Why a map can work without a signal
A phone does not need to ask the internet where it is. GPS satellites broadcast timing signals, and the phone estimates its position by comparing when signals from several satellites arrive. That calculation happens on the device. Downloaded map data supplies the streets and place names to display; it is separate from the system that determines location.
What “tracking” means offline
Location access is controlled by the phone’s operating system and by app permissions—not by whether a map is online. An app allowed to use location may still read the phone’s position while you navigate in airplane mode or outside mobile coverage. Depending on the app, it might use that position to show your moving dot, record a route, or save location-related activity on the device.
That does not mean every app is continuously watching, or that your position is being sent somewhere in real time. Without a connection, an app generally cannot upload new information to its servers. It may keep data locally and transmit it later if it reconnects, depending on its design and settings.
A useful travel distinction
Offline maps protect against losing access to map tiles and directions when service disappears; they are not a privacy switch. Before a trip, check which apps have location permission and whether they are allowed to use it in the background. If you want to stop location access, change those permissions or turn off the relevant location setting. The map may still display downloaded streets, but your phone may no longer be able to place you on them.
