Browsers can share your approximate location with the websites you visit. This feature is often called location-aware browsing or geolocation. Websites use it to provide more relevant results or reduce the need for manual input when filling out online forms.
For example, if you search for a nearby coffee shop, a website can use location-aware browsing to return local results. Likewise, mapping services can detect your starting location with location-aware browsing, so you only need to enter your destination.
Sharing your location is optional. This means you can disable the feature at any time.
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How Does Location-Aware Browsing Work?
How to Disable Location-Aware Browsing
How Does Location-Aware Browsing Work?
When you visit a website that requests your location, your browser asks whether you want to share it. If you allow it, the browser collects information from nearby wireless networks and your IP address. It sends this information to a geolocation service provider, such as Google Location Services, to estimate your location, then shares that estimate with the website.
If you don’t allow access, the browser doesn’t share this location estimate. However, some websites can still approximate your location from your IP address alone. In this instance, a VPN can change the IP address a website sees, so an IP-based estimate reflects the VPN server location rather than your own.
How to Disable Location-Aware Browsing
Most browsers let users manage location permissions from their privacy or site settings.
Google Chrome
Follow the steps below to turn off location-aware browsing in Google Chrome.
On Windows, Mac, or Linux:
The steps are the same across all desktop versions of Chrome.
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In Chrome, select the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner, then select Settings.
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Select Privacy and security in the left sidebar, then select Site settings.
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Under Permissions, select Location.
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Under Default behavior, select Don't allow sites to see your location.
On iOS:
Location access for Chrome is managed in your device's iOS settings:
- Open the Settings app.
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Tap Apps, then tap Chrome.
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Tap Location, then select Never.
On Android:
Use the steps below to stop location-aware browsing on Android.
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In the Chrome app, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner.
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Tap Settings.
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Under Advanced, tap Site settings.
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Tap Location, then select Don't allow sites to see your location.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox lets you manage location access through its Privacy and Security settings. Click the option most relevant to you:
On Windows, Mac, or Linux:
Firefox uses the same menu path across all three desktop operating systems.
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In Firefox, select the hamburger menu icon (☰) in the top-right corner.
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Select Settings.
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Select Privacy & Security in the left sidebar, then scroll to Permissions and select Location.
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Check the box for Block new requests asking to access your location, then select Save Changes.
Existing site permissions remain active. To remove a site that already has access, select it from the list and select Remove Website before saving.
On Android:
You need to open Firefox’s settings to disable location tracking in Android.
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In the Firefox app, tap the three-dot menu (⋮).
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Tap Settings.
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Under Privacy and security, tap Site settings.
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Tap Location.
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Tap Blocked.
On iOS:
Firefox on iOS doesn’t have an in-app setting to disable location sharing, so manage the permission in your device settings:
- Open the Settings app.
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Tap Apps, then tap Firefox.
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Tap Location, then select Never.
Microsoft Edge
The steps for Microsoft Edge differ slightly depending on your device:
On Windows, Mac, or Linux:
Microsoft Edge shares the same menu path across all three desktop operating systems.
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In Edge, select the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner.
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Select Settings.
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Select Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar, then select Site permissions.
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Select All permissions.
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Select Location.
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Turn off the Ask before accessing (recommended) toggle.
On Android:
Edge for Android keeps location access controls in the Site Permissions menu.
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In the Edge app, tap the hamburger menu icon (☰) in the bottom-right corner.
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Tap Settings.
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Scroll down and tap Site settings, then tap Site permissions.
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Tap Location.
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Select Don't allow sites to see your location.
On iOS:
Edge on iOS does not have a setting to disable location sharing.
Safari
Start by picking the device you want to disable location access on.
On Mac:
To disable location access in Safari, follow these steps.
- Open Safari.
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In the menu bar, select Safari > Settings.
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Select the Websites tab, select Location in the left sidebar, and then set When visiting other websites to Deny.
To revoke access for sites you’ve already allowed, select the site in the list and choose Deny from the dropdown menu.
On iOS:
To disable Safari’s location-aware browsing on iOS, follow these steps.
- Open the Settings app.
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Tap Apps, then tap Safari.
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Scroll down to Settings for Websites, then tap Location.
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Tap Deny.
Opera
If you want to disable location access for Opera, first pick the most relevant option for you:
On Windows, Mac, or Linux:
Disabling location access for Opera is the same across Windows, Mac, and Linux.
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In Opera, select the three-dot menu (⋯) in the bottom-left corner of the sidebar.
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Select Settings.
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Select Privacy & security in the left sidebar, then select Site settings.
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Under Permissions, select Location.
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Under Default behavior, select Don't allow sites to see your location.
On Android:
The steps for Android differ slightly from those on desktop.
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In the Opera app, tap the profile icon in the bottom-right corner.
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Tap the gear icon (⚙).
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Scroll down to Privacy & security and tap it, then tap Site settings.
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Tap Location.
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Tap Location again, then select Denied.
On iOS:
Opera on iOS does not have a setting to disable location sharing.
If the instructions above don’t match your browser, contact your browser's support for updated guidance on disabling location-aware browsing.