Definition: what “hiding location” usually means

“Hiding your location” typically means reducing how precisely your device or apps can determine where you are and how often they can send that data to services. It does not necessarily mean you can stop every possible location inference in all situations, especially when a service uses other clues (for example, IP-based signals or nearby networks).

A simple model: sources of location signals

Location privacy is usually affected by multiple signal sources:

  • Device-based location: GPS, Wi‑Fi positioning, and mobile network signals.
  • App permissions: whether each app is allowed to access location and when.
  • Service behavior: what an app does with location (for example, whether it requests updates in the background).
  • Non-location clues: network identifiers and approximate geolocation methods that don’t require GPS.

To “hide your location” without an approach like “Unsharing,” focus on reducing access to the first three sources and understanding that the last one may still provide approximate results.

Core steps you can check (without relying on Unsharing)

  1. Disable Location Services (device level) If your device has a master toggle for Location Services, turning it off prevents most apps from receiving precise location from the device sensors.

  2. Review app permissions (app level) Check which apps have location permission and change them to a more restrictive option (or revoke access). Also look for settings that control background location use.

  3. Limit browser and app location access In many browsers and apps, there are separate permission controls for location prompts. If an app can ask the browser for location, restrict that permission as well.

  4. Reduce how often apps request location updates Even if location access is enabled, some apps let you control update frequency and background behavior. Restricting background use generally reduces how much location data is collected.

Differences and limits: what you can and can’t fully control

  • Turning off device location ≠ removing all location inference. Some services can still estimate approximate location using network signals (for example, from your connection). This may not match GPS-level accuracy.
  • “Without Unsharing” is not one single setting. Different apps use different permission models and background behaviors, so the same action (like disabling a device toggle) may have different effects across apps.
  • Trade-offs are normal. Location-based features (navigation, local results, check-ins, some safety functions) may stop working or become less accurate.
  • Confirm with what you observe. The practical test is whether location-dependent features stop updating or whether apps still display prompts that rely on location access.

Practical use: a quick checklist to verify your outcome

  • Toggle Location Services off and see which apps lose location-based functionality.
  • In privacy/app permissions, ensure no non-essential apps keep location access, especially for background use.
  • Watch for new location prompts or continued location updates after you change settings.
  • Compare behavior across key apps you care about: if one still requests location, it may have its own permission path.

If you tell me your device type (iOS/Android/desktop) and which app or website you’re trying to protect, I can outline the most relevant setting names to look for—staying within general guidance and avoiding “guarantee” style claims.