Location Disabled on 1 of 4 devices on same MS account.

John Giles 0 Reputation points
2026-09-26T19:54:38.8366667+00:00

Location disabled on Desktop Windows 11 25H2 26200.9550. Settings correct. Logged in as adminstrator. Tried suggestions for registry and services settings. Location services and app access are on. Default app address is correct. This system is not a school or work account.

Registry Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows does not have location entry.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Security and privacy
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  1. Alex-L 12,745 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-29T07:06:03.7766667+00:00

    Hi John Giles

    Since the issue only affects one device on the same Microsoft account and you've already verified the normal Location settings, services, and policy-related checks, it may be worth testing whether the location platform itself is corrupted on that PC.

    Try opening an elevated Command Prompt and running:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

    Then restart and test Location again.

    If the problem persists, does the Location page show any error message, or is the Location toggle missing/greyed out? A screenshot of Settings > Privacy & security > Location may help identify whether this is a UI issue, a permissions issue, or a problem with the Windows location service itself.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-26T19:54:56.3866667+00:00

    If Location services and Let apps access your location are already on, the remaining checks supported here are the effective policy state and the Geolocation service state.

    1. Check whether a policy is still disabling location.
      • Open Registry Editor.
      • Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\LocationAndSensors.
      • If DisableLocation exists and is set to 1, location is being turned off by policy.
      • For the Windows Location Provider policy, also check whether DisableWindowsLocationProvider is being applied under the same policy area.
      • If a policy is enforcing either setting, the UI can remain locked or ineffective even when the Settings page shows location options.
    2. Verify the Geolocation Service.
      • Open Services (services.msc).
      • Find Geolocation Service.
      • Make sure the service is not disabled. The supported guidance here is that it should be Manual or Automatic / Automatic Trigger Start so location can function.
    3. Restart the device after any change.
      • This is specifically recommended after correcting policy or service state.
    4. Confirm the Settings page state again.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location.
      • Verify Location services is On.
      • Verify Let apps access your location is On.
      • Check whether the affected app appears under the app list and is allowed.
    5. If the issue is app-specific, use the app troubleshooting path.
      • In Settings > Privacy & security > Location, confirm:
        1. Location services is On.
        2. The app is listed and set to On under Let apps access your location.
        3. The device has working GPS or network-based positioning available.
    6. If this is a remote or virtual session, check location override.
      • On both local and remote devices, Location services must be On.
      • The remote connection app must have location permission.
      • On the remote device, Allow location override must be On.

    About the missing HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Location entry: the supported material here does not require that key to exist for normal location operation. The documented policy locations for disabling location are under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\LocationAndSensors.

    If the device is on Word Version 2511 (Build 19426.20260), Monthly Enterprise Channel, and the symptom is the Word banner “Location is turned off in system settings”, that is a known issue with a fix deployed in Build 19530.20220 or newer. A workaround exists using the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\WebView2 DefaultGeolocationSetting = 2 policy. Warning: registry changes can cause serious system problems if done incorrectly; back up the registry first.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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