Alex Ruben
How To Detect and Block Apps From Accessing Your Location on Android 16
Managing who can see your whereabouts on Android 16 can be a bit confusing sometimes. You might notice some apps still access your location even when you didn’t explicitly give them permission or you want to tighten things up to keep your privacy. This guide covers how to get into those settings, figure out which apps are allowed to see where you are, and tweak their permissions. It’s not perfect, and sometimes Android’s menus are a little buried, but once you get the hang of it, changing app location permissions becomes less of a hassle. Expect to end up with a clearer grip on which apps can track you and which can’t, which is kind of the whole point.
How to Fix Location Permissions on Android 16
Access the Settings Menu
First, unlock the device and locate the Settings app icon — it’s usually a gear symbol. Tap that. If you’re like most people, you’ll get lost pretty quick if you don’t know where to go next, so here’s the quick path: Settings > Privacy & Security. Because of course, Android has to make it a little harder than necessary. On some setups, the menu names might vary a bit, but look for anything with “Privacy” or “Security” in it. Once you’re inside, you’re halfway there.
Navigate to Privacy & Location Settings
Scroll down until you find Privacy & Location. Tap on it. Often, there will be a dedicated section called Location. Here, you can see if your location is turned on and which apps are permitted to access it. Sometimes, toggling the main location switch off completely can mess with apps expecting your location, so be careful if you do that.
Open Location Permission Management
Look for an option called App permissions or Manage app access. On some phones, you might see a list of apps directly, or you have to tap into Permissions > Location. From here, you’ll get a list of apps categorized by how they can access your location: Allow all the time, Only while using the app, Ask every time, Don’t allow.
Adjust App Permissions
Say you want to stop a sneaky app like Amazon Alexa from tracking your location all the time. Find it in the list under Allowed all the time or Allowed only while in use. Tap on it, and you should see options like Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, or Don’t allow. Select Don’t allow. On some devices, this might require going into a sub-menu, but the principle is the same. Just pick the level of permission you’re comfortable with.
Repeat for All Apps You Care About
Go through the list and do the same for any other apps you suspect are overstepping. It’s kind of weird how some apps keep asking for access even after you’ve denied it, but usually, a reboot or resetting permissions get everything in line. Also, keep in mind that some apps get their permissions reset after updates or reinstallations, so it pays to check back once in a while.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
Sometimes, toggling location permissions won’t work as expected — maybe because of bugs or Android glitches. In those cases, try clearing the app’s cache or data via Settings > Apps & notifications > select app > Storage & cache. Clearing cache might force the app to ask for permissions again. If an app is still acting weird, uninstalling and reinstalling it can help. Also, keep your device’s OS updated, because fixes for permission bugs often come through system patches.
Wrap-up
Getting a handle on who can see where you are on Android 16 isn’t always straightforward, but banging through these settings yields better privacy and peace of mind. Expect some apps might stubbornly cling to permissions or reset after updates, but with regular checks, you stay in control. And, yeah, it’s a little fiddly, but worth it to avoid creepy location stalking or accidental data leaks.
Summary
- Find your way into Settings > Privacy & Location.
- Locate App permissions or similar options.
- Change access levels from “Allow all the time” to “Don’t allow” when needed.
- Clear cache or reinstall apps if permissions seem wonky after changes.
Fingers crossed this helps
Managing app location permissions on Android 16 can be a bit of a pain, especially if Android keeps resetting permissions or hiding options in odd places. But once this is done, your privacy gets a nice boost. It’s not perfect, and some apps just refuse to play fair, but this should cover most of the hassle. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone.