Windows 10 has a location function whereby the operating system establishes the location of your computer. We explain how to change the settings or disable this feature.
Some applications need to know the specific location of the computer to function properly. This happens, for example, with personalized reminders based on location or with the tool to find the device. This is why Windows 10 has a location service, which is what allows programs to know the approximate location of a PC.
To determine the location of a computer, Microsoft’s location service uses a combination of the global positioning system (GPS), nearby wireless access points, cell towers, and your IP address. With all this information, Windows 10 establishes where your PC is and sends the information to Microsoft.
If you don’t want to send the location of your computer to those in Redmond, you have the ability to disable the location in Windows 10 . It is a very simple process and these are the steps you have to follow:
- Click on the Start button and then click on the gear-shaped icon to access the settings section.
- Next, click on Privacy and then on Location, an option located in the menu in the left column under the heading Application permissions.
- Now, press the Change button in the Allow access to the location on this device section,and slide the slider so that the box indicates Disabled.
If you prefer, instead of disabling location entirely, Windows 10 allows you to restrict access to your precise location to a group of applications . To do this, follow these steps:
- Head to Settings> Privacy> Location.
- Make sure that the location services are activated, both the general permission and the permission to the applications.
- Scroll to the heading Choose which applications can access your precise locationand uncheck the box of the application that you do not want to provide your location to.
