Location is one of the essential factors which Google uses across its products. If you ever thought about how Google knows real-time traffic location, then it’s all because your location is being tracked all the time.
Does Google keep track of location history?
Yes, Google keeps track of location history if you have Location History enabled in your account settings. You can choose to turn Location History on or off, and delete it at any time by visiting My Google Activity or your Timeline.
That said, here is an interesting fact. Even if you turn off location access history, Google can still track you. That happens every time you open an application that requests a location. Google Maps is used vastly on many apps, especially Food Delivery, and Google has its way to know that it’s you. In this post, we will look into a way that can stop Google from Tracking Location History.
Read: How much are you worth online to companies like Google & Facebook?
Stop Google from Tracking Location History
One of the interesting facts about the users choosing to run off location access is that they cant see location history, but that doesn’t stop Google from seeing it. If you want to turn off location tracking completely, then you need to change a setting in your Google Account.
- Open your Google Account.
- Navigate to Privacy and personalization > Activity controls > Manage Your Activity Controls
- Locate Web & App Activity and toggle it off
The Web and App Activity saves your activity on Google sites and apps like Google Photos, Maps, and other places. While it may seem it has nothing to do with location, but search results are many a time based on location, and it applies everywhere. According to Google Help page, when Web & App Activity is on, Google saves information like:
- Searches and other things you do on Google products and services, like Maps and Play
- Your location, language, IP address, referrer, and whether you use a browser or an app
- Ads you click, or things you buy on an advertiser’s site
- Information on your device like recent apps or contact names you searched for
The interesting part that even when you are offline, the activity could be saved. When you toggle off, Google offers a temporary pause option, but if you truly want to block, make sure it turned off.
That’s cunning to be blunt. Those who are little aware would turn off location and be happy about it, but that doesn’t solve the purpose. While turning off Web and App Activity is a better approach, but to be very honest, it is difficult to figure out where and how you are being tracked unless discovered.
Web and App Activity also offers an auto-deletion feature that can remove all the traces of locations of pas three or 18 months, but then it’s more like they are not accessible to you. Google nowhere says it’s removed from their server.
In the end, Google needs location access, and if you are very cautious about getting tracked, keep turning off of whatever you keep finding something new. However, be warned, since location is used for improving experiences, things might start looking not-so-relevant at your end.
How do I bypass Google location tracking?
To bypass Google location tracking, use Incognito mode in the Google Maps app. Tap your profile icon and select “Turn on Incognito mode.” This stops Maps from saving your search and location history, preventing tracking and personalization based on your activity. Learn how to view Google Maps Timeline and Location History
Now read: How to stop Amazon ads from stalking you around the web.
