contact location

Question

gaming sites are saying that they can not verify my location

Answer 1

Hi bruce stoops,

I can imagine how frustrating that must be, especially when a site blocks you just because it can’t confirm your location.

To help narrow this down, could you please share a bit more detail?

• Are you using Windows 10 or Windows 11?
• Which browser are you using (Microsoft Edge, Chrome, etc.), or is this happening in a game/app?
• Does this happen on all gaming sites or only a specific one?
• Are you using a VPN, proxy, or a work/school network?
• Have you already enabled Location services in Windows Settings?

In the meantime, I recommend that you review and try the steps provided in the AI generated answer on your thread and a few quick things you can check below.

• Ensure Let apps access your location and Let desktop apps access your location are enabled
• Try switching to a different network (for example, a mobile hotspot) to see if it behaves differently

While my initial response may not fully resolve the issue, I truly appreciate your cooperation as we work together toward identifying the most effective solution. Thank you so much for your understanding.  

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Answer 2

Gaming sites usually verify location using a combination of:

• Browser or app geolocation (GPS/Wi‑Fi/IP via the OS)
• IP address and network location
• Account/region settings

If they cannot verify location on a Windows device, check these areas:

1. Verify Windows location services
   1. Open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location.
   2. Turn Location services to On.
   3. Turn Let apps access your location to On.
   4. Scroll down and turn Let desktop apps access your location to On (important for browsers like Edge).
2. Check site permissions in Microsoft Edge (if using Edge)
   1. In Edge, go to edge://settings/privacy/sitePermissions/allPermissions/location.
   2. Make sure Ask before accessing (recommended) is On so sites can request location.
   3. If the gaming site is under Block, remove it or change it to Allow.
   4. Alternatively, open the gaming site, select the Lock/Info icon in the address bar → Permissions for this site → set Location to Allow or Ask.
3. Confirm Windows Geolocation service is running
   1. Press Win+R, type services.msc, press Enter.
   2. Find Geolocation Service.
   3. If Status is Stopped and Startup Type is Disabled, this can break geolocation for Edge and other apps that rely on Windows Location service. Contact IT/admin to enable it if managed by policy.
4. Check for tools or policies that disable location
   • If location toggles are greyed out or revert after restart, a privacy tool (for example, SpyBot AntiBeacon) or Group Policy may be disabling sensors/location. In such tools, re‑enable sensors/location and reboot so Windows can provide location to apps.
5. Avoid VPNs, proxies, or location-hiding tools
   • VPNs, anonymizers, or “location hiding” technologies can cause services (including Microsoft services and game platforms) to treat traffic as untrusted or from a different region and may block or fail location verification. Turn off VPN/proxy and retry.
6. If using a Cloud PC/remote desktop
   • On the local device: Settings > Privacy & security > Location → ensure Location services is On and the remote client app is allowed to use location.
   • On the remote/Cloud PC: Settings > Privacy & security > Location → ensure Location services is On and Allow location override is On so the remote session can use the local device’s location.

If, after these steps, gaming sites still cannot verify location, contact the game/site support with details of the browser, whether a VPN is used, and screenshots of Windows and browser location settings.

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References:

• Windows location service and privacy
• Geolocation doesn't work in Microsoft Edge but works in other browsers
• Location and privacy in Microsoft Edge
• Sharing your location on Microsoft Edge
• Location Services greyed out - Microsoft Q&A
• Why can't I download the iso file for Windows 11 25H2? - Microsoft Q&A
• Extended Security Updates (ESU) Slovenia Win10 - Microsoft Q&A