How to Set, Change, or Clear Default Location for Windows 10 PC


Some apps need to know when you’re in a specific location to work correctly. For instance, if you’ve asked an app to remind you to buy bread when you’re in the grocery store, the app will need to know when you’re in the store. To give you maps to get you where you’re going, or to show you lists of shops or restaurants near you, many apps and services request location information from your device. That’s what the Windows 10 location service does: tells your apps and services where you are or where you’ve been, so that you can get info more relevant to you.

You can set a default location for your device that Windows, apps, and services can then use when a more exact location can’t be detected using GPS or other methods.

See also: Windows 10 location service and privacy | Microsoft Support

This tutorial will show you how set, change, or clear the default location of your Windows 10 device for your account that Windows, apps, and services can use when a more exact location cannot be detected.

Contents

• Option One: To Set Default Location for Windows 10 PC
• Option Two: To Change Default Location for Windows 10 PC
• Option Three: To Clear Default Location for Windows 10 PC

OPTION ONE

To Set Default Location for Windows 10 PC

1 Do step 2 (Maps) or step 3 (Settings) below for how you want to set your default location.

 2. To Set Default Location from Maps app

A) Open the Maps app.

B) Click/tap on the See more (3 dots) button at the top right in Maps, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)

C) Click/tap on the Change default location button under Default location, and go to step 4. (see screenshot below)

 3. To Set Default Location from Settings

A) Open Settings, and click/tap on the Privacy icon.

B) Click/tap on Location on the left side in Settings, and click/tap on the Set default button under Default location on the right side, and go to step 4. (see screenshot below)

4 Click/tap on Set default location. (see screenshot below)

5 Do step 6 (enter) or step 3 (choose) below for how you want to set your default location.

 6. To Enter Default Location

A) Start typing your location (ex: address), select the location if/when available in the drop menu, and go to step 8. (see screenshot below)

 7. To Choose Default Location on Map

A) Click/tap on the Enter your location field, and click/tap on Choose location in the drop menu. (see screenshot below)

B) Drag the target over the location you want on the map until you see the correct location in the Choose location dialog box. (see screenshot below)

C) Click/tap on Set when you have the correct location selected, and go to step 8.

8 You can now close Settings and/or the Maps app if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Change Default Location for Windows 10 PC

1 Do step 2 (Maps) or step 3 (Settings) below for how you want to change your default location.

 2. To Change Default Location from Maps app

A) Open the Maps app.

B) Click/tap on the See more (3 dots) button at the top right in Maps, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)

C) Click/tap on the Change default location button under Default location, and go to step 4. (see screenshot below)

 3. To Change Default Location from Settings

A) Open Settings, and click/tap on the Privacy icon.

B) Click/tap on Location on the left side in Settings, and click/tap on the Set default button under Default location on the right side, and go to step 4. (see screenshot below)

4 Click/tap on Change. (see screenshot below)

5 Do step 6 (enter) or step 3 (choose) below for how you want to change your default location.

 6. To Enter Default Location

A) Start typing your location (ex: address), select the location if/when available in the drop menu, and go to step 8. (see screenshot below)

 7. To Choose Default Location on Map

A) Click/tap on the Enter your location field, and click/tap on Choose location in the drop menu. (see screenshot below)

B) Drag the target over the location you want on the map until you see the correct location in the Choose location dialog box. (see screenshot below)

C) Click/tap on Set when you have the correct location selected, and go to step 8.

8 You can now close Settings and/or the Maps app if you like.

OPTION THREE

To Clear Default Location for Windows 10 PC

1 Do step 2 (Maps) or step 3 (Settings) below for how you want to clear (remove) your default location.

 2. To Clear Default Location from Maps app

A) Open the Maps app.

B) Click/tap on the See more (3 dots) button at the top right in Maps, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)

C) Click/tap on the Change default location button under Default location, and go to step 4. (see screenshot below)

 3. To Clear Default Location from Settings

A) Open Settings, and click/tap on the Privacy icon.

B) Click/tap on Location on the left side in Settings, and click/tap on the Set default button under Default location on the right side, and go to step 4. (see screenshot below)

4 Click/tap on Clear location. (see screenshot below)

5 You can now close Settings and/or the Maps app if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

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