Hide Start/End Location on Strava: Full Guide

Yes, you can hide the start and end location of your activities on Strava, and this guide shows exactly how to do it on the mobile app and website. You can either hide the start and end points of individual activities after recording, or set a privacy zone that automatically masks those areas for all future activities. The setting is called “Hide start/end points” and it blurs a radius around those locations on the public activity map.

Why Hide Your Start and End Location?

Many athletes share their runs and rides publicly, which also shares where they live, work, or train regularly. The start point of a commute or a morning run is often your home address, and the end point might be your workplace. Showing these on a public map every day lets anyone with your Strava profile build a pattern of your routine. Strava’s privacy controls exist specifically to prevent this kind of unwanted attention, especially since the platform’s heatmap feature aggregates public activity data. Hiding start and end points is the simplest way to keep your daily routes private while still sharing your performance stats with friends and followers.

How to Hide Start/End Points on the Strava Mobile App

The process is nearly identical on iOS and Android. You can do it for a single activity you just finished, or change the default for all future uploads.

1. Open the Strava app and go to the activity you want to edit (the one with the map).
2. Tap the pencil icon (Edit) in the top right corner of the activity page.
3. Scroll down to the “Privacy” section.
4. Tap “Hide start/end points” – the toggle will turn green when active.
5. Tap “Save” in the top right corner.

To change the default for all future activities:

1. Go to your profile by tapping “You” at the bottom right.
2. Tap the gear icon (Settings) at the top right.
3. Select “Privacy Controls” then “Privacy Zones.”
4. Turn on “Hide start/end points” for all activities. You can also create specific privacy zones here (explained below).

How to Hide Start/End Points on the Strava Website

The web version gives you the same controls, just in a slightly different layout.

1. Log in at strava.com and open the activity you want to edit.
2. Click the pencil icon (Edit) on the right side of the activity summary.
3. In the “Privacy” section, check the box next to “Hide the start and end points of this activity.”
4. Click “Save.”

To set the default for all future activities on the website:

1. Click your profile photo in the top right and select “Settings.”
2. Go to “Privacy Controls” and then “Privacy Zones.”
3. Check the box for “Hide start/end points” and/or create a privacy zone.

Privacy Zones vs. Hide Start/End Points

These are two different features that often get confused. “Hide start/end points” is a global toggle that blurs a fixed radius (about 0.5 km / 0.3 miles) around the exact starting and ending GPS coordinates of every activity. It works everywhere, but it’s a blunt instrument – it will also hide the start of a race or a group ride, which you might not want.

A “Privacy Zone” is a custom circle you draw around a specific location, usually your home or workplace. When an activity starts or ends inside that zone, Strava automatically hides the portion of the map that falls within the zone. You can set the radius from 0.5 km to 2.5 km (0.3 to 1.5 miles). This is more precise because it only masks the area you define, not every single start and end point. For example, if you always start your weekend long ride from a parking lot near your house, you can put a privacy zone around your home and still show the parking lot start.

How to Set Up a Privacy Zone on Strava

You can create up to 20 privacy zones. Here’s how:

• Mobile app: Settings → Privacy Controls → Privacy Zones → tap “Create Privacy Zone” → drag the map to your desired location, adjust the radius with the slider, and give it a name (like “Home” or “Office”).
• Website: Settings → Privacy Controls → Privacy Zones → enter an address or drop a pin on the map, set the radius, and save.

Once a zone is created, any activity that starts or ends inside it will have that area automatically hidden on the public map. You can still see the full activity on your own map – the hiding only applies to what others see.

What Others See When You Hide Start/End Points

When you hide start/end points, Strava replaces the first and last portion of your GPS track with a straight dashed line on the public map. The distance and elevation data remain fully visible – you don’t lose any stats. The hidden area is a circle around the start and end coordinates, so anyone viewing your activity will see a gap in the route where the start/end should be. If you have a privacy zone, the map will show the route up to the edge of the zone, then a dashed line across the zone to where the route resumes.

It’s important to know that hiding start/end points does not hide the activity from your followers. They can still see the full activity, just with the start/end blurred. If you want to hide the entire activity from everyone except you, you need to change the activity’s visibility to “Only You” instead.

Common Mistakes and Limitations

• Forgetting to save: After toggling the setting on an individual activity, you must tap “Save” or the change won’t apply.
• Old activities: Changing the default setting only affects future activities. To hide start/end on past activities, you must edit each one individually, or use the bulk edit feature on the website (select multiple activities, then choose “Edit” → “Hide start/end points”).
• Privacy zones only apply to new activities: Creating a privacy zone will not retroactively hide the start/end of past activities that started inside that zone. You’ll need to edit those manually.
• Strava still stores the full GPS data: Hiding start/end points only changes what is displayed publicly. Strava’s servers retain the full track, and it may appear in aggregated features like heatmaps, unless you also disable “Include in heatmaps” in your privacy settings.
• Third-party apps: If you sync your activities to other platforms (e.g., Garmin Connect, TrainingPeaks), those platforms have their own privacy settings and may display the full route. Hiding on Strava does not hide it elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hiding start/end points affect my segment times?

No. Segment times are calculated based on the full GPS track, and hiding the start/end only changes the map display. Your segment results, leaderboard positions, and all performance stats remain exactly the same.

Can I hide just the start point but not the end point?

No. The “Hide start/end points” toggle hides both the start and end simultaneously. There is no option to hide only one. If you want to hide only a specific area, use a privacy zone instead.

Will my followers know I hid my start/end?

Yes, they will see the dashed line on the map and may infer that you’ve hidden the start/end. This is a common practice, so most athletes won’t think twice. If you’re concerned about someone knowing your exact home, hiding the start/end is still far better than showing it.

Does hiding start/end points work for all activity types?

Yes, it works for any GPS-based activity, including runs, rides, hikes, swims (if GPS is available), and walks. It does not apply to non-GPS activities like indoor treadmill runs or stationary bike rides, since those don’t have a map.

Can I hide start/end points on activities I upload from a Garmin or other device?

Yes. The privacy settings apply to all activities uploaded to Strava, regardless of the device used to record them. You can edit the activity after upload or set the default in your settings.

If I set a privacy zone, do I still need to hide start/end points?

Not necessarily. A privacy zone will hide the start/end if your activity begins or ends inside that zone. However, if you start somewhere else, the start will be visible. If you want to be absolutely sure your start/end is always hidden, keep the global “Hide start/end points” toggle on as well. Both can be active at the same time.

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