Before you head from Norwich to the coast, open your phone’s location settings. 

In about 30 seconds, you can see which apps are allowed to use your location and decide which ones still need that access.

This isn’t a hunt for every app that has ever looked at your location.

It’s a quick check of the permissions you’ve handed out including apps that may be allowed to use location in the background.

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.

You’ll see the apps with access and labels such as Always, While Using the App, Ask Next Time Or When I Share and Never.

Start with anything marked Always.

A navigation app may need location while you’re driving to Cromer or finding a car park.

 A weather app may work perfectly well with access only while you’re using it.

An old game, shopping app or takeaway service might not need to know where you are at all.

Tap an app to change its permission.

 You can also switch off Precise Location if the app only needs to know roughly where you are.

That could still be enough for local weather, while avoiding a pinpoint location.

On Android, go to Settings > Location > App location permissions.

The list is grouped into options such as Allowed all the time, Allowed only while in use,

Ask every time and Not allowed.

Tap an app and choose the setting that fits what you actually use it for. Android 12 and later also let you choose approximate instead of precise location.

Some Android phones have another helpful check: Privacy

Dashboard.

It can show which apps accessed location and when for up to seven days on Android 13 or later, and 24 hours on Android 12. Menu names can vary between manufacturers.

Don’t switch everything off just to feel tidy.

Maps, taxi apps, food delivery and safety features can all have a genuine reason to use location.

The better rule is simple: give an app the least access that still lets it do its job.

The next England and Wales bank holiday is Monday 31 August 2026. Just around the corner.

Before sharing your live location with family, downloading a travel app or setting off for a Norfolk day out, run the check.

If you spot an app you no longer trust with your location, tell us which one you think might be risky?