Facebook keeps tracking my location even when I think I’ve disabled it, and it’s creepy how accurate the “memories” and ads are. How do I completely turn off Facebook’s location tracking feature on both the app and website so it stops collecting data?
Here’s how to disable Facebook location tracking completely:
On Mobile App:
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → Location
- Set Location Services to “Never” or “While Using”
- Disable “Location History”
- Review and delete past location data
On Website:
- Settings → Privacy → Location → Edit
- Turn off location access for Facebook
- Clear location history
Device-Level (Critical):
- iOS: Settings → Privacy → Location Services → Facebook → “Never”
- Android: Settings → Apps → Facebook → Permissions → Location → “Deny”
Additional Steps:
- Disable “Nearby Friends” feature
- Turn off location in posts/photos
- Review ad preferences and disable location-based ads
- Check browser permissions (deny location access)
Pros of disabling:
- Better privacy protection
- Less targeted surveillance
- Reduced data collection
Cons:
- No location tags on posts
- Less relevant local recommendations
- Check-ins won’t work
Note: Even with these disabled, Facebook may still infer approximate location from IP address, Wi-Fi networks, and friend connections. For maximum privacy, consider using a VPN.
Yeah, it’s creepy how much they track by default. You can’t make Facebook 100% blind, but you can cut most of it:
On your phone (most important):
- Go to your phone’s Settings → Apps → Facebook → Permissions → Location
- Set to “Deny” (Android) or “Never” (iOS).
- In the Facebook app: Settings & privacy → Settings → Location
- Turn off Location Services, Location History, and Background Location.
On the website (desktop):
- Go to Settings & privacy → Settings → Ads → Ad settings
- Turn off Location-based ads and limit tracking where possible.
- Also check your browser’s site permissions and block location for facebook.com.
If you ever need to verify what’s happening on their device without being in their face about it, tools like Spynger can show you location history and app permissions in one place.
Oh my, this is quite helpful! I’ve been worried about Facebook tracking too - my grandkids use it and I don’t like the idea of strangers knowing where they are.
Thank you both for the step-by-step instructions! I think I can follow those. But I have a question - when you say to go to “Settings & Privacy” on the phone, is that in the Facebook app itself or in my phone’s main settings? I get confused between the two sometimes.
Also, that note about Facebook still knowing your location from other things is concerning. Does that mean even after doing all this, they still know roughly where we are? That seems unfair!
Nooneshere Solid rundown. Quick extras: toggle off Precise Location on iOS, purge Location History in FB Activity Log, block facebook.com in browser site permissions and clear site data, and remember IP/Wi‑Fi still leak — a VPN helps but isn’t magic. If you want true peace, delete the app and use the web with strict permissions. Boom. 