In this post, we will show you how to disable or enable ‘Notify when apps request location’ in Windows 11. Microsoft has recently released this feature in the Windows Insider Builds, but these Windows Location Improvements will be rolled out to the Stable versions too soon.
Microsoft runs a Location service that enables a device to determine its physical location using the built-in GPS hardware, nearby Wi-Fi networks, or the device’s IP address. The Location Settings in Windows manage this service.
Under Windows Location Improvements, Microsoft is adding new controls to help users manage which apps can access their nearby Wi-Fi networks to determine their precise location. As part of these controls, a prompt will also appear the first time an app tries to access your location or Wi-Fi information. ‘Notify when apps request location‘ is the (new) setting that will help you hide these prompts when your location settings are turned off.
Disable or Enable Notify when apps request location in Windows 11
You can disable or enable ‘Notify when apps request location‘ through Privacy settings in Windows. After updating your system to Build 25977 (or later), you will start seeing prompts for apps requesting permission to use GPS or Wi-Fi signals to access your location. This is how the new location prompt looks:
These prompts can enable location services on your PC and allow the apps to access your location to complete tasks such as finding directions, providing localized weather forecasts, etc. You can see the list of apps that use your location or Wi-Fi information within the Recent activity section on the Location settings page. A location icon will also appear in the taskbar area while the apps are in use.
If you do not want to share your location with any third-party app, you can simply disable the ‘Notify when apps request location’ setting.
Disable or Enable ‘Notify when apps request location’
Click on the Start button icon and select Settings. Windows Settings page will appear. Click on Privacy & security in the left panel (second option from the bottom).
Scroll down in the right panel and click on Location under App permissions.
The next screen will allow you to manage location settings on your Windows 11 PC. Locate the ‘Notify when apps request location‘ option on this screen. You will see a toggle next to the option.
The default state of the toggle is ‘On’, which means the setting is enabled by default. To disable (or re-enable) the setting, you may click on the On/Off toggle.
Note:
- To adjust permissions for location access, you may need to have administrative privileges.
- If you disable ‘Notify when apps request location’, Windows will no longer notify you if an app is blocked from accessing your current location. While many apps will still work without accessing your location, a few may not work properly until you enable the setting.
Use Windows Registry to Disable or Enable ‘Notify when apps request location’
There’s a registry hack using which you can disable or enable location prompts on your Windows 11/10 PC. However, before making any changes, make sure to take a backup of the registry. This will help you revert to the previous state if something goes wrong.
Press Win+R and type regedit in the Run dialogue. Press Enter and click on the Yes option in the User Account Control prompt.
Windows Registry Editor will open on your desktop screen. Navigate to the following location in the left panel of the editor window:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location
Right-click in the right panel and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Rename the key as ShowGlobalPrompts.
Double-click the key and set the Value data to 1, keeping Base as Decimal. You’ve now enabled notifications for location access requests by third-party apps.
To disable these notifications, set the Value data to 0.
That’s it. I hope you find this useful.
Read: Get notified when a program adds itself to the Startup list in Windows.
How do I turn on location permissions in Windows 11?
Press the Win+I keys on your keyboard. Windows Settings will appear. Click on the Privacy & security option in the left panel. In the right panel, scroll down to the App permissions section and click on the Location option. Toggle the switch next to the ‘Location services‘ option to the On position. Then toggle the switch next to the ‘Let apps access your location‘ option to the On position. Toggle the switches next to the apps to enable or disable location access for individual apps.
How do I turn off location tracking in Windows 11?
Open the Settings window by pressing the Win+I keys on your keyboard. Navigate to Privacy & security > Location. Toggle the switch next to the ‘Location services‘ option to the Off position. To manage app-specific permissions, scroll down to the ‘Let apps access your location‘ section and toggle the switches next to individual apps.
Read: How to enable or disable Notifications from apps and other senders in Windows.
