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How to stop Twitter using your location data on Android
In This Article
Twitter does not share your location in tweets by default, but if you’ve ever turned on the feature, then a line showing where you are will appear beneath the Tweet, which can present a risk to your personal security and privacy. Here’s how to turn it off.
Automatic location sharing is enabled the first time you select the location option when tweeting, and you’ll be asked permission at the time to share your location and to allow Twitter to collect store and use your device’s precise location. You’ll also have to give it permission to capture your location when using the app.
While these choices are hard to miss on activation, de-activating them later can be surprisingly complex. However, it’s worth doing, as your real-time location isn’t something you should regularly share with the world in general.
The mobile app uses your GPS coordinates for this, so connecting via aVPNdoesn’t make a difference. Once enabled, all Tweets will automatically show your location.
Twitter will also keep a record of everywhere you go and may use your location to inform the ads it shows you, both of which are undesirable for data privacy reasons as far as most people are concerned.
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The Short Version
Step1
Compose a tweet and select the location pin
If you just want to stop sharing your location, compose a new Tweet and tap the location pin, then:
Step2
Unselect your location and send a tweet to check
Press the X icon next to your currently selected location, which has a blue bar on it. Tweet, and you should find that no location is attached. This will also apply to any future tweets. Next, we’ll disable all Twitter’s location services.
Step3
Open Twitter’s main menu
Tap your profile picture at the top left of your feed.
Step4
Open settings
Scroll down until you find Settings and privacy, towards the bottom of the menu. Tap it.
Step5
Open privacy settings
Tap Privacy and safety.
Step6
Open Location information
Scroll all the way to the bottom of the Privacy screen then then tap Location information. Make sure that both Personalise based on places you’ve been and Personalise based on precise location sliders are off, as shown.
Step7
Disable personalisation
Tap Explore settings at the bottom of the Location information page. Here you can disable location-based trends and content – these will continue to use your country of connection even if you disable your location, so there’s no pressing need to disable them unless your country’s taste is getting on your nerves. Press the back arrow (←) to return to Location information.
Step8
Check whether Twitter’s location permissions are disabled
At bottom of the Location information page, just above Explore settings you may see a notice informing you that “ Location permission for Twitter is disabled.” If there is not notice here telling that it’s disabled, you should now disable it.
Step9
Open your phone’s settings
If you’re on Android, pull down your notification area bar at the top of the screen and tap the gear icon to open settings. Tap Apps and notifications.
Step10
Open app settings for Twitter
As we were just using Twitter, it should be present in your Recently opened app highlights. Tap on its icon. If it’s missing, tap See all apps and search for it there.
Step11
Access Twitter’s permissions
On Twitter’s app screen, tap Permissions.
Step12
Open Location permissions
Tap Location, which you’ll see in the Allowed section.
Step13
Deny location access
Tap the Deny button, and then use the ← arrow to go back to the permissions screen or tap the home button to switch away from the settings screen. Twitter no longer has any access to your location.
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Troubleshooting
No, numerous other apps track your location, you can manage permissions in your phone or tablets settings. To fully protect your data we also recommend using a VPN (virtual private network).
Location is one of many bits of user data Twitter collects. It will also store historic data, so simply blocking the location won’t stop this.
K.G. Orphanides is a writer and developer whose areas of expertise include internet security, VPNs, Linux for the desktop, small-scale game development, software preservation and computer audio techno…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
