How to Pause Location on Life360: Taking Control of Your Digital Whereabouts

I've been using Life360 for years now, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that sometimes you need a break from being constantly tracked—even by your loved ones. Maybe you're planning a surprise party, need some personal space, or simply want to grab coffee without triggering seventeen "where are you?" texts. Whatever your reason, knowing how to pause your location on Life360 is like having a digital invisibility cloak in your back pocket.

The relationship we have with location-sharing apps is complicated, isn't it? On one hand, they provide peace of mind for families. On the other, they can feel suffocating. I remember when my teenage daughter first called Life360 "the stalker app," and honestly, I couldn't entirely disagree. But rather than ditching it altogether, we found ways to make it work for everyone—including learning when and how to pause that ever-watchful eye.

The Reality of Location Pausing on Life360

Here's the thing that might surprise you: Life360 doesn't actually have a straightforward "pause" button. The developers designed it this way intentionally—after all, the whole point is continuous location sharing for safety. But that doesn't mean you're stuck broadcasting your every move 24/7.

Over the years, I've discovered several workarounds that effectively pause your location without completely abandoning the app. Some are more elegant than others, and each comes with its own set of considerations. The method you choose really depends on your specific situation and how much you want other circle members to know about your location pause.

Airplane Mode: The Quick and Dirty Solution

The fastest way to freeze your location is switching your phone to airplane mode. Your last known location stays put on the map while you move freely. It's like pressing pause on a movie—everything freezes exactly where it was.

But here's what they don't tell you in those quick tip articles: this method is about as subtle as a foghorn. Your circle members will see that you've lost connection, and if you're someone who's usually glued to their phone (guilty as charged), that disconnection might raise more questions than if you'd just left your location on.

I learned this the hard way when I tried to sneak out early from a family gathering to catch a movie. My sister immediately texted asking if my phone was broken. So much for stealth.

The Location Services Toggle

A slightly more refined approach involves diving into your phone's settings and turning off location services specifically for Life360. On iPhone, you'll navigate through Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then find Life360 and set it to "Never." Android users follow a similar path through Settings > Location > App permissions.

This method keeps you connected to the internet—you can still receive messages and calls—but Life360 can't access your GPS data. Your location freezes at the last known spot, but you won't show as disconnected. It's like being present but invisible, which sometimes is exactly what you need.

The downside? You have to remember to turn it back on. I once forgot for three days and had to explain why I'd apparently been living in a Target parking lot since Tuesday.

Creating a Second Location

Now we're getting into more advanced territory. Some folks use location spoofing apps to create a false location while they move about freely. These apps essentially feed Life360 fake GPS coordinates, making it appear you're somewhere you're not.

I'll be honest—this feels like crossing an ethical line for me. There's a difference between wanting privacy and actively deceiving your family. Plus, many of these apps are sketchy at best, requiring permissions that make me uncomfortable. If you're considering this route, really think about why you need to create a false location rather than just pausing the real one.

The Burner Phone Method

Here's where things get interesting. Some people leave an old phone at a location (home, work, wherever they're "supposed" to be) with Life360 installed and running. They then go about their business with their regular phone, Life360-free.

It's clever, I'll give them that. But it also requires maintaining two phones, keeping the decoy charged, and remembering which device to take where. A friend of mine tried this and ended up grabbing the wrong phone for an important work meeting. Try explaining why your phone has been sitting in your living room all day when you're supposed to be at a conference in another city.

The Honest Approach

After all my experimentation, you know what works best? Communication. Revolutionary, right?

Life360 actually has built-in features for when you need privacy. You can create places where arrival and departure notifications are turned off. You can also adjust the frequency of location updates for specific places. These aren't exactly "pause" features, but they do provide some breathing room.

More importantly, having an open conversation with your circle members about when and why you might need location privacy can prevent a lot of issues. My family now has an understanding: if someone needs location privacy, they say so. No questions asked for 24 hours. After that, we check in.

When Pausing Makes Sense (And When It Doesn't)

There are legitimate reasons to pause your location. Planning surprises, needing mental health space, or simply wanting to run errands without commentary are all valid. I once paused my location to shop for my wife's anniversary gift without spoiling the surprise—completely reasonable.

But if you're constantly feeling the need to hide your location, that might signal bigger issues in your relationships. Trust works both ways, and if Life360 is being used as a tool for control rather than safety, that's a conversation worth having.

The Technical Stuff Nobody Mentions

Here's something I discovered through trial and error: Life360 uses a combination of GPS, WiFi, and cellular data to track location. This means that even if you turn off GPS, the app might still approximate your location using other methods. For a true location pause, you need to address all three.

Also, Life360 keeps logs. Even if you pause your location temporarily, there might be gaps in your location history that observant family members could notice. If you're trying to maintain complete privacy, you'll need to account for these digital breadcrumbs.

My Personal Take

Look, I get it. The idea of constant location tracking can feel Orwellian. But I've also been the parent waiting anxiously for a teenager to come home, refreshing Life360 every thirty seconds. The app serves a purpose, even if that purpose sometimes feels invasive.

What I've learned is that the healthiest approach to Life360 isn't about finding ways to defeat it—it's about setting boundaries that work for everyone. Yes, knowing how to pause your location is useful, but it shouldn't be your go-to solution for every situation.

Sometimes I think we've forgotten that it's okay to be unreachable. Before smartphones, people managed just fine without knowing each other's exact coordinates every moment. There's something to be said for that kind of freedom.

The Bottom Line

Pausing your location on Life360 isn't as simple as pressing a button, and maybe that's by design. The methods I've outlined—from airplane mode to location service toggles—all work, but they're workarounds rather than features.

The real question isn't how to pause your location, but why you feel the need to. If it's occasional and for good reasons, these methods will serve you well. If it's constant, maybe it's time to reconsider whether Life360 is the right tool for your family.

Remember, technology should enhance our relationships, not complicate them. Use these location-pausing techniques wisely, communicate openly with your circle members, and don't forget that sometimes the best solution is the simplest one: just telling people you need some space.

Trust me, your family might surprise you with their understanding. Mine did.

Authoritative Sources:

Apple Inc. "User Guide: Location Services and Privacy." Apple Support Documentation, 2023.

Google LLC. "Manage Your Android Device's Location Settings." Android Help Center, 2023.

Life360 Inc. "Life360 User Manual and Privacy Settings." Life360 Official Documentation, 2023.

Pew Research Center. "Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2021." Pew Research Center: Internet & Technology, 2021.