How to Hide or Fake Your Location in Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge (2024)

Most popular browsers include geolocation services to locate you based on your IP address, Wi-Fi, or network location. If you don't want to reveal your location for privacy or other reasons, you can spoof or hide your location in Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge.

What Is Geolocation?

Geolocation pinpoints your location and ties it to your web browser or other applications. Most services use the information from your IP address and connected network to match it with known locations.

Browsers use geolocation for several different reasons. When you visit certain websites, you might notice a prompt that asks you to confirm whether the site can use your location. If you allow access, the site can use your location and provide information relevant to your area.

Geolocation is a convenient feature, but you might want to fake or block your location due to privacy concerns. Faking your location also comes in handy when you want to access location-restricted content.

How to Disable Geolocation in Google Chrome

Turning off the location feature in Google Chrome is simple. By default, Google Chrome will ask whether or not specific websites can use your location. If you accidentally turned this feature off (or just want to make sure it's on), follow these steps.

1. Click the three vertical dots in the right-hand corner of the screen. From there, select Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Location.
2. You'll see the Sites can ask for your location option selected by default with Collapse unwanted requests set by default. Select Don't allow sites to see your location to disable geolocation.

Below that page, you'll also see a list of websites that you allowed or denied access to your location. To revoke access to your location, hit the trash can icon next to any website.

Hide Your Location in Firefox

You can easily disable your location in Firefox across all websites. Like Chrome, Firefox will ask for your permission whenever a site wants access to your location.

If you want to access Firefox's location settings:

1. Click the three vertical bars in the top right corner of the browser. Hit Settings > Privacy & Security, and Scroll down to the Permissions section.
2. Here, click the Settings box next to Location. You'll then see a list of websites that have requested access to your location—you can stop a site's access by removing it from this list.

To eliminate those annoying permissions pop-ups altogether, check off the box next to Block new requests asking to access your location. This automatically blocks access to geolocation for all websites you visit.

Disable Geolocation in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome have very similar processes for disabling geolocation. To get started in Edge:

1. Click the three horizontal dots in the upper right corner of the browser.
2. From here, select Settings > Cookies and Site Permissions. Scroll down the page to All permissions and choose Location.
3. On this page, make sure the Ask before accessing setting is toggled off, thus blocking any location access requests.
4. Below, you'll see two lists: the sites under the Allow have access to your location, while the sites under the Block heading have already been barred from seeing your location.

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. Just like Chrome, you can remove permissions by clicking the trash can icon next to the website's name.

How to Fake Your Browser Location

For added security, you might want to consider spoofing your location. The best way to hide your location is by using one of the many free VPN services that protect your privacy. However, you can also fake your location in Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge by manually changing your location or by using an extension.

Spoof Your Location in Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

The Location Guard extension is the easiest way to change your geolocation. When you browse the web, Location Guard will provide a different fake location for every website you visit. Plus, it interferes with the way websites find your location, making it difficult to accurately detect your location.

Here's how you can spoof your location using Location Guard:

1. Install the extension in your browser. Once installed, it will redirect you to its settings page. Select Options from the left sidebar.
2. Under Default level, choose Use fixed location.
3. Click Fixed location from the sidebar.
4. Expand or minimize the map using the zoom buttons and move the location pin to a location of your choice.

Location Guard also allows you to choose a fixed location. This provides the highest level of security, as nearby Wi-Fi locations won't be detected. Simply set your location to anywhere in the world, and Location Guard will report that specific location to all websites.

Download: Location Guard for Chrome | Microsoft Edge | Firefox (Free)

Even if you disable or fake geolocation services, websites can still track your location. Your IP address can narrow your location down to your country and possibly even the city you live in. Unless you use a VPN, your location is still trackable based on that information.