To turn off location on TikTok, go to Profile, tap the Menu button, then Settings and privacy, Privacy, Location Services, and choose a location access permission that doesn't share it. You can also switch off TikTok's location access in your phone's own settings. Even then, TikTok says it still estimates a rough location from things like your SIM card region and IP address.
Location is one of those settings most people never look at until something makes them nervous: a video that's clearly local, an ad for a shop down the road, or a teenager who's just joined. The useful thing about TikTok's help page is that it's fairly specific about what it collects and what's left over after you switch it off, so you can decide what to share rather than guessing.
Turn off Location Services in the TikTok app
- Open TikTok and tap Profile at the bottom.
- Tap the Menu button at the top, then Settings and privacy.
- Tap Privacy, then Location Services.
- Choose the location access permission you want for TikTok.
TikTok says sharing your device location is optional, and that you have to turn on Location Services in both your phone settings and inside TikTok before TikTok collects any of it. So turning it off in either place stops the device location being shared. Depending on where you live, Location Services may not be offered at all.
Approximate vs precise location: what TikTok gets
If you do leave it on, TikTok's help explains the two levels you might be sharing. It also says this only applies if you're at least 18 and in a region where the feature is available.
| Setting | Area TikTok typically receives | What it's based on |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate location | About 1 to 4 square miles (3 to 10 square kilometres) | A general sense of your city or surrounding area |
| Precise location | About 100 to 1,000 square feet (10 to 100 square metres) | Signals such as GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections |
Precise location is the one most people would want off. TikTok says you can turn it on or off at any time through your phone's Location Services settings for the app.
What TikTok still knows when location is off
This is the part people miss. TikTok's help says that when Location Services are off, or not available where you are, it continues to estimate an approximate location from your device or network information, such as:
- Your SIM card region.
- Your IP address.
- Your device system settings.
That's how it can still show you content that feels local. Turning off Location Services stops TikTok getting your GPS-level position, but it doesn't make the app forget which country or city you're probably in.
If you want to step away completely, see how to deactivate your TikTok account.
How to delete the location data TikTok already has
If you had location on before, you can clear what TikTok received directly from your phone:
- Go to Profile, then the Menu button, then Settings and privacy.
- Tap Privacy, then Location Services.
- Tap Delete certain location data.
TikTok is upfront that it may keep less specific information it already worked out from that data or from your IP address, such as the city you may be in.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Protecting your privacy goes hand in hand with the TikTok scams guide.
Location tags on your posts are separate
Your device location and the location you tag on a video are two different things. When you post, TikTok may suggest places based on popularity, places you're near or have been near, and what's in your post, such as text, images or hashtags. If you don't add one, TikTok may prompt you to. You don't have to: just skip the Location option on the Post screen. If you want an extra layer of control for a teen's account, TikTok Family Pairing lets a parent manage several settings from their own phone.
When leaving location on helps a business
For a local business, I'd treat this differently. Tagging your shop, salon or cafe on your posts helps local viewers find you, and TikTok uses location to recommend nearby content. You can do that with post tags alone, without sharing your precise personal location. If a tagged business location is wrong, TikTok lets you tap the tag, then Share, then Suggest an edit. If you're tidying up location settings across apps, I've covered the same job in turning off location on Facebook.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn off location on TikTok?
Go to Profile, tap the Menu button, then Settings and privacy, Privacy, Location Services, and choose the location access permission you want. You can also turn off TikTok's location access in your phone settings.
Does TikTok know my location if Location Services are off?
Roughly, yes. TikTok says it still estimates approximate location from device or network information such as your SIM card region, IP address and device system settings.
How precise is TikTok's location tracking?
TikTok says approximate location is typically an area of about 1 to 4 square miles, and precise location about 100 to 1,000 square feet, using signals like GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Can I delete my location data on TikTok?
Yes. Go to Settings and privacy, Privacy, Location Services and tap Delete certain location data. TikTok may keep less specific information such as your likely city.
