Google Pixel's Hidden Location Tracking Feature Exposed

As an Android user and writer for Android Police, I recently discovered that my Google Pixel 8 Pro continues to broadcast its location even after it's turned off. This feature, called offline tracking, allows nearby devices to detect the phone's signal and relay its location information to Google's servers.

I was initially unaware of this feature, but after reviewing my settings, I found that it was enabled by default. However, I soon realized that I didn't want my phone to continue broadcasting its location when turned off.

Fortunately, I could disable offline tracking without turning off Google's Find Hub service completely. This allowed me to maintain the security benefits of Find Hub while still keeping my phone's location private.

I'm not alone in this preference - many users may find that they prefer their phone to stop broadcasting its location when turned off. While powered-off finding is a useful feature, it's not for everyone.