Does Google Track You With Tracking Turned Off? Location History, Web & App Activity and the Settings to Change

Last checked: Oct 31, 2026. Based on the 2018 Associated Press investigation, 2025 federal court verdict, and current Google Account Help documentation.

You turned off Location History. You thought you stopped Google from tracking where you go. Then you learned you didn't, because there was a second setting you didn't know about.

In August 2018, the Associated Press published an investigation that found many Google services on Android and iPhone were storing location data even when users explicitly turned Location History off. Researchers from Princeton University confirmed it. The problem was that Location History and Web & App Activity were two separate settings, and Web & App Activity, which most people had never heard of, was turned on by default (Associated Press, Aug. 13, 2018).

Seven years later, in September 2025, a US federal jury found Google liable for collecting data from about 98 million users after they had turned off a tracking feature, in violation of privacy assurances in its Web & App Activity setting. The jury awarded roughly $425 million in damages (BBC News, Sept. 2025).

If you've turned off Location History and assumed that stopped Google from saving your location, this guide explains what actually happened, what the 2025 verdict means, and the settings you need to change right now.

#What the Associated Press found in 2018

The Associated Press investigation in August 2018 revealed that "Google wants to know where you go so badly that it records your movements even when you explicitly tell it not to." The report found that many Google services on Android devices and iPhones stored location data even with a privacy setting that users believed would prevent it (Associated Press, Aug. 13, 2018).

Researchers from Princeton University's Computer Science Department, specifically Jonathan Mayer's lab, independently confirmed the AP's findings.

The investigation found that even with Location History paused, some Google apps automatically stored time-stamped location data without asking. Specifically:

• Google Maps stored a snapshot of your location when you merely opened the app, even if you didn't search for anything or get directions.
• Automatic daily weather updates on Android phones pinpointed roughly where you were.
• Some searches that had nothing to do with location, like "chocolate chip cookies" or "kids science kits," pinpointed your precise latitude and longitude, accurate to the square foot, and saved it to your Google account.

The issue affected what the AP described as "some two billion users" of Android devices, plus hundreds of millions of iPhone users who relied on Google Maps or Google Search.

#Google's response in 2018

When the AP asked Google how users could prevent this tracking, Google pointed to a different setting: Web & App Activity. That setting was enabled by default.

Google said it provided "clear descriptions" of its settings and "robust controls" so users could turn off location tracking. But the descriptions were not as clear as Google suggested. The Location History setting's description said "Google will not be able to store your location" when it was off, but other Google services continued storing location through the separate Web & App Activity setting (AP, 2018).

It's important to note: this was what the AP found in 2018. Google's settings descriptions and data collection practices have been updated since then. This guide reflects how the settings work as of October 2026.

#The 2025 federal verdict: $425 million

In September 2025, a US federal jury found Google liable on two of three privacy claims related to the collection of data from millions of users after they had turned off a tracking feature (BBC News, Sept. 2025).

The verdict:

• Class size: About 98 million Google users and 174 million devices.
• Time period: July 1, 2016, to September 23, 2024.
• Damages: $425.7 million, roughly $4 per device (Associated Press, Sept. 2025).
• Key finding: The jury found Google liable for violating privacy assurances in its Web & App Activity setting, but did not find that Google acted with malice.

The class action, filed in July 2020, alleged that Google collected location and other data through the Firebase SDK and Google Mobile Ads SDK embedded in hundreds of thousands of non-Google apps, including apps from Uber, Lyft, Alibaba, Amazon, Instagram, and Facebook, even when users had turned off Web & App Activity or its sub-setting "Include Chrome history and activity from sites, apps, and devices that use Google services."

According to the class action website (googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com, 2026), the case applied to users who had Web & App Activity and/or the supplemental Chrome/apps sub-setting turned off, and whose data was sent to Google via the Firebase SDK or Google Mobile Ads SDK in non-Google apps.

#Google's position

Google denied improper tracking. In a statement after the verdict, Google said, "This decision misunderstands how our products work, and we will appeal it" (BBC News, Sept. 2025).

Google has stated that data collected via Google Analytics when Web & App Activity is off does not identify individual users.

As of October 2026, judgment has been entered, Google has asked the court to vacate the judgment, and Google may appeal. No payments have been made to class members yet (googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com, 2026).

#Location History vs Web & App Activity: what's the difference?

Google has multiple settings that control what data it saves, and they work independently. Turning one off does not turn the others off. Here's what each one does:

#Timeline (formerly Location History)

Timeline (called Location History before Google renamed it) saves a detailed map of where you've been with your device. When it's on, Google uses GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and sensors to record your precise location and save it to your account. You can see this history in the Timeline view in Google Maps.

Timeline is off by default. If you've never turned it on, Google is not saving a Timeline.

