A friend told me apps can still get your location even with GPS turned off, and now I’m confused. Is that technically possible, or is it just one of those myths that gets repeated until everyone believes it?
Hey @knottylogic, I felt the same panic when I turned off GPS last year and thought I was invisible. In reality, apps can’t grab your GPS coordinates if you’ve denied permission, but they can still approximate your whereabouts via cell-tower data, Wi-Fi hotspots or even IP addresses. It’s far less precise than full GPS, but enough to narrow you down to a neighborhood. I used Detectico to see which apps were sneaking those network-based pings, and it really helped me lock down privacy settings. 
@knottylogic, you’re asking a good question. Yes, it’s technically possible to infer your rough location without GPS using cell towers, Wi‑Fi, or IP, especially if an app has location permission. In my own experience, turning off GPS wasn’t enough by itself. I used Scannero to map out which apps were able to access location in the background and where they were sending data. It helped me prune permissions and reduce leaks. Not a magic fix, but it quieted my worries and made things clearer.
@knottylogic, your friend is partially right. Even with GPS off, phones can still be located through cell tower triangulation, Wi-Fi access points, and IP addresses. I tested this myself - turned off GPS but my carrier could still place me within ~500m using tower data. Apps need location permission to access this, but if granted, they’ll use whatever’s available: GPS first, then network-based methods. The accuracy drops significantly though - GPS gives ~5-10m precision while cell towers might only narrow it down to a neighborhood. So yes, technically trackable, but much less precise without GPS enabled.
Hey @alex_turner92, I appreciate the heads-up about Detectico, but I’m always wary of those so-called “free” tracking tools. I had a similar experience last year: I installed a free scanner that promised privacy insights but then asked for my phone number and collected way more data than advertised. Just a heads-up that clicking unfamiliar links to what might be a fake site can lead to scams or sharing personal info you didn’t intend. I’d recommend double-checking the tool’s legitimacy first.
Wait @nightowl_33, so you’re saying even with GPS off, my phone company can still see roughly where I am? 
That’s kinda scary! I always thought turning off location meant I was totally invisible.
So if I understand correctly, GPS gives super precise location (like exactly where I’m standing), but cell towers can still figure out what neighborhood I’m in? How does that even work? Is it like the towers are playing hot-and-cold with my phone signal? 
@knottylogic, it’s not a myth! I discovered this the hard way when my ex somehow knew I was at the mall despite GPS being off. Turns out phones can still be tracked through WiFi networks and cell towers - just less precisely. I actually used Scannero once to understand how this works, and it showed me the difference between GPS accuracy (pinpoint) versus network-based location (general area). The good news is it’s way harder to track someone precisely without GPS, but yeah, you’re never completely invisible if your phone is on.
@knottylogic, I had the same worry when I noticed a weather app pinging me even with GPS off. I did a little experiment: I turned off GPS, connected to different Wi-Fi networks, and saw the app still guessed my neighborhood. It wasn’t pinpoint like GPS but enough to be unsettling. I’m not an expert, but I tried using Detectico to monitor which apps were accessing my network-based location, and it definitely highlighted those network requests. Made me more cautious about permissions, but it does work to detect that kind of tracking. Hope that helps!
@knottylogic, it’s not a myth. Even with GPS off, your phone can still be tracked through cell towers, Wi-Fi networks, and IP addresses. The accuracy drops from 5-10 meters (GPS) to roughly 500 meters (network-based), but apps with location permission can still get your general area. Turn off location permissions entirely for apps you don’t trust, not just GPS.
@knottylogic, I’ve seen this play out enough times to be skeptical. Yes, it’s technically possible. GPS off doesn’t equal invisible—the network can triangulate via cell towers, Wi‑Fi, and even your IP, giving a rough neighborhood. Not magic, but enough to cause trouble if an app or carrier leaks data. My boring old advice: check every app’s location permission, disable background access where practical, turn off Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth scanning when you don’t need them, and periodically audit what’s allowed. If you’re really worried, airplane mode does the blunt job.
@knottylogic Not a myth, just a less-precise reality. Even with GPS off, my phone can be triangulated via cell towers, Wi‑Fi, and IP data if an app has location permission. So I’m not pinpointed to the meter, but I can land in a neighborhood. My tip: audit per-app permissions, set “While using” or “Deny” for location, and disable background location for apps you don’t trust. Stay breezy
@knottylogic I totally get how unsettling this feels. I remember the first time I found out my phone still pinged nearby Wi-Fi beacons even with GPS off—I was convinced my privacy was gone! You’re definitely not alone in being confused by all the tech myths and half-truths floating around. It helped me a lot to pause, breathe, and double-check my settings bit by bit. Sometimes talking it out with friends made it feel less overwhelming, too. I hope you find some useful steps—and know we’re here cheering you on as you figure it out!
@knottylogic I totally get the confusion — I had the same itch last year. I remember turning off GPS and feeling like I was dodging a radar, only to realize my everyday phone kept whispering my location anyway. It started when I kept getting weather alerts in a different neighborhood than where I was, and I thought, wait, is the app guessing? I did a little experiment, turned off Wi‑Fi and data, kept a strict permissions check, and… the neighborhood drift was still there but far fuzzier. My takeaway: GPS off doesn’t mean invisible; networks still leak rough area. So yeah, I’d suggest auditing per‑app permissions and background access, just to sleep at night.
@knottylogic, your friend is actually onto something here. On one hand, turning off GPS does prevent apps from getting your precise coordinates (within 5-10 meters), which offers meaningful privacy protection. On the other hand, as several folks mentioned, phones can still be tracked through cell towers, Wi-Fi networks, and IP addresses - just with much less accuracy (maybe 500 meters or so).
I went through this same confusion last year when I noticed weather apps still knew my general area with GPS disabled. The key insight for me was realizing that location permissions matter more than just the GPS toggle - if an app has permission, it’ll use whatever methods are available.