Who Can See My Location on Android 2025: Check & Prevent Ways

Part 1. Who Can See My Location on Android?

Understanding who can see my location on Android is important for both privacy and safety. Many users don’t realize how many apps, services, and people can access their phone’s location in the background.

Below, we break down the main groups that can see your phone’s location and how they use it.

1Apps With Location Permissions

When installing many Android apps, you are prompted to grant location access (either "all the time" or "only while using"). While some apps legitimately need location (e.g., maps, delivery), others (like social media or games) may request it primarily for ads or collecting extra data.

Because of this, it’s wise to check who can see my phone location every now and then, and make sure only trusted apps have permission.

2People You Share Your Location With

If you use location-sharing features in apps like Google Maps or WhatsApp, you may have explicitly allowed certain contacts to view your real-time location. In that case, those people can see your exact spot whenever location sharing is on.

I say it because many users forget they enabled this, which leads to questions like “How do you know if someone is checking your location?” or “How can I stop sharing location without them knowing?”

3Mobile Carriers & System Services

Even without apps, your phone’s GPS, cell towers, and built-in system services can know your location. This is because your mobile carrier and certain system services track location for network coverage, emergency calls, and device-finding features.

This is normal and helps with safety, but it’s useful to know, especially if you're wondering “How do I know if someone is tracking my phone?”

Part 2. How to Check If Someone Is Seeing or Tracking Your Location?

How do you know if someone is checking your location on your Android phone? Well, there are several steps you can take to check. Use this section to review your phone’s settings and look for signs.

Check App Location Access for Possible Tracking

On your Android phone (steps will slightly vary based on your brand and model):

• Go to Settings
• Privacy (or Security & Privacy)
• Permission Manager
• Location

Here you can see which apps have access to your location. If you find apps you don’t remember installing or apps that request location unnecessarily (like a game asking for GPS), they might be secretly tracking you.

Review Google Map Location Sharing to See Who Can View You

If you have ever used location sharing with others in Google Maps, those contacts might still view your real-time location. To check (steps will slightly vary based on your brand and model):

• Open Google Maps
• Tap your profile
• Go to Location sharing

Here, see which contacts are listed. If someone you don’t recognize is there, they might be checking your location. This is a straightforward way to find out who can see my phone location on Android.

Check Find Hub for Unknown Linked Devices

Find Hub basically displays all your Android devices under your Google Account in one place. In settings or via the web, you can check your linked devices.

If you spot a device you don’t own, that could be a sign your phone is being tracked.

Signs Your Android Phone Is Being Tracked

• lUnusual Battery Drain: Constant location or spying apps running in the background consume more battery than normal.
• lGPS Always Active: If your phone’s GPS icon stays on often, even when not using navigation, that shows an app is tracking you.
• lUnknown Apps Installed: Apps you don’t remember installing have a high probability of being spyware.
• lHigh Background Data Usage: Spy software often sends location (and other device data) over the internet quietly, giving rise to unusual data spikes.

Part 3. 5 Ways to Hide Your Location on Android

If you find yourself asking, “How do I hide my location on an Android?” or looking for easy ways to hide location on Android without breaking things, this section is for you.

Below are simple methods you can use, depending on how private you want to be and for how long.

Method 1: Turn Off Location Services

This is the quickest way to stop sharing location on Android for all apps (steps will slightly vary based on your brand and model):

• Open Settings.
• Go to Privacy.
• Tap Location.
• Toggle off the Use Location option.

Now, most apps and services won’t be able to see your GPS location.

Method 2: Disable Location Permission for Specific Apps

If you don’t want to turn off location completely, you can block only certain apps. Here’s how (steps will slightly vary based on your brand and model):

• Open Settings.
• Go to Privacy.
• Tap Permission Manager and then Location.
• Select an App.
• Choose “Deny” or “Allow only while using the app”.

Method 3: Stop Location Sharing in Google Maps

If you use Google Maps to share your live location, then:

• Open Google Maps.
• Tap your profile picture
• Head to Location sharing.
• Tap a person’s name.
• Choose Stop.

