Location accuracy can do a lot in today’s times. In a browser, it would mean customized search results, personalized recommendations, etc. If Microsoft Edge on your PC is detecting the wrong geographical location, this guide will help you.
There are many pros and cons that come with accurate geolocation by Microsoft Edge. You will see news, ads, and other data related to your location. Some people don’t care about this and some people absolutely hate this. It is almost tracking your likes and interests along with your geographical location. Let’s see how we can make Microsoft Edge detect the accurate geographical location.
Microsoft Edge detects the wrong Geographical Location
If Microsoft Edge detects the wrong location on your Windows 11/10 PC, you can fix it in the following ways.
- Set Default location in the Windows Settings app
- Allow location access to Microsoft Edge
- Turn off VPN
- Clear cookies and site data
- Check status of Geolocation Service
Let’s get into the details of each method.
1] Set Default location in the Windows Settings app
You might not have set the default location in the Windows Settings app until now. Set it so that all the programs that need to use location services can take it as a reference.
To set the default location on Windows,
- Open the Windows Settings app
- Click on Privacy & security in the left sidebar
- Then, click on the Location tab
- First clear the Location History here
- Then locate the Default Location tab.
- Click on the Set default button beside it.
To set the default location, you need to have the Windows Maps application on your PC. If you don’t have it installed on your PC, install it from the Microsoft Store.
Then, click again on Set default under the Default location section which will take you to Windows Maps. In Windows Maps, point or search your default location and set it as default.
If you have already set a Location earlier, you can use the Clear location and then the Change button instead.
2] Allow location access to Microsoft Edge
Many websites request location access when we open them on Microsoft Edge. You need to click Allow for them to detect your accurate location. Before that, you need to enable Location Services in the Windows Settings app. It allows apps that need location access to use location services.
To enable Location services,
- Open the Windows Settings app
- Click on Privacy & security
- Click on the Location tab
- Then, toggle the button on beside Location services on the top of the page.
- Also configure the Let apps access my location settings as required.
3] Turn off VPN
If programs are not given access to the location, they detect the location based on the IP address. If you are using a VPN, it will be impossible for programs to detect the correct location. Turning it off might fix the issue. Open the VPN program on your PC and turn it off. Also, disable Kill Switch in the Settings of your VPN app to enable the internet to be used without a VPN.
4] Clear cookies and site data
Some websites ask for location access when visited for the first time. If you had given access while using a VPN or while away from your location, it might have picked the wrong location. To change that, you need to clear the cookies and site data. After clearing them, visit the website again to see the location prompt and allow it to get the correct geographical location.
5] Check status of Geolocation Service
Open Services Manager, locate the Geolocation Service and ensure that it is Running and its Startup type is set to Manual (Triggered).
These are the different ways you can use when Microsoft Edge detects the wrong geographical location.
Read: How to change User Agent and Geolocation in Edge Developer Tools
Why does my computer detect my location wrong?
You might have turned off the Location Services in the Settings app or never allowed any apps to access the location. You can fix it by enabling Location services, setting the default location, and allowing the browser to access the location when prompted. No matter which browser you use, you need to enable location services to allow it to detect your location.
How do I change my geolocation in Microsoft Edge?
To change the geolocation in Microsoft Edge, open Wdge Settings, click on the Cookies and site permission section and find the Location panel. You will be able to change the location as per your requirements. If you do not see a setting here, open Windows Settings, click on Privacy & security > Location. You will see the Default Location tab. Click on the Set default button. Windows Maps app will open. Set or change the location as per your requirement and click on the Set location button.
Read next: How to allow or block Cookies in Microsoft Edge.
This is how we can set accurate geographical locations on Microsoft Edge. If you have any doubts or suggestions, please do comment below in the comments section.
