How to use Location-based apps without enabling Location Service on Windows 10

 

Most of us allow our Windows 10 computers to use the Location Service as it helps various apps like Maps, Cortana, Weather, etc, give us a better experience. For example, if you want to know about the direction to a particular place from your current location the system knows the starting point already. However, if you do not want to enable Location Service but still want to get a better experience from the apps, here is how you can use location-based apps without enabling Location Service.

There are many people, who do not want to enable Location Service since Microsoft gathers your information based on location. However, if you do not enable Location Service, you may miss various interesting things such as weather forecast, and more. Also, many people want to protect their ‘privacy’ by disabling the Location Service. For them, this trick will be useful.

Use Location-based apps without enabling Location Service

This trick works only on Microsoft apps such as Maps, Weather, etc. Other third-party websites may require you to enable the Location Service. Microsoft has offered an option called

Microsoft has offered an option called Default location. This particular feature allows users to set a location as the default location. If you set a location via this option, all the location based apps will start considering that as your current location. Since you do not have to enable Location Service, nobody will track you.

To get started, first, you need to disable Location Service. For that, open Settings on your Windows 10 machine. You can press Win+I buttons together or find the “Settings” button in the Win + X menu.

Next, go to Privacy > Location. On the right-hand side, you will see a Change button under the text called Location for this device is on. Click on that button and use the toggle button to turn On Location Service on your Windows 10 computer.

Use Location-based apps without enabling Location Service

Now click on the Set Default button visible under Default location option. The Maps app will pop up.

On the top-left corner, you will find an option called Set default location.

How to use location based apps without enabling Location Service

Click on it and enter an address to use that as your default location. After this place appears on the map hit the Change button.

That’s it! Hope you find this simple trick useful.

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