Important: When you turn off location on your phone, apps and services can't get your phone’s location. You can still get local results and ads based on your IP address.

Help your phone get a more accurate location (Google Location Services a.k.a. Google Location Accuracy)

When you have Google Location Accuracy turned on, your phone uses these sources to get the most accurate location:

Google may collect location data periodically and use this data in an anonymous way to improve location accuracy and location-based services.

When you turn off Google Location Accuracy, your phone uses GPS and sensors, like accelerometer, to determine location. GPS can be slower and less accurate than other sources.

When Google Location Accuracy is off, GPS, Wi-Fi, network, and sensor data are not used or collected by Google Location Accuracy.

To help apps get better location info, you can let your phone scan for nearby Wi-Fi access points or Bluetooth devices.

To help responders find you quickly, your phone's location can be sent when you dial or text an emergency number, like when you dial 911 in the US or 112 in Europe.

If Android Emergency Location Service (ELS) works in your country or region and on your mobile network, and you haven't turned ELS off, your phone will automatically send its location to first responders through ELS. If ELS is off, your mobile carrier might still send the device's location during an emergency call or text.

During your emergency call, ELS may use Google Location Accuracy and other information to get the most accurate location possible for the device. If your device’s WiFi setting is off, ELS may turn it on.

Your phone sends its location to authorized emergency partners for the purpose of helping emergency services locate you. Your location is sent directly from your phone to emergency partners.

After a completed emergency call or text during which ELS was active, your phone may send de-identified usage and analytics data to Google for the purpose of analyzing how well ELS works. This information doesn’t include the location sent to authorized emergency partners, and doesn't identify you.

Tip: If you have a tablet that more than one person uses, each person can have different location access settings.

Learn how to use your Android device and get the most out of Google. Get step-by-step guides and instructional videos on how to set up your phone, customize your settings, and use apps.