The exact steps will slightly vary based on your brand and model, but it will effectively hide location on Android.

Method 4: Turn On Airplane Mode (Temporary)

Airplane mode cuts off mobile network, Wi-Fi, and GPS help signals.

• Swipe down from the top of the screen.
• Tap the Airplane mode icon.

This is a fast, temporary way to hide location on Android, but remember, calls and mobile data will also stop working.

Method 5: Use GPS Spoofer to Hide Your Real Location

Location sharing is essential, but achieving privacy usually means disabling it, resulting in a poor experience. The good news is you can keep location enabled and maintain total privacy using PoGoskill.

PoGoskill is a top-tier GPS spoofer app. With just a tap, it lets you spoof your GPS coordinates to any location in the world. So while others can see your “fake” location, they won’t know where you are in real life, thus protecting your privacy to the maximum while keeping core location services operational.

Key Features of PoGoskill

• 4 Simulation Modes: Different simulation modes are available to cater to all types of user spoofing needs.
• Historical Records: Save your favorite historical spots to make it convenient for you to re-select.
• Device Compatibility: Supports all Android versions, including the latest Android 16.

Free Download

Secure Download

Free Download

Secure Download

How to Use PoGoskill

• Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill

  

• Step 2Launch the app, connect your iPhone, and choose “General Mode”

  

• Step 3Find your desired location on the PoGo map, select a simulation mode and start moving around on your customized routes!

  

Part 4. How to Use a VPN to Avoid Being Tracked on Android?

Using a VPN is one of the easiest ways to change location on Android phones and make it harder for apps, websites, and networks to track you.

Can a VPN Hide Your Phone Location?

Can a VPN hide your phone location? The answer is both Yes and No.

A VPN hides your IP address, which is one of the main ways apps and websites identify your location. When the VPN is on, your traffic goes through another server, so apps “see” the server’s location instead of your real one.

However, GPS-based apps, such as Maps, will still detect your physical location unless you turn off GPS or limit permissions.

How to Hide Location When Using VPN?

To improve privacy, avoid tracking, and hide location on Android:

• Install a trusted VPN from the Play Store.
• Open the VPN app and choose a server in another country or city.
• Once connected, your IP address will be replaced by the VPN server’s IP. Websites and services will see this VPN IP, and not your real one.

Recommended VPNs for Hiding Location

ExpressVPN

• Very fast speeds.
• Strong privacy protection (no activity logs).
• Large server network for easy location changes.
• Simple for beginners.

NordVPN

• Extra security with Double VPN.
• Reliable IP masking for avoiding tracking.
• Wide server selection.
• Clean interface for Android users.

Surfshark

• Unlimited device connections.
• GPS override feature on some Android devices.
• Affordable plans.

FAQs About Checking Who Can See My Location on Android

Where Is the Location on or off Option on Android?

To manage this, navigate to your phone's "Settings," then select "Privacy" or "Security" to find the "Location" menu. From there, you can manually toggle the switch to enable or completely disable location services, effectively hiding your real-time movements on your Android device.

Is It Illegal to Use A VPN To Change Your Location?

Using a VPN is legal in most countries for privacy protection, but some applications may restrict or block access when they detect one. Furthermore, while the tool itself is legal, using it to perform illegal activities or bypass specific service terms can lead to legal consequences.

Can Someone Track My Location Through Text Messages?

Standard SMS messages cannot track your location directly. However, tracking becomes possible if you tap a malicious link within a message that silently installs hidden tracking software on your device.

How To See Someone's Location on Google Maps Android?

First, open the Google Maps app and tap your profile icon in the top right corner. Select the "Location sharing" option to view a list of individuals who have explicitly chosen to share their real-time geographical coordinates with you through the application.

Can Anyone See Your Location When Your Phone Is Off?

No, when your mobile device is powered off completely, the GPS hardware, internet connection, and background tracking services stop functioning entirely.

Can My Location Be Tracked If My Phone Is Switched Off?

Your real-time GPS coordinates cannot be tracked while the phone is powered down. However, your last known location will still appear on tracking maps based on the final signal sent before shutdown.