Most apps do not send an alert when you stop sharing your location. The other person simply stops seeing you on the map, often with a message like “location not available.” So you can turn it off quietly, but an attentive person may notice that you disappeared.
iPhone (Find My and Messages)
To stop sharing with one person: open Find My, go to the People tab, tap their name and choose Stop Sharing My Location. They are not notified, but your location no longer appears for them.
To stop sharing with everyone: in Find My, open the Me tab and turn off Share My Location.
Changing the device that shares your location is another option. If you own an iPad or a second iPhone, choose Use This iPhone as My Location on the other device, and your location is shown from there.
Google Maps
Tap your profile picture, then Location sharing. Select the person and tap Stop. Google does not send a notification, but the person will no longer find you in their list.
Life360
Life360 shows other circle members when location sharing is paused, and some status changes are visible. In the app, go to Settings and choose Location Sharing for each circle. Turning off the phone or the app usually appears as “location services off” or “no network.”
Snapchat
Open the Snap Map, tap the settings gear and turn on Ghost Mode. Friends are not alerted, but your Bitmoji vanishes from their map.
Airplane mode is not invisible
Turning on airplane mode or switching off the phone stops updates, but your last known location stays visible and many apps show when you were last online.
If you are doing this for your safety
People who want to stop sharing quietly are often trying to get away from someone controlling. If that is your situation:
- On iPhone, Safety Check (Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check) reviews and stops sharing with people and apps in one place. Its Emergency Reset option also signs you out of other devices and resets permissions.
- Check for unfamiliar tracking devices. iPhones and Android phones can alert you when an AirTag or similar tracker travels with you.
- Change your Apple ID or Google password and turn on two-factor authentication, so nobody can see your location from your account. More account protection steps are in our article on how secure cloud storage really is.
- Suddenly disappearing from someone’s map can trigger a reaction. Advocates at the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233, thehotline.org) can help you plan the timing.
Sharing on purpose
Location sharing is useful with people you trust: family on a road trip, a friend on a late commute. Sharing for a limited time, such as “for one hour” in Find My or Google Maps, gives you the benefits without leaving it on forever. If you only want to silence notifications rather than hide where you are, a Focus mode can do that; see Share Focus Status.
