How To Turn ON or OFF Location Tracking in Windows 10

Learn how to turn on or off the location tracking feature in Windows 10 as and when needed in simple and easy steps.

Windows 10 has a built-in location-tracking feature that allows the operating system and installed apps to track your approximate location. The location accuracy depends on whether your system has GPS. While this feature is pretty helpful and allows Windows to tailor your experience according to your current location, there might be times when you’d like to turn it off. For example, maybe you don’t want to share your location with the system or app.

Thankfully, Windows 10 lets you turn off the location tracking completely or block specific apps from accessing your location data with just a few clicks. Of course, when needed, you can just as easily turn on the location tracking.

In this quick and easy guide, let me show you the steps to enable and disable location tracking in Windows 10. Let’s get started.

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Before You Start

• Keep in mind that turning off location services in Windows 10 disables features such as “Find my device”.

Steps To Turn Off Location Tracking Completely

1. Open the Settings app by pressing the “Windows key + I”.
2. Click “Privacy“.
3. Select “Location” on the sidebar.
4. Click “Change” under the “Location for this device” heading.
5. Turn OFF the “Location for this device” toggle.
6. Close the Settings app.
7. With that, you have completely turned off location services in Windows 10.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First, open the Settings app in Windows 10 by pressing the “Windows key + I” keyboard shortcut. Alternatively, click the “All Settings” button in the Notification Center.

In the Settings app, click the “Privacy” option and then go to the “Location” tab on the sidebar. This is the page that hosts all the location service settings in Windows 10. Here, click the “Change” button under the “Allow access to location on this device” section and then turn OFF the “Location for this device” toggle.

That is all. With that, you’ve fully disabled the location services in Windows 10. From now on, apps that use Windows 10 location services cannot access your location data.

Steps To Block Specific Apps From Accessing Your Location Data

Note: Before following the steps below, ensure location service is turned ON. If not, follow the next section to turn it on.

Rather than disabling the location services (location tracking) entirely, you can block specific apps from accessing and using your location data. It is pretty simple to do. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing the “Windows key + I”.
2. Click “Privacy“.
3. Select “Location” on the sidebar.
4. Scroll down to the “Choose which apps can access your precise location” section.
5. Turn OFF the toggles next to the apps you want to block.
6. With that, you’ve blocked apps from accessing your location.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

Right-click the “Windows” icon on the taskbar and select the “Settings” option. You can also press the “Windows key + I”. This opens the Settings app. Once it opens, click the “Privacy” option and then go to the “Location” tab on the left sidebar.

Next, scroll down to the “Choose which apps can access your precise location” section, find the app you want to block, and turn it OFF.

Optionally, you can allow or prevent desktop apps from accessing your location by turning the “Allow desktop apps to access your location” toggle on or off.

With that, you’ve blocked specific apps from accessing the location service in Windows 10.

Steps To Turn ON Location Tracking in Windows 10

If you want to allow Windows and other apps to access your location, you need to turn ON the location tracking. Here’s how.

1. Open the Settings app by pressing the “Windows key + I”.
2. Click “Privacy“.
3. Select “Location” on the sidebar.
4. Click “Change” under the “Location for this device” heading.
5. Turn ON the “Location for this device” toggle.
6. Close the Settings app.
7. With that, you have turned on location services in Windows 10.

That is all. It is that simple to turn on or off location tracking (location service) in Windows 10. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.

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