How to Change Geographic Location in Windows 11
You change your geographic location in Windows 11 by adjusting your location settings, not your system region.
Windows 11 uses location services to pinpoint your physical coordinates for features like local weather, accurate time zones, and the Find My Device function.
Unlike your system region, which affects date and currency formats, location services deal purely with your device’s GPS-like positioning.
You might want to alter your location to access region-locked content or, conversely, to prevent privacy concerns on a shared PC.
Modifying these settings can update how your PC behaves regionally or lock down location changes, depending on your approach.
How to Change Your Region via Settings
The easiest way to change your country or region is through the Settings app. This affects how apps display local information.
- Open Settings by pressing ⊞ Win+I.
- Go to Time & language > Language & region.
- Under Region, select your new country from the Country or region dropdown menu.
Note that this does not change your Microsoft Store region automatically. To change your store region, you must visit your Microsoft account profile online.
Privacy and Location Services
You can control which apps have access to your location. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Location. Here, you can toggle the Location services switch to Off to prevent all apps from tracking you. You can also manage permissions for individual apps in this menu.
Advanced Configuration (Admin Only)
Note: The following steps require administrator privileges.
Using the Local Group Policy Editor
- Open the Local Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in the search bar.
- Navigate to: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Location Services.
- Click on the Location Services folder.
- Double-click Disallow changing of geographic location.
- Select Enabled to block users from changing the location, or Disabled to allow it.
Using the Windows Registry Editor
If you cannot use the Group Policy Editor, use the Registry Editor.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Control Panel\International
- Right-click in the empty space on the right side.
- Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it
PreventGeoIdChange. - Set the Value data to
1to block changes.
Summary
Changing your geographic location in Windows 11 involves adjusting your system region for formatting or managing privacy via location services. While the Settings app handles basic regional preferences, advanced users can use Group Policy or the Registry to enforce location restrictions. Always ensure your Microsoft account region matches your physical location to avoid issues with the Microsoft Store.
Does changing my region affect my Microsoft Store purchases?
Yes. The Microsoft Store is region-locked. Changing your Windows region settings does not automatically update your store region. You must update your billing address and payment method in your Microsoft account settings to match the new region to purchase content from that specific store.
What is the difference between Region and Location in 🪟 Windows 11?
Region settings control your system language, date formats, and currency symbols. Location services use GPS, Wi-Fi, and IP addresses to determine your physical coordinates. Region is a preference for how your computer displays data, while location is a privacy setting that tracks where you are physically located.
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!