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Windows has always generated location information from my ISP provider, giving me results for searches 100 miles away. This issue has been acknowledged by MS for many years, but no solution has been offered (or it's carefully hidden). I have read a couple of dozen responses just today, from MS professionals and others dating from 2015 to present. (I torment myself every few months with this effort). Nobody answers the question. How do we change this?
Numerous folks offer region / location settings instruction, which is mind-boggling in its obtuseness.
Lots have people have offered how to set the default location. Might be useful except "Windows uses the default location WHEN IT CANNOT DETERMINE THE EXACT LOCATION". For most purposes my computers never seem to be in doubt. I'm 100 miles away! The only time my location has changed was when I changed broadband providers. My default location is set correctly.
Can someone tell me how to force windows to always use the default location? How is it that MS doesn't offer clear guidance on this issue?
Please help
Dave
I'm using win 10, not that it matters because this problem has been around for I don't know how many generations.
@David Murto
Hi,
Just checking in to see if the information provided was helpful.
If the reply helped you, please remember to mark it as an answer.
If no, please reply and tell us the current situation in order to provide further help.
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Something here may help.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4468240/windows-10-location-service-and-privacy
--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
@David Murto
Hi,
Most often, the "geolocation" of an IP address is based on the business address of the ISP to which that IP address has been assigned. Thus, the location reported for your IP address will be different from your own physical location.
As you said, the location you set will be used as the default location for your apps and Windows services in cases where the exact location cannot be determined, since they only use the location of your IP address, which you have no control over.
If you don't have GPS in the PC, it can be find your location through the IP. Your IP is provided by your ISP and cannot be changed. The incorrect location data is likely due to the source it is from.
Hope above information can help you.
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Hi, I've only recently discovered this inaccuracy on my desktop.
Are you saying that the problem isn't with Microsoft but my ISP provider, if it can't be rectified should I just turn it off? Thank you
Consider a typical cell (smart) phone... it has the physical electronic sensors that are capable of querying the GPS satellites to determine it's exact location on the planet. A typical PC does not have GPS sensors. It can run commands like tracert to query network locations to take a "best guess" as to your physical location, but it will never be accurate. That's just not possible.
Thank you for the swift reply and explanation which I do understand :) I would also like to know if I should turn location off because it appears it's not fit for purpose. Thank you
I set a default location on my laptop to my house mainly so that when I run apps like Maps to get directions to some destination, it has a starting point.
Whether it's on or off is up to you and how you use apps that reference location.
https://www.lifewire.com/location-in-windows-10-4032883
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/13225-turn-off-location-services-windows-10-a.html
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So how do you account for the same problem in house with 4 identical Windows 10 PC's all bought at the same time, all located in Australia under the same roof using the same ISP and IP address via Router. All but one have accurate locations, the last thinks it's either in New Zealand or USA. I've tried to hard set the location to Aus and the TZ to Aus, but after every restart, it returns to US. There must be a setting or a complication that unlocks the PC from this cycle!
It has to be something in the network. There is no other way (unless the PC has GPS circuitry) for a PC to determine it's location.
Check the NIC drivers and firmware.
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"It has to be something in the network. There is no other way (unless the PC has GPS circuitry) for a PC to determine it's location." That's not true. I have told the PC exactly where it is, and have put my house in as the "default location." Why can Windows not accept that and use it when apps and web sites ask for my location, instead of trying to divine my location in some mystical and inaccurate means? I could understand on a mobile device, but this is a desktop PC, sitting under the same desk in the same room in the same house where it has been since Vista. It is very frustrating to constantly reset the "My Store" settings in the shopping sites I use.