How to Fix “com.google.process.location Has Stopped” on Android
What “com.google.process.location has stopped” means
Behind every map pin, weather widget, and ride-hailing pickup on your phone sits a quiet background worker: com.google.process.location. It is part of Google Play Services, and its job is to blend GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell-tower signals into a position that apps can use. When Android shows the “Unfortunately, the process com.google.process.location has stopped” popup, it means that worker crashed — and because Android restarts it automatically, a broken setup can make the popup reappear every few minutes, sometimes in an endless loop.
This error is not a virus, and it is not a sign that your phone is dying. It is almost always a software problem: the location process is reading data that got corrupted during an interrupted update, a Play Services build that does not match the rest of the system, or a location permission setup that is half-finished after a factory reset. It is also a classic symptom on older Samsung and ZTE phones that received a partial system update and were never fully patched afterward.
The pattern of the popup tells you a lot. If it appears once after an update and never returns, it was a transient crash. If it pops up every time you open Maps or unlock the phone, the stored location data is corrupt. And if it loops non-stop even on the home screen, a third-party app — very often a battery saver, a fake-GPS tool, or an aggressive cleaner — is fighting the location service. Work through the steps below in order; most people are fixed by step 3.
Common causes
- Corrupt Google Play Services data: interrupted updates or failed syncs leave damaged location data that crashes the process every time it loads.
- Outdated or half-applied Play Services build: a Play Services version that does not match the installed Android build is a classic trigger on older phones.
- Broken location settings: a toggled-off Location Accuracy setting, a disabled Google Location service, or a permission revoked mid-update can stall the process.
- Third-party app interference: battery savers, fake-GPS apps, and aggressive cleaners can block or kill the location process in the background.
- Corrupt system cache: stale temp files after a system update keep the location service tripping over itself on every boot.
How to fix “com.google.process.location has stopped” — step by step
Start with steps 1 and 2 — a restart and clearing Play Services data fix most occurrences outright.
- Restart the phone and dismiss the popup. Tap OK on the error dialog to close it, then press and hold the Power button and tap Restart. A clean restart reloads the location process and Google Play Services from scratch, and it clears the error outright in a surprising number of cases. If the popup returns within minutes of the reboot, move on to the next step — the cause is corrupt data, not a one-off glitch.
- Clear the cache and data of Google Play Services. Open Settings > Apps > See all apps, then find Google Play Services and tap Storage & cache. Tap Clear cache first and test the phone for a few minutes. If the popup still appears, go back and tap Clear storage (or Manage space > Clear all data). This wipes the corrupted location data the process keeps tripping over, and Play Services rebuilds it cleanly on the next launch. Your photos, apps, and files are not affected.
- Clear Google Services Framework and reset location settings. In Settings > Apps > See all apps, tap the three-dot menu and choose Show system, then open Google Services Framework and tap Storage & cache > Clear cache, followed by Clear storage if the error persists. Then go to Settings > Location and toggle Location off, wait ten seconds, and turn it back on. Finally, tap Location services > Google Location Accuracy and make sure Improve Location Accuracy is on — a half-broken accuracy setting is a common trigger for this crash loop.
- Update Google Play Services, Maps, and the system. Open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, and go to Manage apps & device > Updates available, then update Google Play Services and Google Maps if they are listed. Then open Settings > System > Software update (on Samsung: Settings > Software update > Download and install) and install any pending update. This error is notorious on phones stuck on an old Play Services build after a partial update, and a fresh build often ends it permanently.
- Boot into safe mode to rule out a third-party app. Hold the Power button, then long-press the “Power off” option until the “Reboot to safe mode” prompt appears and tap OK. Safe mode disables every app you installed yourself. If the popup stops in safe mode, a downloaded app — often a battery saver, fake GPS tool, or aggressive cleaner — is interfering with the location service. Restart normally and uninstall the apps you added or updated right before the error started, beginning with the most recent one.
- Wipe the cache partition — factory reset only as a last resort. Power the phone off completely, then hold Power + Volume Up to enter recovery mode (on newer Samsung phones, hold the same buttons while the phone is connected to a charger or USB device). Use the volume buttons to highlight “Wipe cache partition” and press Power to select it. This clears corrupted system temp files without touching your data. If the popup still returns daily after all of this, back up your photos, messages, and files, then use Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). A clean system state ends the error, but everything on the phone will be wiped, so only take this step when nothing else worked.
Did this fix it? Quick checklist
- The “com.google.process.location has stopped” popup no longer appears after restart
- Maps and other location apps open and find your position normally
- Location stays on in Settings > Location without toggling itself off
- Google Play Services shows as up to date in the Play Store
If the popup appears only when one particular app is open, that app is the problem — update it, clear its cache, or replace it with an alternative. If it loops constantly even in safe mode, the system itself is damaged: check Settings > System > Software update for a pending patch, and if the phone is very old, consider a full software reinstall through the manufacturer’s PC tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is com.google.process.location on Android?
It is the background process behind Google’s location service — the part of Android that works out where your phone is for Maps, weather, ride apps, and location-based reminders. When it crashes, you see the “has stopped” popup, and location features may freeze or misbehave until the process restarts cleanly.
Will clearing Google Play Services data delete my photos or apps?
No. Clearing Play Services cache or storage only removes its temporary and sync data, which it rebuilds automatically. Your photos, contacts, messages, and installed apps stay exactly where they are. You may need to re-grant a few permissions or re-sign into a Google app, but nothing is deleted.
Why does the popup keep coming back after I restart?
Because a restart only reloads the same corrupted data. The location process reads its stored data on every boot, so if that data is damaged — or a third-party app keeps interfering with it — the crash repeats. Clearing Play Services data and the Services Framework cache, or removing the offending app in safe mode, breaks the loop.
Do I need a factory reset to fix this error?
Almost never. Restarting, clearing Google Play Services and Services Framework data, fixing location settings, and updating the system resolve the vast majority of cases. Reserve the factory reset for when the popup keeps appearing on a clean phone with updated software and no third-party interference.