Windows 10 has several location-based features, which need to access your current location in order to work. If you’re a privacy-conscious individual, there is a workaround which lets you use location-based features without enabling location access in Windows 10.
If you don’t mind Windows tracking your location you can enable location access from Settings -> Privacy-> Location. Otherwise, keep reading to find out how you can still use location-based features without Windows tracking your current location.
How to use location-based features without enabling location access in Windows 10
First of all, the Location options provided by Windows enable you to select exactly which apps can use your current location, provided you enabled “Location service”.
But if that’s not enough for you, and you don’t want Windows 10 to track your location at all, there is a way you can still use location-based apps like weather and Cortana, for example.
Microsoft knows that even with location service enabled, sometimes they won’t be able to access your location. For this reason, you can set a default location which can also be used if location service is disabled.
To do this, open the Maps app and tap on the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner. Select “Settings”.
Scroll down a bit until you locate the “Change default location” option and click on it.
Now you just need to select the new location and click on “Set default location”.
Keeping location services disabled and using just the default location can make some features available from location-based apps such as Night Light and weather information. Night Light needs your location in order to calculate sunrise and sunset times and for this purpose, the default location will suffice.
However, some features such as receiving driving directions in the Maps app, location-based reminders, and Cortana suggestions for nearby places require location services enabled.
