The Privacy Trade-off
Windows 10 includes a built-in location tracking service that attempts to determine your PC’s physical location. It does this by triangulating nearby Wi-Fi networks and IP addresses, similar to how a smartphone works. This information is then used by the operating system and various apps to provide location-aware features, such as giving you local weather updates, adjusting your time zone automatically, or helping you find your device if it is lost.
However, many users feel uncomfortable with their operating system constantly maintaining a record of their location history and sharing it with third-party apps from the Microsoft Store. If you use a desktop PC that never moves, or if you simply prioritize your privacy over hyper-localized search results, you can completely disable this tracking subsystem at the operating system level.
How to Turn Off Global Location Tracking
You can disable the location service for your entire device in the Privacy settings.
- Click the Start button (or press the Windows key) and click the Gear icon on the left side to open Settings.
- In the Settings window, click on Privacy.
- In the left-hand sidebar, under the “App permissions” section, click on Location.
- Look for a section near the top that says “Allow access to location on this device.”
- Click the Change button below that text.
- A small popup will appear with a toggle switch. Toggle the switch to the Off position.
This disables the location tracking service globally. No apps, not even built-in Windows features, will be able to request your physical location from the operating system. If an app requires a location (like a maps app), it will typically ask you to enter a zip code or city name manually.