When Timeline is on, the location data is saved to your device. If you sign in to Google Maps on another device, you can access the same Timeline because it syncs across devices (Google Account Help, 2026; Android Help, 2026).

#Web & App Activity

Web & App Activity saves your searches, browsing, and activity on Google services. It's on by default. When it's turned on, Web & App Activity can include:

• Location information from your device's general area
• Location derived from your IP address
• Searches and other activity on Google Search, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Assistant, and other Google services

Web & App Activity has a sub-setting: "Include Chrome history and activity from sites, apps, and devices that use Google services." This checkbox controls whether Google also saves your activity from apps that partner with Google or use Google services, such as apps that use the Firebase SDK or Google Analytics (Google Search Help, 2026).

The 2018 AP investigation and the 2025 class action both centered on Web & App Activity, not Timeline.

#Other history settings

Google has other history settings under Data & privacy > History settings:

• YouTube History (Watch History and Search History)
• Search history (being updated; may appear separately from Web & App Activity in some accounts)

Each setting is independent. You need to review and configure each one.

#How to stop Google from tracking your location (step by step)

Here are the steps to turn off location tracking, delete existing activity, and set auto-delete for any history you choose to keep. Menu paths are based on the Google Account settings as of October 2026. Google has said it is updating Search settings, so some options may appear in different places depending on your account.

#Step 1: Turn off Web & App Activity and delete existing activity

1. Sign in to your Google Account.
2. Go to Data & privacy (you can visit myaccount.google.com/data-and-privacy directly).
3. Under History settings, find Web & App Activity and click or tap it.
4. Toggle Web & App Activity to off.
5. If the "Include Chrome history and activity from sites, apps, and devices that use Google services" checkbox is checked, uncheck it before turning the setting off (or uncheck it if you're keeping Web & App Activity on but want to stop collection from non-Google apps).
6. Choose Turn off and delete activity.
7. Select what to delete: you can delete all activity, or choose a time range. If you want to delete everything, select All time.
8. Confirm the deletion.

#Step 2: Turn off Timeline (Location History) if it's on

1. In your Google Account, go to Data & privacy, History settings.
2. Find Timeline (or Location History on older accounts) and click or tap it.
3. If it's on, turn it off.
4. Choose Turn off and delete activity if you want to delete existing Timeline data.

#Step 3: Review and turn off other history settings

While you're in History settings, check every setting listed:

• YouTube History (Watch History, Search History)
• Search history (if it appears separately; Google is updating this)
• Any other history settings shown

For each one you want to turn off, click it, turn it off, and choose Turn off and delete activity.

#Step 4: Set auto-delete for any history you keep on

If you choose to keep any history setting on (for example, you find Web & App Activity useful for personalized search results), you can set Google to auto-delete old activity.

1. Go to the history setting you want to configure (for example, Web & App Activity).
2. Look for Auto-delete and click or tap it.
3. Choose 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months.
4. Save your choice.

Auto-delete will automatically delete activity older than the time you selected. 3 months is the most privacy-protective option if you decide to keep a setting on.

Google also automatically deletes location information and IP address from Web & App Activity after 30 days, even if you have the setting on (Google Account Help, 2026).

#Step 5: Review and delete activity at myactivity.google.com

Even after turning off settings and deleting activity through the History settings pages, it's a good idea to visit myactivity.google.com and confirm everything is deleted.

1. Sign in to myactivity.google.com.
2. Click Delete on the left sidebar.
3. Choose All time.
4. Select All products (or choose specific Google products).
5. Confirm the deletion.

#Step 6: Review location permissions for Google apps on your phone

Turning off Google Account settings stops Google from saving location to your account, but you should also review which Google apps on your phone have location permission.

On iPhone:

1. Open Settings, Privacy & Security, Location Services.
2. Scroll through the list of apps and check Google apps like Google Maps, Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, etc.
3. For each app, choose Never, Ask Next Time, or While Using the App depending on whether you need that app to access your location.

On Android:

1. Open Settings, Location, App location permissions (the path varies by Android version and phone manufacturer).
2. Check Google apps.
3. For each app, choose Don't allow, Ask every time, or Allow only while using the app.

Avoid Always or Allow all the time unless you have a specific reason, such as navigation apps you use for turn-by-turn directions.

#What the settings changes actually do

Turning off Web & App Activity and Timeline stops Google from saving new location data to your account through those settings. It does not:

• Delete data Google collected before you turned the settings off, unless you also choose "Turn off and delete activity" or manually delete activity at myactivity.google.com.
• Stop all data collection. Google may still collect location data for other purposes, such as real-time traffic analysis, fraud prevention, or ad measurement, under different terms.
• Delete data already shared with third parties. If apps used the Firebase SDK or Google Analytics and sent your data to Google before you changed your settings, that historical data may still exist in aggregate or anonymized form.

The 2025 class action verdict addressed data collected when Web & App Activity was already off. The steps above stop future collection, but the court case shows that enforcement and interpretation of these settings is still evolving.

