Application allowed to use location

If you Go in Settings -> Location. You can enable/disable the location service and if you configure it as enabled you can change this permission on a per app basis. I have enabled some apps to use my location. I have have installed the Chrome web browser. It seems able to access it whatever I configure in the settings even if I disable the location service completely. Why?

Notice that it usually ask me to confirm but it is Chrome that asks, Windows does nothing to prevent it to access it. Maybe it is able to use an alternative method bypassing the Windows mechanism? Note that it is somehow plausible because it also works in Linux where there is no location service in the system.

You may try this to stop Chrome using your location.

1. Click on the Chrome Menu Bar on the top Right Corner.
2. Click on 'Settings'.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the resulting page. Click on 'Show advanced settings'

4. Under 'Privacy', click on 'Content Settings'

5. Scroll down to 'Location and select it ....

6. Click on 'Done' to end this.
7. Now Scroll Down to 'Network' and click on 'Change Proxy Settings'.

8. In the 'Privacy' tab, under 'Location', check 'Never allow websites to request for your location'.

9. Apply > OK.

See how it goes. Let us know.

Your setting is true but my main problem is that I have to trust Chrome for it. I believed there was a way Windows could stop an app to do some of these things (location is just an example, there are other settings). Contacts is much more sensitive, I would like to make sure that some apps have no access to it.

Your setting is true but my main problem is that I have to trust Chrome for it. I believed there was a way Windows could stop an app to do some of these things (location is just an example, there are other settings). Contacts is much more sensitive, I would like to make sure that some apps have no access to it.

Many settings apply only to Universal Windows Platform (UWP) Apps and do not affect the other side (desktop apps). There will be instances where a user chooses to use desktop apps and set those options accordingly.

It's like have two user interfaces (twinUI) each with their own settings/options . As Win10 evolves more will go into the WinRT side and less will be left in the win32 side. It's going to take a few years for everything, including 3rd party programs, to migrate though.

In the case of your example, you could disable the location service. Controlling other services might require policy settings.

Transition is always ....

Your setting is true but my main problem is that I have to trust Chrome for it. I believed there was a way Windows could stop an app to do some of these things (location is just an example, there are other settings). Contacts is much more sensitive, I would like to make sure that some apps have no access to it.

You may anytime disallow an app to access your Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Calendar etc; in Settings > Privacy.

Plus, every app should have their own mechanism to stop using your information, as we see Chrome has.

If you are really worried for it, dont depend on the windows settings/mechanism only, apply a both way ban .... in windows settings and in application specific settings.