Enable or Disable Location Services in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to turn location services on or off in Windows 10. You’ll learn the exact steps for both the system-wide setting and per-app permissions, plus how to clear your location history. This is useful if you want apps like Maps or Weather to know your location, or if you prefer more privacy and want to block all location access.

What You’ll Need

A PC running Windows 10 (any edition).
An administrator account (required to change some location settings).
If you’re using a laptop or tablet, make sure it has a GPS or other location sensor (most modern devices do).

Step-by-Step

Open Settings. Click the Start button (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner, then click the gear icon labeled “Settings.” Alternatively, press Windows + I on your keyboard.
Go to Privacy. In the Settings window, click the “Privacy” tile (it has a lock icon).
Select Location. In the left sidebar, scroll down and click “Location.” This opens the main location settings page.
Turn off (or on) Location Services. At the top of the Location page, you’ll see a toggle labeled “Location services.” If it’s off, click it to turn it on; if it’s on, click it to turn it off. This is the master switch for all location access on the device.
Confirm the change. If you turned it off, a small confirmation dialog may appear asking if you want to turn off location services. Click “Turn off” to confirm.
Manage per-app permissions (optional). Below the master toggle, you’ll see a list of apps that can use your location. Each app has its own toggle. You can turn off location for individual apps without disabling the master switch.
Clear location history (optional). On the same page, click the “Clear” button under “Location history.” This deletes the stored location data that Windows has collected for your device.
Set a default location (optional). If you want Windows to use a specific location when your device can’t detect it (e.g., a desktop with no GPS), scroll down and click “Set default.” Then choose a location on the map.

Common Mistakes

Turning off the master switch but expecting individual apps to still work. When you disable “Location services,” all apps lose access to your location. If you want only some apps to have it, leave the master on and turn off the toggles for the apps you don’t want.
Forgetting to check the “Allow apps to access your location” toggle. There is a second toggle under “Location services” that says “Allow apps to access your location.” Even if the master is on, if this is off, no apps can use your location. Make sure it’s set as you want.
Not restarting an app after changing settings. Some apps may not pick up the change until you close and reopen them.
Assuming the setting is global. Location settings are per-user. If you have multiple accounts on the PC, each account has its own location settings.

Tips

Use the Quick Actions menu. You can quickly toggle location services from the Action Center (click the speech bubble icon in the taskbar, then click the Location tile). This is faster than going through Settings, but note that it only toggles the master switch, not per-app permissions.
Check the “Location history” periodically. Windows stores a history of your location. If you’re privacy-conscious, clear it regularly or turn off the master switch entirely.
For laptops/tablets, consider battery life. Turning off location services can slightly extend battery life because the GPS and Wi-Fi scanning aren’t being used.
Use the “Default location” for desktops. If your PC doesn’t have GPS (common with desktop towers), setting a default location helps apps that rely on location (like Weather) work better.

Troubleshooting

Can’t turn off location services (grayed out). This usually means you’re not signed in with an administrator account. Log in with an admin account or ask the admin to change the setting. Also, some enterprise or school PCs may have location locked by policy – contact your IT admin.
Apps still show my location after turning off. First, make sure you turned off both the master “Location services” and the “Allow apps to access your location” toggles. Then restart the app. If it still persists, the app might be using your IP address to estimate location – that’s not controlled by Windows location settings.
Location services won’t turn on. If the toggle is stuck, try restarting your PC. If that doesn’t work, check if your device has a physical switch for GPS (some laptops have a wireless switch that also disables GPS). Also, update your device drivers via Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager > look for “Sensors” or “Location” devices).
“Location is unavailable” in apps. This can happen if the master is on but the app-specific toggle is off, or if the device can’t get a GPS fix (e.g., indoors). Try moving near a window or check if the app has permission in the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off location services affect “Find My Device”?

Yes. The “Find my device” feature in Windows 10 uses location services to locate your PC if it’s lost. If you turn off location services, “Find my device” won’t be able to determine your PC’s location.

Will turning off location services stop Windows Update from working?

No. Windows Update doesn’t rely on your location. It uses your IP address to determine region, but that’s not affected by location services.

Can I set location services to be on only for certain apps?

Yes. Keep the master toggle on, then scroll down to the app list and turn off the toggle for each app you don’t want to have access. You can also choose “Allow apps to access your location” to be on, but then individually disable apps.

What is the difference between “Location services” and “Allow apps to access your location”?

The first is the master switch for the entire location feature. The second is a sub-switch that specifically controls whether apps can use location. If the master is off, the sub-switch is irrelevant. If the master is on but the sub-switch is off, no apps can use location.

How do I clear my location history?

Go to Settings > Privacy > Location. Under “Location history,” click the “Clear” button. This deletes the stored location data on your device.

Does location services work when my PC is in sleep mode?

No. Location services only work when the PC is fully awake and running. When in sleep or hibernate, the location sensor is powered off.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →