Hide Location from Ex (GPS Tracking Permissions)
To stop an ex from seeing your location, review person-to-person sharing, app permissions, shared accounts, and trusted devices. On iPhone, use Safety Check and Find My; on Android, check Google Location Sharing and app permissions. Secure account access from a device your ex cannot control. If a change could put you at risk, plan for safety before making it.
If someone may react badly when location sharing stops, your safety comes before changing a setting. Use a device and account your ex cannot access, if possible. A sudden loss of access may be noticed, and a shared password, recovery method, or family account could let them regain it.
Location can be shared in more than one way. Turning off GPS or blocking one app may not stop sharing through an account, another device, or another service. I recommend checking who can access your accounts first, then reviewing location sharing and verifying the result.
Plan before changing location access
This step is about reducing risk before you change settings. A person who can see your device, account, or alerts may notice a change. Consider whether you can safely use another device, and decide where to get help if the change leads to threats or unwanted contact.
If you think changing access could trigger retaliation, pause and make a safety plan. Use a trusted device that your ex cannot unlock or monitor, and a safe network if you have one. Avoid searching for help on a device or account the person can access.
If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services or a trusted support organization. If you are unsure whether a device is monitored, do not confront your ex or make a sudden change based only on suspicion. A local support service can help you consider safer next steps.
Before you begin, consider whether your ex controls a shared phone plan, family group, device passcode, or recovery email or phone number. These can affect what they see or whether they can restore access. Takeaway: choose a safe device and plan before changing sharing.
Secure your Apple or Google account first
Account control means having the password, recovery methods, and signed-in devices under your control. If someone else can sign in or reset your password, they may be able to view location information or restore sharing. Secure account access before relying on a single location setting.
From a safe device, check the account tied to your phone. Change its password if your ex knows it or may have access. Make sure the recovery email and phone number belong to you and are safe to use. Turn on two-factor authentication, with prompts or codes going to a device and number you control.
Then review signed-in devices and sessions. Remove devices you do not recognize or no longer control. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, and review the device list. For a Google Account, review Security and Your devices; menu names may vary.
Also check trusted phone numbers, recovery contacts, and any shared account arrangements. A shared Apple Account or Google Account can expose more than location, and changing a password may alert someone or affect other devices. If that could create risk, get help before proceeding. Takeaway: secure the account and its recovery routes, not just the phone.
Stop person-to-person location sharing
Person-to-person sharing lets another account see your location through a service such as Find My or Google Location Sharing. Review each recipient rather than assuming one app switch controls every route. Menu names can vary by software version, device maker, or account setup.
On iPhone: review Safety Check and Find My
Safety Check, available on iPhone with iOS 16 or later, helps you review sharing and account access. It offers a person-by-person review and a broader reset option. Use the route that fits your safety plan, and confirm the result afterward.
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Safety Check. Choose Manage Sharing & Access to review people and apps individually. If you need to stop sharing broadly, Emergency Reset is the faster option, but it may be noticeable. Review the prompts and follow the on-screen steps.
Also check Settings → [your name] → Find My → Share My Location. In the Find My app, open People and review who can see your location. Remove a person you do not want to share with. Check Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services for app-level access as well.
On Android: review Google Location Sharing
Google Location Sharing lets you review people who receive your location through your Google Account. It is separate from an app’s general location permission, so check both. Android labels and paths vary by manufacturer and software version.
On many Android phones, go to Settings → Location → Location services → Google Location Sharing and review each recipient. You can also open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then choose Location sharing. Stop sharing with anyone who should no longer have access.
Do not assume turning off Location Services on the phone is enough. That may affect GPS use, but it does not secure an account someone else can access or check every sharing service. Takeaway: review each person in Find My or Google Location Sharing, then verify the list.
Review app permissions and other sharing routes
App location permission controls whether a specific app can use your device’s location. It does not necessarily control location shared through a different account, device, or service. Review permissions with your needs in mind, and remove access that is not needed.
On Android, open Settings → Location → App location permissions. For apps that do not need your location, choose Don’t allow. For apps that need it only while open, choose Allow only while using the app, if available. Labels and options vary by phone.
On iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. Review apps one by one and change access you do not need. Some apps offer choices such as access while using the app or no access. Read each option before changing it, since a navigation or safety app may need location to work.
