Turn GPS on or off on mobile

Smartphones and the apps on the phones collect a lot of information about the user. Also where the phone has been. At least, if the GPS is on. In certain situations it is useful if the GPS is on. For example, if the user wants to navigate with Google Maps or Maps, or if he uses a walking app. But the location service does not always have to be on. Turn GPS on or off at any time.

Turn the location service off or on on an Android smartphone with Android 8.0 or higher:

• Swipe down from the top of the screen.
• The shortcut menu opens. Swipe from right to left on the shortcut menu to view more options.
• When the location service is on, the icon above “Location” is blue. Tap the icon to toggle the option on or off.
  

Determine per app whether it has access to the location? First turn on the location service and then follow the steps below:

• Tap on Institutions.
• Tap on apps.
• Tap an app.
• Swipe from bottom to top on the screen.
• Tap on Permissions.
• If the slider behind ‘Location’ is colored, the location service for this app is on. Tap the slider to adjust the setting.

On an iPhone with iOS 12 or later, disable or enable location service:

• Tap on Institutions.
• Tap on Privacy.
• Tap on Location Services.
• If the slider behind ‘Location Services’ is green, the feature is on. Tap the slider to adjust the setting.

Determine per app whether it has access to the location? First turn on the location service and then follow the steps below:

• Tap on Institutions.
• Tap on Privacy.
• Tap on Location Services.
• At the bottom of the page is a list of apps that use location service. After the name of the app is when the app uses the location; never, when used or always. Since iOS 13, the option is also ‘Ask’. Tap an app to adjust the setting.
• Under “Allow access to location,” tap the option you want. Please note, not all apps offer all options.