#What about the $425 million? Will users be paid?

As of October 2026, judgment has been entered in the class action case, but Google has asked the court to vacate the judgment and may appeal. No payments have been made to class members yet (googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com, 2026).

If you were a Google user between July 1, 2016, and September 23, 2024, and had Web & App Activity or its Chrome/apps sub-setting turned off during that time, you may be part of the class. The class action website is googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com. Check the site for updates on the case status and any eventual claims process.

#The bigger picture: why this matters

The 2018 AP investigation and the 2025 jury verdict show a common pattern in tech privacy: settings don't always work the way users expect them to work.

When you turned off Location History in 2018, you likely thought you had stopped Google from saving your location. The setting's own description suggested that. But the actual behavior was more complicated: Location History controlled one specific feature (the Timeline map), and a separate setting, Web & App Activity, controlled location saving in most other Google services.

Even if you read both settings carefully, the connection between them was not obvious.

The 2025 verdict found that Google collected data from apps even when Web & App Activity was off. Google disputes this and says the decision misunderstands how its products work. The case is likely headed to appeal.

For users, the takeaway is clear: if you want to stop location tracking, you need to turn off every relevant setting, delete existing activity, and periodically check that settings haven't changed.

#Does this affect other apps and services?

The issues described in this guide are specific to Google, but the underlying problem is not.

Many apps and services collect location data, and many have multiple settings that control different aspects of data collection. Turning off one setting may not turn off everything.

If you use other apps that collect location, such as social media apps, weather apps, or navigation apps, review their privacy settings as well. Check:

• Whether the app has location access in your phone's settings (Settings, Privacy & Security, Location Services on iPhone; Settings, Location, App location permissions on Android).
• Whether the app has its own in-app privacy settings that control data collection or sharing.
• Whether the app's privacy policy says it shares location data with third parties, and if so, whether there's an opt-out.

The steps to limit Google's location tracking are one part of a broader privacy effort. If you're also working to remove your personal information from data brokers and people-search sites, controlling location data makes that effort more effective. Our main guide, how to remove your personal information from the internet, covers the full process.

#The realistic routine (what to do now and later)

Here's a practical plan:

Today:

1. Turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account (Data & privacy, History settings), uncheck the Chrome/apps sub-setting, and delete all activity.
2. Turn off Timeline if it's on, and delete all activity.
3. Check every other setting under History settings and turn off anything you don't need.
4. Visit myactivity.google.com, delete All time.
5. Review Google apps' location permissions on your phone and set them to While Using or Never unless you have a specific reason for Always.

Every few months:

1. Check myactivity.google.com to see if any new activity has been saved (it shouldn't be if settings are off, but it's worth confirming).
2. Review your Google Account's History settings to make sure nothing has turned back on (settings changes can happen after app updates or account changes).

When you install a new Google app or update an existing one:

1. Check what permissions it asks for. If it requests location, decide whether it needs it.
2. Check whether the app update reset any settings.

These steps take about 10 minutes the first time and a few minutes for each periodic check. The goal is not to make yourself invisible. The goal is to stop location data from being saved to your account when you've explicitly said you don't want it saved.

#Conclusion

Google tracked users' locations even when Location History was turned off, as the 2018 Associated Press investigation revealed. The actual setting that controlled most location tracking was Web & App Activity, a separate setting most users didn't know about. In 2025, a federal jury found Google liable for collecting data from about 98 million users after they had turned tracking off, awarding $425 million in damages. Google disputes the verdict and plans to appeal.

To stop Google from saving your location:

1. Turn off Web & App Activity (and its Chrome/apps sub-setting) in your Google Account at Data & privacy, History settings.
2. Turn off Timeline (formerly Location History).
3. Delete existing activity at myactivity.google.com, All time.
4. Set auto-delete to 3 months for any setting you keep on.
5. Review Google apps' location permissions on your phone.

Check these settings every few months to make sure nothing has turned back on. The 2018 investigation and 2025 verdict both show that privacy settings don't always work the way users expect, and stopping location tracking requires more than turning off the setting with "Location" in its name.

UndoLeak erases your data from data brokers and keeps it off. If you want to see where else your personal information is listed, run a free scan.

#Sources

1. Associated Press, "AP Exclusive: Google tracks your movements, like it or not" (August 13, 2018)
2. BBC News, "Google told to pay $425m in privacy lawsuit" (September 2025)
3. Associated Press, "Google to pay $425M after Silicon Valley jury finds internet company improperly tracked smartphone users" (September 2025)
4. Google Web & App Activity Lawsuit class action website, FAQ (2026)
5. Google Account Help, "Delete your activity" (2026)
6. Google Search Help, "Find & control your Web & App Activity" (2026)
7. Google, "Location data & privacy" (2026)
8. Android Help, "Manage your Location History" (2026)