To improve device location, Android devices with Google Play services have a Location Accuracy service (formerly Google Location Services). It uses information from wireless signals, such as Wi-Fi access points, cellular network towers, and GPS, along with device sensor data, such as accelerometer, barometer and gyroscope, to allow your device to more quickly and accurately estimate device location, particularly in areas where GPS may be unavailable or obscured, such as indoors or near large buildings.
Important: Not all devices have wireless signals, GPS, or device sensor data. Location Accuracy uses available signals to estimate location.
Tip: The Location Accuracy service is also available on Fitbit Ace LTE. Location Accuracy processes data in the same way for Fitbit Ace LTE as for Android devices.
Learn more about Google Play services.
When Location Accuracy is on
When Location Accuracy is turned on, your device uses these sources to get the most accurate location, which may include elevation or floor level:
- Wireless signals, if available, such as:
- GPS
- Wi-Fi
- Mobile cellular networks
- Sensors, if available, such as:
- Accelerometer
- Barometer
- Gyroscope
This is especially important if you use your device indoors or when GPS satellites are obscured. In those situations, devices need to use additional signals to estimate their location. Apps and services with the appropriate permissions can use this location to provide you with location-based features.
When Location Accuracy is on, Google periodically collects information about the locations of wireless signals and sensors observed by your device to crowdsource location estimates. To help prevent you from being identified from the collected data, Google uses a randomly-assigned, temporary, rotating identifier that isn’t associated with a specific person or account. These identifiers automatically and regularly change. For example, several devices may upload that they observed a given Wi-Fi access point shortly after observing GPS signals. Google uses this information to determine that this Wi-Fi access point is close to these GPS signals, without needing to know the identity of the users that contributed.
How Location Accuracy processes your data
Google processes your Location Accuracy data on certain legal bases as described in our Privacy Policy and explained in more detail below.
Google processes Location Accuracy data for the purposes of improving location accuracy and location-based services and improving our services to meet the needs of our users. This is done while applying appropriate safeguards that protect your privacy. Google uses Location Accuracy data without identifying specific individuals.
Third party apps and services can also request your device’s computed location, which may be precise or approximate depending on the specific permissions the app or service has. This computed location may be enhanced by Location Accuracy when Location Accuracy is on.
What data is processed
When Location Accuracy is on for your Android device, data that is collected and processed by Google may include information about wireless signals (such as Wi-Fi access points, cell network towers, and GPS), device sensor data (such as accelerometer, gyroscope, and barometer data), IP address, device model, and setting preferences.
Why and how we process Location Accuracy data
To improve location accuracy and location-based services.
When Location Accuracy is on for your Android device, Location Accuracy data is used to improve location accuracy and location-based services in Google and third party apps and services with the required permissions. Location Accuracy helps your device figure out its location more quickly and accurately than GPS and device sensors alone. This is particularly useful when your device cannot access GPS, such as when indoors or obscured by buildings. This more accurate location is provided through APIs that Google and third party apps with appropriate permissions can use for location-relevant features and functionality.
To do this, we:
- Periodically collect Location Accuracy data when Location Accuracy is on. To protect your privacy, Google collects the data using a randomly-assigned, temporary, rotating identifier that is not associated with a specific person or account and that is deleted within 7 days. These identifiers automatically and regularly change. For more information on storage and retention, see our Privacy Policy.
- Verify, using the random, temporary, rotating identifier, that Location Accuracy data collections over a period were collected from the same device, which helps ensure representative and sufficient collection and allows us to delete certain data points originating from the same device. The use of the random, temporary, rotating identifier and deletion of certain data points prevent you from being identified from the collected data.
- Use Location Accuracy data without identifying specific individuals to build and maintain a crowdsourced database of wireless signal locations that Android devices use to help determine a more accurate device location.
- Log usage metrics to troubleshoot issues with data collection, usage, and performance.
Even if Location Accuracy is off, emergency services features, such as Emergency Location Service, can still use Location Accuracy to provide you with critical services. Specifically, when you make emergency calls or send emergency texts, your device will provide the most accurate location available to emergency responders so they can assist you quickly even if Location Accuracy is off; no location or Location Accuracy data is collected by Google in such a scenario.
To provide, maintain, and improve our services to meet the needs of our users.
When Location Accuracy is on for your Android device, Location Accuracy data is used to provide, maintain and improve our services to meet the needs of our users. For example, Location Accuracy data is used to develop, provide, and improve location-based products and services such as earthquake detection and road traffic. Location Accuracy data is also used to validate the accuracy of maps-based information, such as building entrances or routing directions.
To do this, we:
- Periodically collect and process Location Accuracy data when Location Accuracy is on to build crowdsourced databases of wireless signal and general IP address locations as described above.
- Use this information to confirm and improve the quality and accuracy of location-based features expected by users. We may then use this data in our products, without identifying anyone.
- Log usage metrics to troubleshoot issues with data collection, usage, and performance.
Legal bases
The processing of Location Accuracy data for the above purposes is necessary for the following legitimate interests:
The legitimate interest of Google in:
- Providing, maintaining, and improving our services to meet the needs of our users (including those who utilize apps and services on their Android devices requiring reliable and accurate location) and of understanding how people use our services to improve the performance of our services.
The legitimate interest of other users in:
- Google providing, maintaining, and improving our services to meet the needs of all our users (including those who utilize apps and services on their Android devices requiring reliable and accurate location) and of our understanding how people use our services to improve the performance of our services in a manner that allows users to realize the benefits of a crowdsourced database.
The legitimate interest of third party developers in:
- Using computed device location (with necessary permission and as improved by Location Accuracy) for providing, maintaining, and improving their apps and services to meet the needs of their own users who utilize those apps and services on Android devices requiring reliable and accurate location.
When Location Accuracy is off
When your device’s Location Accuracy is off:
- When available, only GPS and device sensors, such as accelerometer, barometer, and gyroscope will be used to determine your device’s location, which may impact the availability and accuracy of locations for apps and services such as Google Maps and finding a lost device.
- Wireless signals and sensor data aren't sent to Google servers. However, emergency location services or your mobile carrier can still automatically send your device’s location enhanced by Location Accuracy to emergency responders when you call or text an emergency number. Learn about emergency location services.
Tip: For Android 12 and higher, to access precise location, you can manage each app’s permission. This is different from Location Accuracy, which is a location setting for your device that allows the use of more sources for the most accurate location. When Location Accuracy is on, you can grant an app only approximate location permission if you don't want to allow it access to your device’s precise location. When Location Accuracy is off, apps may not be able to get your device’s precise location. Learn how to manage app location permissions.
How Google Play services for Location Accuracy handles your data
On your device, Google Play services enables useful services and helps make your device more secure and reliable. Location Accuracy is one such service that’s provided as part of Google Play services. Learn more about Google Play services and other services enabled through Google Play services.
Tip: Google Play services is different from the Google Play Store.
Permission UseGoogle Play services for Location Accuracy may use device permissions such as:
Your location, which may be accessed periodically, including in the background, to improve the accuracy of your location as described above. Learn how Google Play services can use your location.Turn your device’s Location Accuracy on or off
Android 12 & higher and Fitbit Ace LTE
- Open Settings
.
- Tap Location
Location Services
- Turn Improve Location Accuracy on or off.
Android 11 & lower
- Open Settings
- Tap Location
- Turn Improve Location Accuracy on or off.
Learn how to manage your Android device’s location settings.