Using the location settings on your phone can help you stay safe by sharing your location with trusted friends and family members. But sometimes, location services are misused by abusers to stalk and monitor survivors. Here is how to change your phone’s location permissions.

This video uses an iPhone, but the steps are very similar on other phones.

Step 1

Open your phone’s settings, and then open privacy and security. If you can’t find location settings, try searching for “location” or privacy, or looking within your privacy settings.

Step 2

Open location services.

Step 3

You may choose to turn off location entirely, or you can change the specific location permissions for each app.

Step 4

To do this, select an app. This will bring you to a screen where you can choose when to allow the app to use your location. Tailor your location services to what works for you and will allow you to use your phone safely, by selecting which apps to allow access to your location while using the app, after asking permission, or never. Repeat this step with each app.

Step 5

You can also check your location sharing by clicking “Share my location.” You might choose to turn “find my iPhone” or “share my location” on or off. You can see who you are sharing your location with here, and remove people you do not want to share your location with.

Step 6

Changing the location permissions on your phone and within each app is one way to help you use tech safely. You may also choose to adjust your phone password and consider location settings within apps themselves. Some apps like “find my friends” will show you “who” has access to your location.

Step 7

Your phone’s Safety Check can also help change your location permissions. Through safety check, you can manage sharing and access, which will show you who you are sharing your location with and allow you to make changes. Safety check will help walk you through the steps to change your location settings.

Before making changes to your location settings, think through potential safety  risks. Consider if your device is being monitored by an abuser and whether violence will escalate if you make changes. If you have the option, consider using a different device or connect with an antiviolence worker who can help you come up with a safety plan. You may also want to preserve evidence before changing your settings.

It’s possible to use technology safely. You don’t have to give up your devices or online presence if tech-facilitated violence is happening to you. It is not your fault. You are not alone. Visit BCSTH.ca to find a safe confidential support service in your community.