How-To

Understanding Your Location is Currently in Use on Windows 11

By Adam Davidson

Published June 24, 2024

Does Windows sometimes tell you that your location is currently in use? Here’s what it means and how to take control of it.

Location, location, location. The old adage goes that these are the three most important considerations in real estate. It’s clever, see, because they’ve said the same thing three times. That’s why realtors earn the big bucks.

Location can also be important when you’re using your computer, too. If you’re creating a spreadsheet, your computer probably doesn’t need to know where it is. If you’re trying to find the quickest way from your location to the nearest pizza place, however, then understandably, knowing where you’re currently located can definitely help.

When you’re using Windows 11, your computer can use certain information to determine your location and can share this information with apps. When you do so, you may see a message pop up on your screen: Your location is currently in use.

This is Windows letting you know that an app or service is using your current location so that you can decide whether you think that’s a good idea or not. Here’s what you need to know about location services in Windows 11.

What Does Your Location is Currently in Use Mean?

Windows 11 has a location service feature that can identify where in the world your Windows 11 computer is located. It uses information such as your IP address, Wi-Fi access points, mobile data connections, as well as GPS if your device has it, to calculate your geographic location so that it can provide this information to apps and services that may require it.

When you see a notification in Windows 11 that your location is currently in use, it means that one or more apps that are currently running are making use of your location information. The notification is intended to let you know that your location is being used so that you can decide whether you’re happy to let those apps use your location, or whether you want to turn the feature off.

The accuracy of your location will depend on the hardware in your device; if your device contains GPS, it is likely to be a far more accurate estimate of your location than one generated from your IP address.

How to Turn Location Services Off in Windows 11

If you don’t like the idea of apps and services knowing your location, you can choose to turn off location services. This will stop any native or third-party apps that use Windows location information from accessing your location. However, some third-party apps may generate their own location information. These apps may still track your location if you’ve permitted them to do so when setting up the apps.

1. Right-click the Start icon.
   
2. Select Settings.
   
3. In the left-hand menu, click Privacy & Security.
   
4. Scroll down and click Location under App Permissions.
   
5. Toggle Location Services off.
   

How to Change the Location Settings for Specific Apps in Windows 11

Turning off location services stops any apps that use Windows location information from being able to access your location. However, if there are specific apps that would like to have location information and others that you wouldn’t, you can change the settings on an app-by-app basis.

1. Right-click the Start icon.
   
2. Click Settings.
3. Select Privacy & Security from the left-hand menu.
   
4. Scroll down and click Location.
   
5. Ensure Location Services is on.
   
6. Toggle Let Apps Access Your Location on.
   
7. Toggle individual apps on or off, depending on whether you want them to have access to your location information or not.
   

How to Set a Default Location in Windows 11

If your computer doesn’t have a GPS, you may find that the location generated by the Windows 11 location service isn’t particularly accurate. For apps such as the Weather app, for example, you may be getting forecasts for a location some distance from where you actually are. If this is the case, you can set a default location that Windows can use, so that your localized results are more accurate.

1. Right-click the Start icon.
   
2. Select Settings.
   
3. In the left-hand menu, click Privacy & Security.
   
4. Select Location.
   
5. In Default Location, click the Set Default button.
   
6. Click Set Default Location.
   
7. Enter a location or click Choose Location to select one on the map.
   
8. Click Set to confirm your default location.
   
9. Windows will now use this location when a more precise location can’t be determined.

How to Clear Your Location History in Windows 11

Some apps can make use of your location history as well as your current location, to provide more accurate information. By default, when your location is looked up by an app, the information will be stored on your computer for 24 hours before being deleted. However,  you can choose to manually delete this location history if you wish. It’s important to know that some apps may have stored your location history too, so removing it from your computer may not remove it from these apps.

1. Right-click the Start icon.
   
2. Click Settings.
3. Select Privacy & Security from the left-hand menu.
   
4. Scroll down and click Location.
   
5. Find Location History and click the Clear button.
   
6. Your location history is deleted.

How Can I Tell When Windows 11 Uses My Location?

If Windows 11 uses your location, you’ll see an icon appear in the taskbar.

This icon indicates that your location is currently being used. You can also see a list of all the recent location requests from apps and services on your computer in the Windows settings.

1. Right-click the Start icon.
   
2. Select Settings.
   
3. In the left-hand menu, click Privacy & Security.
   
4. Select Location.
   
5. Scroll down and expand Recent Activity.
6. You’ll see a list of all the most recent location requests.
   

Why Does Windows 11 Need My Location?

Many apps provide information that can be much more accurate when using your precise location. For example, the Weather app in Windows 11 can give you a forecast for anywhere on the planet, but unless it knows where you are, it won’t be able to give you a local forecast.

Third-party apps may also require your location to work properly. For example, if you’re using the Google Maps website in Microsoft Edge, the app may ask for your permission to share your location, so that Google Maps can provide your current location on the map.

There may be times, however, when an app doesn’t need to know where you are. If you find that an app is accessing your location when it doesn’t really need it, you can turn off location services altogether, or turn it off for that specific app.

Understanding the Windows Location Service

Hopefully, this article has given you a clearer understanding of what it means when Windows 11 tells you that your location is currently in use. The feature can be useful for providing more accurate information, such as local news and weather, but you may also prefer to keep location services turned off.

The good news is that you can choose whether or not to use Windows location services. You can even decide on an app-by-app basis which apps are allowed access. However, you should be mindful that third-party apps may still be able to determine your location from information such as your IP address or Wi-Fi network, even if location services are turned off in Windows 11.