How to Hide Your Location in Microsoft Edge

Quick Tips

• By default, Microsoft Edge is able to track your location.
• You can switch this off via the “Settings” menu in the browser.
• A VPN can also help you mask your location and identity on Edge and other browsers.

Many modern websites track the locations of those who visit them. The reasoning behind this is so that the sites can provide you with more relevant info, ads, and content, based on your location. However, many people don’t like the idea of being tracked and want to prevent it.

Luckily, many browsers, including Microsoft Edge, give you control over your location data. Here’s how to hide location in Edge.

How to Hide Location in Edge via the Browser Settings

To hide location in Edge quickly and easily, you just have to dig into the browser’s “Settings” menu:

Step 1. Open Microsoft Edge and click on the “Menu” icon, represented by three little dots, in the top-right.

Step 2. Select “Settings” and then click “Cookies and site permissions” in the left-hand menu.

Step 3. Find and click on “Location.” This’ll take you to the location permissions screen. At the top of that screen, you’ll see a setting entitled “Ask before accessing (recommended).” Toggle that off to block all sites from tracking your location through Edge.

How to Mask Your Location in Edge for Specific Sites

You might not want to hide your location on every single site you visit in Edge. Instead, you might just want to mask it for certain sites that bother you with many annoying ads or local content suggestions. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1. Open the website for which you want to block location tracking, and click the little “Lock” icon. You’ll find it in the URL bar, to the left of the web address.

Step 2. You’ll see a box appear, showing the permission settings for that site. Look for the part labeled “Location” and click the drop-down menu beside it.

Step 3. Set the “Location” to “Block.” From that point on, the site in question will not be able to access your location through Edge. You can also set the location setting to “Ask” instead, and Edge will ask you each time you visit the site whether you wish to share your location or not.

How to Hide Your Location in Edge with a VPN

The above methods will work to an extent to hide location in Edge. However, you may still find that you continue to get location-based apps and content suggestions. This is because, even with the location tracking switched off, sites can still figure out where you are located based on your IP address.

If you want to take your location hiding a step further, consider a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs encrypt your connections and reroute them via secure servers situated all over the world. In simple terms, VPNs hide your location so sites and trackers can’t figure out exactly where you are.

Step 1. Choose a VPN from the many available. You can read reviews and guides to learn more about different VPNs, compare prices, and so on. Once you’ve decided on one, sign up for an account and install the VPN client to your device. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll use NordVPN as an example.

Step 2. Before browsing the internet, open your VPN program.

Step 3. Depending on the VPN you’re using, you may see a button labeled “Connect” or “Quick Connect,” or you might have a list of different countries you can connect to. Press “Connect” to join any server right away, or pick one from the list available. Wait for the connection to establish.

Step 4. You can then go ahead and start browsing the web on Edge. Your IP address should be hidden, so you shouldn’t run into sites showing you specific ads and pieces of content for your exact location.