ‘Ask before accessing’ option in the Google Chrome’s settings might seem like a one-size-fits-all solution, but to be extra careful, it’s worth knowing how you can stop websites you use frequently from tracking your location. Thankfully, this is also a very simple process. The only drawback is that you will just have to remember to do it for each website that you visit.
1. On any website that you visit, you can click on the padlock icon that is in the leftmost section of the Chrome’s search bar. This would open a dropdown menu. From here, click ‘Site settings.’
2. In the new settings tab that comes up, look under ‘Permissions’ for the ‘Location’ option.
3. Click on the dropdown menu to the right and change the option to ‘Block.’ This would prevent the site from tracking your location entirely. It is a useful, permanent solution if you are wary of the ‘Ask before accessing’ option not doing what it is supposed to.
With all these methods in mind, you should now be better prepared to prevent Google and other sites’ ability to track and store your location data.
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