Check family or group sharing that you recognize, plus any other location services you use. If your phone is part of a shared carrier plan, review whether the account holder has access to a location service through the carrier. Contact the provider from a safe device if you are unsure. Takeaway: app permissions matter, but they are only one part of the review.
Verify that sharing has stopped
Verification means checking the actual sharing lists and account access after making changes. Do not rely on a single notification or on the phone’s GPS switch. Reopen the relevant settings and confirm that the person and any unfamiliar device are no longer listed.
After changing settings, return to Find My or Google Location Sharing and review recipients again. Check app permissions and signed-in devices. If your ex still appears, or you see an unfamiliar device, do not assume the change worked. Recheck the account and recovery methods from a safe device.
Repeat the review after a major account or operating system change, or if you notice a new device or sharing prompt. A person with access to your account, passcode, family group, or recovery method may restore sharing. If that access is outside your control, focus on securing the account and getting trusted help.
A change may be visible to the other person, depending on the service and setup. I would not promise that a setting change will be silent. If you think notice could create danger, pause and seek support before changing it. Takeaway: verify the settings, devices, and account control, while keeping safety in view.
Practical examples: choose a safe sequence
These examples are illustrative setups, not reports of named people. They show why location privacy can involve more than one setting and why the right order depends on who controls the device and account.
iPhone with shared Find My access
A person wants to stop sharing with an ex but is unsure who can access the Apple Account. The safer sequence is to check account ownership and recovery access, then review Safety Check and Find My from a device the ex cannot use.
If the person controls the account and recovery methods, they can use Manage Sharing & Access to review recipients and apps. They should also check the device list and Find My’s People list. If the ex controls the account or recovery phone, changing only Find My may not be enough.
Android phone with Google Maps sharing
A person sees an ex listed in Google Maps Location sharing and also uses apps with location access. They need to review both the recipient list and app permissions, then secure the Google Account.
They can use Maps’ Location sharing screen or the phone’s Google Location Sharing settings to stop sharing. Then they can review Android app permissions and Google Account devices. If the ex can sign in to that Google Account, account security remains the priority.
| Situation | First check | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Ex appears in Find My | Find My People and Safety Check | Apple Account devices and recovery methods |
| Ex appears in Google Maps | Location sharing recipients | Google Account devices and app permissions |
| Location Services is off, but concern remains | Account access and sharing services | Family, group, or carrier options |
| Ex knows the phone passcode | Safe device and safety plan | Change access only when it is safe |
Takeaway: match each concern to the service that controls it, then check account access as well as phone settings.
Frequently asked questions
These answers cover common questions about stopping location access. The main point is to check both direct sharing and account control, because changing one permission may not close other routes.
Does turning off GPS hide my location from an ex?
Not by itself. GPS settings do not end sharing through every account or service. Check Find My or Google Location Sharing, app permissions, and account access.
Will my ex be notified if I stop sharing?
It depends on the service and setup. A change may be noticed through the sharing screen or a loss of access. Do not assume it will be silent.
How do I stop sharing location on an iPhone?
Use Settings → Privacy & Security → Safety Check to review sharing, and check Settings → [your name] → Find My → Share My Location. Review recipients in the Find My app’s People list too.
How do I stop Google Maps from sharing my location?
In Google Maps, tap your profile picture and choose Location sharing. Review recipients and stop sharing with anyone who should not have access. You can also check Google Location Sharing in your Android location settings.
Is denying an app location permission enough?
Not always. It controls that app’s access, but location may still be shared through an account, another device, or another service. Review each route you use.
What if my ex knows my account password?
From a safe device, change the password, check recovery methods, remove devices or sessions you do not recognize, and enable two-factor authentication you control. If doing this could put you at risk, seek support first.
Should I install an anti-spy app or reset my phone?
Do not install anti-spy apps from untrusted sources or reset a potentially monitored phone without a safety plan. A reset can affect access to evidence, accounts, or support. Get trusted help if you suspect monitoring.
What if my ex still sees my location after I change settings?
Recheck recipients, signed-in devices, account recovery methods, family or group sharing, and carrier services. If the ex controls the account or device, a setting change may not hold. Use a safe device to seek help.
The reliable approach is to secure the account, review every location-sharing route, and verify the changes. If changing access could increase danger, make a safety plan first.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Richard Montclair. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
