You can learn if apps on your phone state that they share your location data with third parties.
Important:
- Information about location data sharing practices may be available for apps installed from the app stores and apps preloaded onto devices where developers provide data safety labels. Not all app stores or device manufacturers may collect data safety label information from developers.
- Individual app developers are responsible for the accuracy of their stated data sharing practices and may update their stated data sharing practices at any time.
Understand an app’s location data sharing practices
When an app wants to use your phone’s location, you may see an information box in the permission prompt that says "This app stated it may share location data with third parties."
To learn more about how and why the app says it wants to share your location data, tap the information box. This information may be helpful when deciding whether to allow the app to use your phone’s location.
If you do not see an information box, it does not mean that the app does not share location data. For example, you may not see this box if the app store from which you installed the app or your device manufacturer who preloaded the app does not support data safety labels.
Learn why an app shares location data with third partiesThe data sharing information screen explains the app’s stated purposes to share location data with third parties. These may include one or more of the following:
|
Data purposes |
Description |
Example |
|
Account management |
Used for the setup or management of your account with the developer. |
To let you make an account, add information to an account, sign in to the app, or verify your credentials. |
|
Advertising or marketing |
Used to display or target ads or marketing communications or to measure ad performance. |
To show ads in your app, send notifications to promote other products or services, or share data with advertising partners. |
|
App functionality |
Used for features that are available in the app. |
To allow app features or authenticate you. |
|
Analytics |
Used to collect data about how you use the app or how it performs. |
To check how many users use a particular feature, to monitor app health, to diagnose and fix bugs or crashes, or to make future performance improvements. |
|
Developer communications |
Used to send news or notifications about the app or the developer. |
To send notifications to tell you about new app features or security updates. |
|
Fraud prevention, security, and compliance |
Used for fraud prevention, security, or compliance with laws. |
To monitor incorrect sign in attempts to identify possible fraudulent activity. |
|
Personalization |
Used to customize your app, such as to show recommended content or suggestions. |
To suggest playlists based on your listening habits or to deliver local news based on your location. |
Change an app’s data access permissions
To view and manage apps with access to device location:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Tap Security & Privacy
Privacy
- Tap Location.
- Tap the app you want to change permission for.
- Select one of the available options.
Privacy Alternatively, you can also view access for a specific app to change an app’s access to your device’s location:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Tap Apps
- Tap the app you want to change permission for.
- Tap Permissions
- Select one of the available options.
Check apps with updated data sharing practices
From the monthly data sharing notificationOnce a month, you get a notification when apps with location access change their stated data sharing practices in certain ways. For instance, an app now states that it shares location data when it previously did not or it has added advertising or marketing as a new purpose of its location data sharing. To learn more and change your permissions:
- Tap the notification.
- If you want to change an app’s data access permissions, tap the icon next to the app name.
- You can choose:
- Allow all the time: The app can access your location data even when you don't use the app.
- Allow only while using the app: The app only has access to your location data when you use the app.
- Ask every time: The app requests your permission every time it wants to access your data.
- Don’t allow: The app doesn’t have access to your location data.
Tip: To choose whether an app uses your precise location or approximate location, you can turn Use precise location on or off.
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Tap Security and Privacy
- Tap Location sharing updates.