Bolt: How to Turn Off the Radar (Geolocation) and Silence Notifications for Good

Your phone buzzes. Again. Bolt wants to know if you're ready to ride—even though you're sitting on your couch in your pajamas. And that little location arrow in your status bar? It's glowing like a firefly on steroids. Notifications and constant location tracking aren't just annoying; they're a privacy and battery drain. Let's fix that.

Why Does Bolt Want My Exact Location?

Bolt uses your location to find nearby drivers and estimate fares. But do they need it when you're not using the app? Nope. Yet many apps keep the GPS on in the background to collect data for analytics or ads. That's why revoking permissions when you're not riding is smart.

How to Revoke Location Permissions on Bolt (iOS)

Step 1: Open Settings

Go to your iPhone's Settings app—the gray gear icon.

Step 2: Find Bolt

Scroll down and tap Bolt in the app list.

Step 3: Change Location Access

Tap Location. You'll see options: Never, Ask Next Time, While Using the App, or Always. Select While Using the App or Never. While Using is a good balance—Bolt gets your location only when the app is open and you're actively booking a ride.

Step 4: Turn Off Precise Location (Optional)

Toggle off Precise Location to share only your approximate area—good enough for finding nearby cars, but not your exact street corner.

How to Revoke Location Permissions on Bolt (Android)

Step 1: Open Settings

Pull down the notification shade and tap the gear icon, or find Settings in your app drawer.

Step 2: Go to Apps

Tap Apps or App Management, then find and tap Bolt.

Step 3: Tap Permissions

Select Permissions (or App Permissions).

Step 4: Change Location

Tap Location and choose Allow only while using the app or Deny. On some phones, you can also toggle off Use precise location.

How to Disable Notifications on Bolt (iOS)

Step 1: Settings > Bolt

Same as before: go to Settings, then Bolt.

Step 2: Tap Notifications

Select Notifications.

Step 3: Toggle Off Allow Notifications

Flip the switch to off. You can also customize which alerts you get—like ride updates but not promotional spam.

How to Disable Notifications on Bolt (Android)

Step 1: Settings > Apps > Bolt

Open Settings, tap Apps, then Bolt.

Step 2: Tap Notifications

Select Notifications.

Step 3: Turn Off All or Customize

Toggle off Show notifications to silence everything. Or tap individual categories (like Promotions) and disable those.

And just like that, Bolt stops being a clingy digital partner. Your battery will thank you, and your peace of mind will too. But here's the kicker: compared to the American model under the California CCPA or CPRA, European apps like Bolt are actually more transparent about data collection. The CCPA gives you the right to opt out of data sales, but it doesn't force apps to minimize tracking by default. Bolt, being EU-based, follows GDPR—which means they have to ask for permission before tracking you. Still, it's up to you to say no. So go ahead, flip those switches, and enjoy the silence.