In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location. The page separates the device-wide Location services switch from access for apps on your account; listed apps can have individual location permissions when account access is on.
Turn location services on or off
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Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location.
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To change location services for the whole device, switch Location services on or off. Microsoft says this device-level setting is available to administrators; if you do not administer the device, you may not see it.
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To control location access for your own account, switch Let apps access your location on or off. This account-level control cannot be enabled while device Location services is off.
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The two switches have different scopes: the device setting governs location services on the device, while the account setting governs apps’ access for that user. On a work- or school-managed device, organizational policy may also affect which settings you can change.
Choose which apps can use precise location
With Let apps access your location on, use the app controls on the Location page to allow or block access for individual listed apps. Windows can also show when a listed app last accessed location. These permissions apply to the apps shown there; they are not a universal control for every program.
Windows distinguishes approximate location from the most accurate, or precise, location it can determine. The available controls depend on the app and its support for Windows location permissions. For the broader permission model, see Microsoft’s Windows privacy settings that apps use and App permissions.
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Set or remove a default location
A default location is a fallback for Windows, apps, and services when they cannot detect a more exact location. Microsoft especially recommends setting one on desktop computers and devices without Wi-Fi.
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On the Location page, find Default location and select Set default.
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Choose a point on the map or enter an address, then save it.
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To remove it, clear the saved address and save again.
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A default location is not the same as changing the device’s detected current location: it supplies a fallback when a more exact location is unavailable.
What Windows location settings do—and do not—control
Windows can use several signals
Windows may estimate location from GPS, nearby wireless access points and routers, cell towers, an IP address, or a saved default location. Location can support directions and nearby places, as well as Windows features such as automatic time zone and Find my device. See Microsoft’s Windows location service and privacy.
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Some desktop apps are outside the listed app controls
Desktop apps often do not appear in the per-app permission list and may handle data differently. Review the location and privacy settings of those applications, along with their privacy policies. Microsoft explains these exceptions in Windows desktop apps and privacy.
Turning off Location services does not prevent every location estimate
Microsoft notes that some third-party software may use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular, or other technologies even when Windows Location services is off. The Windows switches should therefore not be treated as a promise that a device cannot be located or that every location signal is blocked.
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Microsoft Support states: “whenever you make an emergency call Windows will attempt to determine and share your precise location regardless of your location settings.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Location history: what changed in March 2025
Microsoft says local storage of location history and its associated settings were removed in March 2025. Older instructions to clear local location history from the Windows 11 Location page no longer apply.
If you are signed in to a Microsoft account, last-known location may also be saved in the cloud. To manage account-associated location activity, sign in at account.microsoft.com, select Clear location activity, and then clear it.
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