Turn Off iPhone Location Sharing: Quietly Remove Sharing Contacts

Sharing your location on an iPhone is incredibly useful until it’s not. Whether it’s an old friend you don’t talk to anymore or just a desire for more privacy, knowing how to disable location sharing is a basic digital skill everyone should have in 2026. It’s simple, and you can do it without sending a big, loud notification to the other person.

I’ve run through all the options on my iPhone 17 Pro running iOS 20. The good news is that Apple makes this pretty straightforward. You have a few ways to tackle this, from surgically removing one person to turning the feature off for everyone.

 

 

Stop Sharing Location With a Specific Person

This is the most common scenario. You just want to stop sharing with one or two people, not your entire contact list. There are two main places to do this, and both achieve the same result.

 

 

Using the Find My App

The Find My app is mission control for all things location. To stop sharing with someone here, open the app and tap the “People” tab at the bottom. You’ll see a list of everyone you’re sharing your location with.

Just tap the name of the person you want to remove. A card will slide up with details; scroll down and tap the red “Stop Sharing My Location” option. Confirm your choice, and you’re done. They won’t get a push alert, but they also won’t see your location if they check.

 

 

From the Messages App

Sometimes it’s easier to do this right from your text thread. If you’re sharing your location with someone via Messages, just open your conversation with them. Tap their name at the top of the screen.

On the next screen, you’ll see an option that says “Stop Sharing.” Tap it. This does the exact same thing as the Find My method—it’s just a different shortcut to get there. It’s fast and efficient.

 

 

Disable Location Sharing for Everyone

If you’re ready for a full privacy reset, you can disable location sharing entirely. This is the “off switch” that stops your location from being sent to anyone you’ve previously approved.

 

 

Turn Off the Master “Share My Location” Switch

This is the best way to globally disable location sharing without breaking your own apps. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My. You’ll see a toggle for “Share My Location.”

Just switch it off. This single tap stops sharing with every person on your list. Your friends and family will no longer be able to see you in Find My. But importantly, your own phone can still use location for Maps, Weather, and other services.

 

 

Turn Off Location Services Completely (The Nuclear Option)

I don’t recommend this for most people, but it’s an option. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. You can flip the main toggle at the very top to “Off.”

But be warned: this breaks a lot of stuff. Apple Maps won’t know where you are, Uber can’t find your pickup spot, and your weather widget won’t update automatically. Only use this if you want your iPhone to have zero idea where it is in the world.

 

 

Your Privacy is Your Call

At the end of the day, controlling who sees your location is simple. The best part is that disabling sharing is a quiet action. Apple doesn’t send a “John has stopped sharing their location with you” banner. The person just won’t be able to see you anymore.

It’s smart to do a quick audit of your “People” list in the Find My app every few months. It’s a two-minute checkup that ensures you’re only sharing your location with the people you actually want to.