What is the difference between Allow only while using the app and Allow all the time?

Allow only while using the app gives location access only when the app is open on screen. Allow all the time lets the app read your position even in the background, which is needed for continuous tracking features like step counting or delivery updates.

Does denying location for one app turn off location for my whole phone?

No. Each app has its own permission entry under Choose an App. Denying access there only affects that specific app; other apps and the system location service keep their own settings.

Location permission is set to Allow but the app still can't find me - what else could be wrong?

Check the main location switch at the top of the Settings ➔ Location screen. If that service is turned off, no app can get a position fix even with permission granted.

Samsung

Samsung: Change App Location Permissions

If a delivery tracker or maps app suddenly can't find your position, you likely denied its location request the first time it asked, maybe by accident. On Samsung phones that first choice isn't final - each app's access can be reviewed and changed later. Mixing up 'Allow' and 'Deny' at the initial prompt is one of the most common reasons apps stop showing your location.

Updated: 04.08.20264 min5 steps

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Samsung

Manage App Location Permissions auf Samsung

Samsung asks for location confirmation the first time an app needs it. That first answer gets saved as the app's permanent permission, so a wrong tap on Deny keeps the app blind to your position until you change it manually.

You adjust this per app under Settings ➔ Location ➔ App permissions ➔ Choose an App ➔ Choose an option. Depending on the app, you get options like Allow all the time, Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, or Don't allow.

Pick Allow all the time for apps that need your position in the background, such as fitness trackers. Allow only while using the app fits navigation or delivery apps you only open when needed, and it uses less battery than always-on access.

If location still doesn't work after granting permission, check whether the location service itself is switched off at the top of the same Location screen - the app permission and the master location toggle are independent settings.

Changing permission for one app has no effect on any other app's access. Each app keeps its own setting until you change it again.

Frequently asked questions

Some apps use the Ask every time option, which triggers a new prompt each session instead of remembering your choice. You can switch this to Allow all the time or Allow only while using the app under Settings ➔ Location ➔ App permissions ➔ Choose an App.

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Network & Connectivity

Samsung: Change App Location Permissions

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