LINE: How to Turn Off the Radar (Location) and Mute Notifications for Good

You know that feeling when your phone vibrates at 2 AM, and it's just a friend sending a sticker? Or when LINE asks for your location to share a map, but you realize it's been tracking you all day? LINE is a fantastic messaging app, but its default settings are like a clingy friend who never leaves your side. Constant notifications drain your battery, and location tracking is a privacy nightmare. Let's fix that.

Why does LINE need my exact location?

LINE uses your location for features like sharing your whereabouts in chats, finding nearby friends, and location-based stickers. But do you really need it on 24/7? Probably not. Turning off location permissions stops LINE from pinging your GPS every time you open the app, saving battery and keeping your movements private.

How to revoke location permissions on LINE (iOS & Android)

On iPhone (iOS)

Open Settings → scroll down to LINE → tap Location → select Never. That's it. LINE can no longer see where you are. If you want to allow it only while using the app, choose While Using the App instead.

On Android

Go to Settings → Apps → LINE → Permissions → tap Location → choose Deny. Done. No more sneaky location pings.

How to disable LINE notifications (and stop the madness)

Notifications are like that friend who sends 10 messages in a row. You can silence them without leaving the group.

On iPhone (iOS)

Open Settings → Notifications → LINE → toggle off Allow Notifications. Or, for finer control, disable Sounds and Badges but keep banners.

On Android

Go to Settings → Apps → LINE → Notifications → toggle off Show notifications. You can also customize per channel (e.g., mute group chats but keep DMs).

Bonus: Mute specific chats without going nuclear

Inside LINE, open a chat → tap the menu (three dots) → Mute notifications → choose duration (1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours, or always). Perfect for that group chat that won't stop.

Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room: data privacy. LINE is a Japanese app, and its data practices are governed by Japanese law, which is different from the American model. Under the California CCPA and CPRA, you have the right to know what data is collected and to opt out of its sale. LINE, like many social networking apps, collects a lot of data—location, contacts, usage patterns. Compared to the American model, where companies like Facebook have faced massive fines for mishandling data, LINE's privacy policy is relatively straightforward, but it still shares data with third parties for advertising. The CCPA gives Californians the right to say "no thanks" to that sharing. So if you're in California, you can submit a data deletion request to LINE. For the rest of us, the best defense is to limit permissions manually. Think of it as putting your phone on a data diet—less tracking, more peace of mind.

And hey, if you ever feel like LINE is watching you a bit too closely, just remember: the tracking is stickier than duct tape on arm hair. But with these steps, you can peel it off cleanly.