To disable location services on Windows 10 or Windows 11 via the registry, open Terminal as administrator and run three reg add commands that set the ConsentStore location value to “Deny” and add a DisableLocation policy key. This blocks location access system-wide and prevents it from being re-enabled through Settings.
Applies to: Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 1, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Three registry commands disable location system-wide — they block location access for both the local machine and the current user account, plus add a policy to prevent re-enabling through Settings.
- This is what Windows does internally — the ConsentStore “Deny” value is exactly what the Settings toggle changes. The registry method just does it directly without navigating through menus.
- The policy key prevents re-enabling — the third command adds a DisableLocation policy that stops location from being turned back on through Settings, which is especially useful after Windows updates that can reset privacy settings.
- This does not affect your IP address — websites can still estimate your general location from your IP. To hide that, you need a VPN.
Quick Steps
- Open Terminal (or Command Prompt) as administrator.
- Paste and run the three registry commands below.
- Restart your PC.
Why Disable Location Services?
Windows 10 and 11 both enable location tracking by default. Microsoft and installed apps use this to provide location-based services, but it also means your PC is quietly sharing where you are without most people ever realizing it. If you have never changed this setting, it is almost certainly still on.
In all my years setting up computers for clients at the repair shop, location tracking was one of those settings that almost nobody knew was enabled. People would click through the Windows setup screens without reading what they were agreeing to, and by the end of it, their PC was sending location data to Microsoft and any app that asked for it.
How to Disable Location Tracking Using the Registry
Step 1: Open Terminal as administrator
Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin). On Windows 10, search for Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator. Either PowerShell or Command Prompt works.
Step 2: Run the registry commands
Paste the following three commands and press Enter:
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location" /v "Value" /t REG_SZ /d "Deny" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location" /v "Value" /t REG_SZ /d "Deny" /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\LocationAndSensors" /v "DisableLocation" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /fEach command should return “The operation completed successfully.” If you see an error, make sure you are running the terminal as administrator.
Step 3: Restart your PC
Close the terminal window and restart your computer. The registry changes need a reboot to fully take effect. After restarting, Windows will no longer have access to your location.
What Do These Registry Keys Actually Do?
The first two commands set the Value to Deny in the ConsentStore location keys — one for the local machine (HKLM) and one for the current user account (HKCU). This is exactly what Windows does internally when you turn off location access through the Settings app, just done directly through the registry.
The third command adds a DisableLocation policy key under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\LocationAndSensors. This is a stronger enforcement — it prevents location services from being re-enabled through the Settings app, which is useful if you want to make sure the change sticks, especially after Windows updates.
How to Re-enable Location Services
If you ever need location back (for maps, weather, or find-my-device), run these commands as administrator and restart:
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location" /v "Value" /t REG_SZ /d "Allow" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location" /v "Value" /t REG_SZ /d "Allow" /f
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\LocationAndSensors" /v "DisableLocation" /fAlternative: Use Winhance Instead
If you prefer not to deal with registry commands, Winhance lets you toggle location tracking on or off with a single click. It handles the registry changes behind the scenes and also manages other privacy settings like telemetry, the Advertising ID, and more.
I built Winhance because I was tired of doing the same manual tweaks on every computer I set up at the shop. Now it handles all of them in one go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling location tracking affect all apps on my PC?
Yes. These registry changes block location access at the system level, so apps like Maps, Weather, or any other app that requests your location will not be able to access it. You can still manually type in a location inside those apps if you need location-based features.
Will this stop websites from knowing where I am?
Not completely. This blocks Windows from sharing your GPS or Wi-Fi-based location with apps and services, but websites can still estimate your general location using your IP address. To hide that, you need a VPN like ProtonVPN.
Can I undo this and turn location back on?
Yes. Run the re-enable commands shown above (change “Deny” to “Allow” and delete the policy key), then restart your PC. Location services will work exactly as before.
Is it safe to run these registry commands?
Yes. These are well-known registry paths that Windows itself uses to manage location permissions. The commands only modify location-related keys and do not touch anything else. If you want to be cautious, you can back up your registry first by opening Registry Editor and going to File > Export.
Will a Windows update re-enable location tracking?
The policy key (third command) is designed to prevent this, but major Windows feature updates can still reset certain privacy settings. After any large update, check Settings > Privacy & Security > Location to confirm it is still disabled — or use Winhance to re-apply all your privacy settings at once.
