How To Turn On Location Services Through Computer

Windows 10's location services are a somewhat controversial feature. On the one hand, some apps require them to provide useful functionality, but on the other, some see it equally an invasion of privacy. This is only compounded past seemingly random letters that "Your location is currently in use" or "Your location has recently been accessed". Nosotros're going to prove yous how to turn off location services if you wish, only also talk through adjusting location settings to exist on, but more than conservative.

Should location services be on or off?

Though some fearfulness that Windows 10 will be checking their location constantly, if they enable the geolocation service, that isn't the case. For the nearly part, the Bone confirms exactly to the settings you provide, information technology's just that many don't know how to configure location services or have forgotten to do and then for a sure app.

Ultimately, only you can decide whether location services should be on or off, but knowledge of how it works and what it provides can help a determination. When the device location setting is enabled in Windows 10, information technology makes features such as auto time zones, notice my device, and live mapping locations possible. To gain its information, the Bone doesn't just use GPS – it may likewise scan for information similar nearby Wi-Fi networks, your IP address, and nearby cell towers if you take a SIM card.

Though some of this data is sent to Microsoft for diagnostic and comeback purposes, it'due south transmitted later personally identifiable information is removed by the OS. Theoretically, this should make it very difficult for the company to tie it to whatsoever specific person. However, previous studies of anonymized information from other providers accept hinted that it can be combined with other analytics to figure out somebody'due south identity.

Giving an app admission to your location and location history ways it can make up one's mind your location more precisely, though it can still give a rough guess without it. Windows location settings can only be inverse for apps in the store, non desktop apps, merely all of them must comply with your local legislation surrounding consent, specially if you autumn under GDPR. The just exception to this is if you lot make an emergency phone call, in which case Windows will attempt to find your precise location regardless of settings to aid emergency services.

Ultimately, turning off location services could mean you're unable to notice your laptop it's lost or stolen. On a desktop PC, you lot aren't missing out on annihilation major and information technology largely comes downwards to preference. Let's leap into how to plow off location service or turn them on over again to suit your decision:

How to Turn Off Location Services for or Plow information technology On via Action Center

The simplest way to turn off or on location services is through Windows x's Action Center, the i-cease-shop for all the frequently accessed toggles.

Open the Activeness Heart

This can exist achieved by pressing the bulletin chimera in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
Click the location services toggle

When the location tile is lit with your emphasis colour, location services are turned on for your account and apps. When it'southward greyness, information technology'due south turned off.

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

When trying to plow on location services in Windows ten, some may notice a greyed out icon and will be unable to toggle information technology. This because the location settings in the Bone were denied during setup. Yous can rectify this through the location settings.

Open location settings

Printing "Start" and click the settings cog in the bottom-left corner, above the power button.
Click "Privacy"
Choose location settings in the sidebar and click "Change"
Plough location services off or on

You'll at present be able to edit the location services toggle, which yous can utilise to turn them on or off.

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

Besides as the global location setting, you can define admission to the Windows 10 geolocation service on a per-app ground

Open settings

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

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

Ringlet downward to your apps list and turn the Windows apps you lot'd like to apply your location on. For some, such as Maps, this might brand sense, only it's doubtful 3D viewer really needs your location, for example.
Turn off all apps' location admission

Alternatively, you can turn off location access for apps by toggling "Allow apps to access your location" off. This will merely apply to Microsoft store/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 user-friendly, but some find that they switch back again after an update. To avoid this, you tin make the changes in the registry instead. You'll need to make sure location is first turned on via Settings for this to work.

Open regedit

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

You tin can find the "Value" REG_SZ at Calculator\HKEY_CURRENT-USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location. You can navigate here by pasting this into the address bar or past using the side card. In one case there, double-click "Value" in the principal pane.
Edit the Value data to turn Windows location services off or on

Changing the string to "Allow" will turn location services on, while "Deny" will turn information technology off. Choose your Windows 10 location settings and click "OK".

Plough Off Location Services for the Device via Regedit

Information technology'south too possible to turn location settings on or off for the device equally a whole via the registry. This location setting should be more than permanent that the ones washed through Microsoft's settings interface.

1. Open up Registry Editor
  
  Press "Windows + R" and type "regedit", then click "OK".
2. Navigate to the location settings key and alter "Value"
  
  This time, navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location annotation that you'll want to get to the consent store location in LOCAL_MACHINE this fourth dimension, not CURRENT_USER equally was used for apps and accounts in a higher place. Once there, double-click on "Value" to edit it.
  
  Prepare the "Value data" to "Allow" to enable location services for the device, or "Deny" to turn it off. Then click "OK".
3. Alter the "Value data" to "Let" or "Deny"
  
  Printing "Windows + R" and type "regedit", and so click "OK". Irresolute the cord to "Let" volition turn location services on, while "Deny" will turn it off. Choose your Windows 10 location settings and click "OK".

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

As mentioned earlier, yous can likewise change Windows ten location settings when you first ready upwardly the Os. This geolocation service setting is often missed by users.

Turn location services on during setup

When Windows ten prompts you lot to "Choose privacy settings for your device", find the "Location" subheading, toggle information technology to "Yes", and click "Take".
Turn off location services during setup

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