Giving access to your location to a web browser like Chrome might sound like a risky bet. After all, some might argue that it could lead to some major security issues.
Well, there’s more to that than what meets the eye. Granted, it does have its fair share of concerns, but it ultimately boils down to the sites accessing your location.
If you grant to the right ones, then there’s no doubt that location sharing might actually work in your favor. However, one shouldn’t look further than the common search queries that most of us use, such as the ‘best cafes nearby’ or ‘the temperature today.’
Until and unless the site knows our geographical location, it wouldn’t send curated results. In short, if you are asking for tailored-made results sent to you, then turning on the location is the first thing that you should consider doing. And this guide shall help you with just that.
Location Request in Android
By default, Chrome for Android can use and request location permissions from the website. However, you can completely stop the requests or allow/block the individual request.
Here are the steps to allow or block the geolocation requests:
- Launch the Chrome browser on your Android device.
- Tap on the More
options, and select the Settings menu.
- Scroll to the Advanced section, and tap on Site Settings.
- Enable or Disable the Location toggle button to Allow or Block the request.
Henceforth, you will get a pop-up whenever you interact with a site that asks for your location. You may then grant or revoke the request accordingly.
If you allow the location request, your next course of action will be to enable the GPS/Location feature, which we could do from the Quick Settings toggle itself.
If you’ve disabled the location toggle button, you won’t receive the request to allow or block location from the sites.
Location Permission in Chrome iPhone
Similarly, we can enable or disable the location permission with Chrome for iPhone or iPad.
- Launch the Phone Settings app on your device.
- Scroll to Chrome, and choose to open the Chrome Settings.
- Select the Location tab from the Chrome settings.
- Select the preferred option from the available.
Never, Ask Next Time or While Using the App.
The Ask Next Time will raise the permission prompt whenever a site asks for your location.
On the other hand, the While Using the App option will automatically access your location while using the app in the foreground.
So choose these two options to enable geolocation in Google Chrome for iPhone. If you choose the Never option, then it will completely block the Locations access.
Geolocation Access in Computer
Like a mobile device, Chrome for Computer also requests permission for your location. If you disable the location access, then Chrome will not request permission.
Here are the steps to allow or block the location access:
- Launch the Chrome browser on the computer.
- Click on the More options, and select the Settings menu.
- Scroll to the Privacy and Security section, and select Site Settings.
- Choose the Location under the Permissions section.
- Select either Sites can ask for your location OR Don’t allow sites to see your location option based on the preference.
If you choose Site can ask for your location option, you will continue to get a notification prompt asking for your location permission anytime you interact with such a site. Just hit on or , per requirement.
If you choose the second option, Don’t allow sites to see your location, you will not receive the prompt website wants to know your location.
Bottom Line
With this, we round off the guide on how you could enable geolocation permission in Chrome across all three major platforms.
Always keep in mind that sharing your actual location does involve an element of risk. So only give access to trustworthy sites and try to maintain a safe distance from the ones you have even the slightest doubts about.
Moreover, the browser allows you to revoke the location permission from a site or even block its access altogether. So if there’s ever a change of mind, then you could make full use of that option, which is present under Chrome’s location permission page itself.
Let us know what you think about the option to allow or disallow the location permission in the Chrome browser.
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