How To Protect Your Location

How To Protect Your Location

By James Bowman, Data Rescue

Changing location services settings on Mac and Windows computers involves different steps. Below are the instructions for both operating systems:

macOS

To Enable or Disable Location Services:

1. Open System Preferences:
   • Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
   • Select “System Preferences.”
2. Go to Security & Privacy:
   • Click on “Security & Privacy.”
3. Select the Privacy Tab:
   • Click on the “Privacy” tab.
4. Unlock Settings:
   • Click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner and enter your administrator password to make changes.
5. Adjust Location Services:
   • Select “Location Services” in the left-hand sidebar.
   • Check or uncheck the box next to “Enable Location Services” to turn location services on or off.
6. Adjust App Permissions:
   • In the same menu, you can check or uncheck the boxes next to individual apps to allow or disallow them from accessing your location.

To Change Location Service Preferences for Specific Apps:

1. Follow steps 1-4 above.
2. Adjust Permissions:
   • In the “Privacy” tab, select “Location Services” in the left sidebar.
   • Check or uncheck the boxes next to specific apps to control their access to location services.

Windows 10

To Enable or Disable Location Services:

1. Open Settings:
   • Click on the Start menu and select the gear icon to open Settings, or press Windows + I on your keyboard.
2. Go to Privacy Settings:
   • Select “Privacy.”
3. Select Location:
   • In the left sidebar, click on “Location.”
4. Change Location Services:
   • To turn location services on or off, click the “Change” button under “Allow access to location on this device” and toggle the switch.
   • Additionally, you can toggle the switch under “Allow apps to access your location” to enable or disable location services for apps.

To Change Location Service Preferences for Specific Apps:

1. Follow steps 1-3 above.
2. Adjust App Permissions:
   • Scroll down to “Choose which apps can access your precise location.”
   • Toggle the switch next to each app to allow or disallow them from accessing your location.

Windows 11

To Enable or Disable Location Services:

1. Open Settings:
   • Click on the Start menu and select the gear icon to open Settings, or press Windows + I on your keyboard.
2. Go to Privacy & Security:
   • Select “Privacy & Security” in the left sidebar.
3. Select Location:
   • Click on “Location.”
4. Change Location Services:
   • To turn location services on or off, toggle the switch under “Location services.”
   • You can also adjust the switch under “Allow apps to access your location” to control location access for all apps.

To Change Location Service Preferences for Specific Apps:

1. Follow steps 1-3 above.
2. Adjust App Permissions:
   • Scroll down to “Let apps access your location.”
   • Toggle the switch next to each app to allow or disallow them from accessing your location.

By following these steps, you can manage and control location services on both Mac and Windows computers, ensuring your privacy and the appropriate use of location data by applications.