Google, in its almighty big tech way of harvesting more of your privacy, has a hidden feature inside its photos and maps tools that looks like a weather map when accessed. Instead, the only storms you see are exactly where you’ve been, when you were there, and the photos you captured in that spot.
Yes, Google still tracks your every move with location data and more. In exchange, they make some of the most sought-after mapping tools and photo storage tools. What’s convenient and novelty is also a very personal history of your life available to anyone who can get access to your phone or Google account.
iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)
If you don’t want to be tracked and have all of your photos’ location data mapped on Google, then follow these tips.
How to check Google Photos settings (iPhone & Android)
- Launch Google Photos app
- In the bottom bar, tap search
- Under Places section, you can see all the places associated with the photos you’ve taken
- That’s where you see Your map showing all the photos taken in a specific spot
MORE: HOW TO DIGITIZE OLD PHOTOS AND SLIDES
How to limit Google’s tracking of your photos on your iPhone
MORE: HOW TO REMOVE YOUR LOCATION FROM PHOTOS
How to limit Google’s tracking of your photos on Android
Please note that you can only update or remove estimated location
However, moving forward, you can change a crucial setting so that your location is not on future photos.
How to disable your location on photos on iPhone
- Go to settings
- Click on privacy and security
- Then tap on location services
- Scroll down to Photos – then click Never
How to disable your location on photos on Android
- Select the Camera app
- Tap the sprocket icon in the upper left
- Scroll down and toggle off Location tags (This will remove any location tags to your pictures so no one can see where they were taken)
It’s important to realize while you may want to be super private if you do remove your location from future photos, you will not be able to search your photos by searching by city or state.
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How to disable Google Photos location map feature
On Mobile (iPhone & Android):
- Open Google Maps on your phone while signed into your Google account
- Click the icon in the upper right-hand corner
- Click Your timeline
- Click the 3 horizontal dots (iPhone) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the upper right-hand corner
- Click Settings and Privacy
- Go to the 5th row down which says Location History. Be sure to select that it is off. If it is currently on, click the row, which will bring you to the next page, scroll down and click the “Turn off” button.
- You can also set an Auto Delete option where the location data will be automatically deleted from your view after a period of time you set.
On a Desktop
- Open Google Maps on your desktop while signed into your Google account
- Click the icon in the upper right-hand corner > Manage your Google Account
- Click Data & Privacy
- Under History settings module in the center of the page, go to the Location History row and click the row
- Be sure to Turn off location history
- You can also set an Auto Delete option where the location data will be automatically deleted from your view after a period of time you set
Kurt’s key takeaways
In a world where convenience and novelty come at the cost of personal privacy, Google’s hidden weather map feature in Photos and Maps reveals a disturbing reality: every moment captured on your device becomes a detailed record of your life, accessible to anyone with access to your phone or Google account. To protect your privacy, follow these steps to limit Google’s tracking of your photos and disable location services.
Should Google and other big tech companies be required to ask you first before deep tracking your life?
FOR MORE OF MY SECURITY ALERTS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER HERE
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