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In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location. Turn on Let apps access your location, then use the switches beside listed apps to control their access to precise location. These controls apply to the signed-in user and do not cover every traditional desktop program.
Change location access in Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location. Microsoft documents this route in its Windows location service and privacy guidance.
- Check Location services. This is the device-wide setting. If it is unavailable or off, an administrator may control it; Microsoft says non-administrators do not see the device-level control. On a work-managed device, contact your administrator if the setting is managed.
- To control access for your own account, switch Let apps access your location on or off. You cannot turn on user-level app access while device Location services is off.
- With user access on, review the app-specific switches on the page. They govern which listed apps can access precise location. The page may also show when an app last used it.
For the distinction between Store-style apps and desktop programs, see Microsoft’s Windows desktop apps and privacy and App permissions guidance.
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What each location switch controls
Device-wide Location services
This is the broadest setting. Turning it off prevents Windows and apps from accessing device location through Windows Location services, and can affect features such as maps or automatic time zone. Microsoft notes that some apps may also lose access to information about nearby Wi-Fi networks.
Let apps access your location
This is the current user’s general permission for apps to use location. Turning it off restricts app access for that user without changing the device-wide setting for other users.
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Individual app switches
These let you restrict one listed app while leaving location available to other apps that need it. The app controls described on this page concern precise location; do not assume a disabled switch is a complete audit of every program installed on the PC.
Why an app may not appear in the list
Traditional Windows desktop apps may not request a Windows privacy permission and may not appear in the location app list. Microsoft defines desktop apps broadly: they can be downloaded from the Store, the internet, or removable media and launched through executable files. Being available through the Store does not necessarily mean a program is governed by the Windows privacy list.
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For a desktop app, check its own settings and privacy policy to see whether it collects or uses location and how to restrict that access. Windows’ switches cannot guarantee that third-party software will not infer an approximate location from other signals.
Approximate and precise location
Windows may estimate location using GPS, nearby wireless access points and routers, cell towers, IP address, or a default location. The result depends on the device’s capabilities and which signals are available. Coarse location is approximate and obfuscated; precise location is the most accurate location the system can determine.
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Turning off Windows location is broader than disabling one listed app, but it is not a promise that all software will be unable to estimate where you are. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular technologies, and IP address can provide other clues. Review the privacy information and controls of apps you trust with sensitive data.
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The Location page can show apps currently using precise location or that accessed it recently, sometimes with the date and time. A location icon may also appear in the taskbar notification area while Windows Location services is in use.
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If you use a Microsoft account, a last-known location may be saved to the cloud when location is used. You can view or clear account-associated location activity in the Microsoft account privacy dashboard. This cloud activity is separate from local location history: Microsoft says local location-history storage and its associated settings were removed in March 2025.
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Exceptions to keep in mind
- Emergency calls: Microsoft says Windows attempts to determine and share precise location for emergency calls regardless of location settings.
- Limited IP-based features: Some Windows features may use an IP address for contextual information, such as local weather, even when Location services is off.
- Managed settings: An administrator or organization may control location settings on a managed PC.
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