Windows 10: [FIXED] - Wrong location detected by Windows / Cortana / Maps

I was frustrated that Windows was incorrectly reporting my location to my old address, despite updating my default location in Maps, and Google correctly locating my new home address. This is not about the locale detection, but the fine grained location services in Windows. I have seen NUMEROUS threads about this issue, which are allLOCKED so I cannot reply to them. It seems rather than answering the question, Microsoft's default position is to simply wait till enough people complain thenlock the thread.


I found the answer that worked for me. Among other things, Windows uses wifi mac addresses broadcast by nearby Wifi routers. If you or someone in your immediate vicinity has moved into the area recently and your WLAN card can detect their access point regardless of if you are using a wired or wireless connection then it could determine the last updated location of this and assume your computer is somewhere else, possibly in the next city or state. The answer is to remove the mac addresses of any known APs in the area from Microsoft's global MAC address database. I found this here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4468240/windows-10-location-service-and-privacy. The actual page you need to visit is "Opt out of Location Services" here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=223681


To find mac addresses of the Wifi APs in your area:

1. Objective: Any access points you know for certain have been used in another location need to be removed from Microsoft's database
2. On an Android device, download and run Wifi Analyzer by farproc
3. Expand each network. You will see a MAC address against each network like ab:12:34:ab:cd:ef.
4. Write a list of mac addresses you need to remove - if you have a NEW router from your ISP, you don't need to remove these, only for ones that aren't new or your neighbour's ones
5. Visit http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=223681 and enter the mac addresses you need to have removed
6. Wait a few minutes
7. Turn off your wifi adaptor and go into Microsoft Maps
8. Press the "Show my location" button - the round circle
9. Hopefully it will show your ACTUAL location - if not, you need to update your default location - Press "Default Location" and set it correctly
10. Turn your wifi adaptor back on
11. Reboot your computer
12. Go back into Maps and press the "Show my location" button. Hopefully it now shows your correct location!!!

I have seen NUMEROUS LOCKED threads about this issue:

• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-showing-wrong-location-on-two-machines/682fa140-56a0-4962-935d-577d7d58d89c
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/apps_windows_10-win_maps-winpc/how-do-i-change-my-location-in-maps-with-windows/2230d2e1-02c0-4543-950d-818e3d1a6ee5
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_cortana/location-wrong-in-cortana/9130038d-d064-4044-99a5-2e88bdec6b31
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp-insider_security/change-the-default-location-reported-in-windows-10/a5f5a0f9-2b21-4658-9b92-97519667be06
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/find-my-device-is-wrong/2751ddb4-5979-4c4c-aa90-0b9a66ccd7b9
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/find-my-device-location-is-wrong/c8facdfd-8f48-43a6-880a-5237471263db
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/windows-10-location-accuracy-is-poor/38ca1f9d-e6e3-4251-83e3-cbaef1846ac1
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/devices-show-wrong-location/b342882f-4767-4631-b232-5c331fad13cd
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/location-detects-a-wrong-place/e643c877-ddf5-4e6d-8410-d5e07b0a0930
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-security/find-my-device-wrong-location/0feb610d-c070-4e0b-82f6-024adbc36c91
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-maps-has-my-location-wrong/1c21be94-5587-43b8-bd7f-87f1214afec3
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/pc-with-wrong-location/df3435c5-e06a-4153-a110-15176383bb56
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/my-location-is-now-wrong-in-maps-on-windows-10/3ae44d9e-756d-4ecd-a24a-ee09b9d4319b
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp-insider_security/change-the-default-location-reported-in-windows-10/a5f5a0f9-2b21-4658-9b92-97519667be06
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-location-incorrect/d21b4bbc-04ff-4e7f-8850-57767e5fe99b

:)

 

Location wrong in Cortana

If the Maps app indicates the correct location then Cortana should definitely be able to see the same location. It is possible that the wrong location was cached for a bit but it should refresh. Are you still seeing the wrong location in Cortana?

 

my location on maps app is wrong.

Hi Don,

I suggest you to follow the below methods and check if it helps.

Kindly follow the below steps and check if it helps.

• Type Location privacy settings in search bar
  and click on Location privacy settings.
• Here you can enable/disable the Location.
• You may try to Enable/Disable the Maps app to use the
  location or not from the apps list.

Please get back to us with an update on this issue, we will be happy to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

Location wrong in Cortana

Ok can you try setting your default location again? Click on Change, then Clear location and then follow the steps to set it again. Then check if Cortana/Bing or Maps behave differently and pick up the newly set location.

Also can you share the Maps app version that you're running? You'll find that at the bottom of the Settings page in the Maps app.