How To Turn On Location Windows 10

Windows 10'due south location services are a somewhat controversial characteristic. On the one mitt, some apps require them to provide useful functionality, but on the other, some run across it as an invasion of privacy. This is only compounded by seemingly random messages that "Your location is currently in use" or "Your location has recently been accessed". Nosotros're going to show you how to turn off location services if y'all wish, only besides talk through adjusting location settings to exist on, only more than conservative.

Should location services exist on or off?

Though some fear that Windows ten volition be checking their location constantly, if they enable the geolocation service, that isn't the case. For the most part, the OS confirms exactly to the settings you provide, it'due south just that many don't know how to configure location services or have forgotten to do so for a certain app.

Ultimately, but you lot tin can decide whether location services should be on or off, merely knowledge of how it works and what it provides tin help a decision. When the device location setting is enabled in Windows 10, it makes features such equally auto time zones, find my device, and live mapping locations possible. To proceeds its information, the OS doesn't only use GPS – information technology may also scan for data like nearby Wi-Fi networks, your IP address, and nearby cell towers if you have a SIM carte.

Though some of this data is sent to Microsoft for diagnostic and improvement purposes, it's transmitted after personally identifiable information is removed by the OS. Theoretically, this should go far very difficult for the visitor to tie it to any specific person. Nevertheless, previous studies of anonymized data from other providers accept hinted that it tin can exist combined with other analytics to figure out somebody'southward identity.

Giving an app access to your location and location history means it can determine your location more than precisely, though it can nonetheless give a rough judge without information technology. Windows location settings can only be changed for apps in the shop, not desktop apps, but all of them must comply with your local legislation surrounding consent, especially if yous fall under GDPR. The only exception to this is if you make an emergency call, in which case Windows will effort to find your precise location regardless of settings to assist emergency services.

Ultimately, turning off location services could mean you're unable to detect your laptop it's lost or stolen. On a desktop PC, y'all aren't missing out on anything major and information technology largely comes down to preference. Let's jump into how to turn off location service or plough them on once more to adapt your decision:

How to Plough Off Location Services for or Turn it On via Activeness Heart

The simplest way to turn off or on location services is through Windows 10'southward Action Center, the 1-stop-shop for all the frequently accessed toggles.

Open the Action Center

This can be achieved by pressing the bulletin bubble in the lesser-left corner of your screen.
Click the location services toggle

When the location tile is lit with your accent color, location services are turned on for your account and apps. When it'due south gray, information technology's turned off.

Turn Off Location Services for the Device in Settings or Turn it On

When trying to plow on location services in Windows x, some may detect a greyed out icon and volition be unable to toggle it. This considering the location settings in the OS were denied during setup. You lot can rectify this through the location settings.

Open location settings

Press "Start" and click the settings cog in the lesser-left corner, higher up the power push button.
Click "Privacy"
Choose location settings in the sidebar and click "Change"
Turn location services off or on

You'll now exist able to edit the location services toggle, which you can employ to turn them on or off.

Turn Off or On Location Services for Apps and Accounts in Settings

Equally well equally the global location setting, yous can ascertain access to the Windows x geolocation service on a per-app basis

Open settings

Press "Start", then the settings cog in a higher place the power push.
Open Windows 10 privacy settings
Navigate to location settings and plough location on

Toggle the "Let apps to admission your location" setting on.
Turn location services on or off for individual apps

Curl down to your apps list and turn the Windows apps yous'd like to use your location on. For some, such as Maps, this might make sense, but it's doubtful 3D viewer really needs your location, for instance.
Plough off all apps' location access

Alternatively, you tin can plow off location access for apps by toggling "Permit apps to access your location" off. This will only use to Microsoft shop/included apps.

How to Permanently Turn off Windows 10 Location Services for Accounts and Apps via Regedit

Modifying settings via the in-built UI is much more convenient, but some notice that they switch back once more later on an update. To avoid this, yous tin brand the changes in the registry instead. You'll demand to make sure location is first turned on via Settings for this to work.

Open regedit

Press "Windows + R" to open the Run dialog, type "regedit", and click "OK".
Navigate to the Windows 10 location setting registry key and change "Value"

You tin find the "Value" REG_SZ at Calculator\HKEY_CURRENT-USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location. You can navigate hither by pasting this into the address bar or by using the side menu. Once in that location, double-click "Value" in the main pane.
Edit the Value information to plough Windows location services off or on

Irresolute the cord to "Allow" will turn location services on, while "Deny" volition turn it off. Choose your Windows 10 location settings and click "OK".

Turn Off Location Services for the Device via Regedit

It's too possible to plow location settings on or off for the device as a whole via the registry. This location setting should be more permanent that the ones done through Microsoft's settings interface.

1. Open up Registry Editor
  
  Press "Windows + R" and blazon "regedit", then click "OK".
2. Navigate to the location settings key and modify "Value"
  
  This time, navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location note that yous'll want to get to the consent store location in LOCAL_MACHINE this fourth dimension, not CURRENT_USER as was used for apps and accounts above. One time there, double-click on "Value" to edit it.
  
  Fix the "Value data" to "Allow" to enable location services for the device, or "Deny" to plough it off. And then click "OK".
3. Change the "Value data" to "Allow" or "Deny"
  
  Press "Windows + R" and blazon "regedit", and so click "OK". Irresolute the string to "Allow" will plough location services on, while "Deny" will turn it off. Cull your Windows ten location settings and click "OK".

How to Plough On or Off Location Services During Windows x Setup

As mentioned before, you can likewise alter Windows x location settings when you beginning set up the OS. This geolocation service setting is oftentimes missed by users.

Turn location services on during setup

When Windows 10 prompts y'all to "Choose privacy settings for your device", find the "Location" subheading, toggle it to "Aye", and click "Take".
Plough off location services during setup

When Windows 10 prompts you to "Choose privacy settings for your device", notice the "Location" subheading, toggle it to "No", and click "Accept".