Win 10 / 11 · Security

Stop Windows tracking your location

Your PC knows where you are — and most apps don't need to either. Cut it off at the source.

DifficultyEasy
Time5 min
RiskLow
ReversibleYes
PlatformWin 10 / 11
UpdatedAug 18, 2026

Written and tested by emdottech

What that means

Low risk. This fix only checks things, or changes settings you can switch back in the same place. This change is reversible — you can return to the previous state without professional help or data loss.

Windows location privacy panel with location services off, per-app access under review, history cleared, and browser site prompts blocked

Steps

01
- Settings → Privacy & Security → Location → toggle 'Location services' off for a full cutoff, or leave it on and switch off individual apps below
02
- Under 'Let apps access your location', turn off games, social apps and anything you don't recognise — most never needed it in the first place
03
- Scroll to Location historyClear— turning tracking off doesn't delete what's already been recorded
04
- In each browser:site permissionsLocationblock sites from asking(Chrome:Privacy and securitySite SettingsLocation)
05
- Need it off fast for a meeting or trip? WinA → Airplane mode kills Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and location in one tap

How to verify the fix

Location services show off (or per-app off) in Settings, and apps no longer prompt for your location.

If this didn't fix it

An app still asks for location after you toggled it off — check the per-app list under Let apps access your location.

Next stop: the related fixes below, or start a guided diagnosis.

Still stuck? Diagnose my problem Browse all Windows fixes

Stop Windows tracking your location

Steps

✓How to verify the fix

!If this didn't fix it

Related fixes

How to verify the fix

If this didn't fix it