How to Turn Off the GPS on a Cell Phone

Instructions

    

        1.   If your cell phone is off, turn it on.
       

      2.  Go to your cell phone's home screen.


      

    3.     Go to your main menu (this should list categories such as "Contacts," "Recent calls," "Tools," etc.).


            4.   Find the menu option for "Settings."
    

          5. At this point, every phone might be a little different, but your "Settings" menu should have an option for either "GPS" or "Location."
 

           6.   Under your "GPS"/"Location" option, you should be able to choose between "On" and "Emergency Only." Set the phone to "Emergency Only." Most phones don't have an actual "Off" setting, because the GPS-locating option will be automatically enabled if you make a 911 call (this is what "Emergency Only" means.) For all other intents and purposes, the "Emergency Only" setting will disable your cell phone's GPS.
 

           7.   With the "Location" option set to "Emergency Only," go back to your phone's main screen. You should no longer have a "GPS"/"Location" icon visible. (This icon is usually a circle with a cross in the middle and is found near your battery or signal information.)

Tips & Warnings

    Every phone is different: If you cannot find your "Settings" menu or the "GPS"/"Location" options, refer to your phone's instruction manual. Not all cell phones have GPS functionality. If you can't find the GPS settings, it's possible that your phone is not GPS-enabled in the first place. Many BlackBerry models, for example, have either Wi-Fi or GPS, but not both.