Source : howtogeek
Every time you use a Google app on your devices, it saves location and history data, which it then claims to provide personalized results. However, not everyone may be comfortable with Google tracking, and that’s why people tend to turn the settings off that may can track them. Even then, Google will still collect some relevant data like approximate location when you open the Google Maps application or use Google search.
So, if you’re someone who doesn’t want to share tracking details with Google, then here are the steps you should take. However, you should be aware that if you enable location and other relevant information, this will come at the cost of losing a personalized experience that Google offers.
How to turn off Google’s location tracking
If you do not want Google registered its location, this is what you can do.
Start a browser on your computer or mobile phone and open google.com
• Now log into your Google account by tapping on the icon in the upper right corner of the screen
• Now click or tap on your user icon at the top right corner and select “Manage Your Google Account”.
• Select “Privacy & Personalization”, then tap “Things you’ve done and places you’ve been”.
• Now tap on “Location History” in the history settings box which will open the activity controls.
• Just below the location history, tap “Turn off””.
• A pop-up window will open, where you will need to scroll to the bottom and press “Pause”.
This prevents Google from storing your location data – even approximate – when you use Google applications. However, the location history is not deleted. If you want to delete all location history, then you need to follow the steps below.
How to delete location history
• Start a browser on your computer or mobile phone and open google.com
• Now log into your Google account by tapping on the icon in the upper right corner of the screen
• Now click or tap on your user icon at the top right corner and select “Manage Your Google Account”.
• Select “Privacy & Personalization”, then tap “Things you’ve done and places you’ve been”.
• Now tap on “Location history” in the History settings box to open the Activity Control.
• Now tap on “Manage History” at the bottom of the page. This will open a map with a timeline showing all the places you’ve been and at what time.
• If you want to remove your location for a specific date, you must select the date on the timeline. All locations for the date are displayed. Now tap on the Delete button. In the pop-up window, tap “Delete day”.
Now tap on “I understand and want to delete all location history” and select Delete location history. These two methods will prevent Google from saving your location and clearing your location history. However, you cannot receive ads based on your location or view businesses near you.
