Applies to Windows 7

Set a geographic location for your computer

You can set a default location to provide programs information about your computer's geographic location. When you set a default location, it applies to all users. Setting a default location enables programs to customize information for you. For example, a program might use the default location you've entered to find nearby movie theaters and restaurants.

Programs access the default location only if location sensors are unavailable on your computer. All programs can access this information for all user accounts on your computer. To help you know which programs are accessing your default location, Windows temporarily displays the Location and Other Sensors icon Picture of the Location and Other Sensors icon in the notification area the first time a program accesses your computer's location.
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To set a default location

  1. Click the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

  2. In the search box, type location, and then click Enter a default location.

  3. Enter a postal code. If you want to provide an address, you can enter it under Enter an address (optional).

  4. Click Apply. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

To delete the default location

If you don't want programs to access your computer's default location, you can delete it. You can change or delete the default location at any time.

  1. Click the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

  2. In the search box, type location, and then click Enter a default location.

  3. At the bottom of the page, click Delete information. This deletes all of the default location information for your computer. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.