How to Enable or Disable Changing GeoID Location in Windows
Information
The country or region setting in Windows, referred to as geographic location (GeoID), indicates the country or region that you're in. Some software, including Windows, may provide you with additional content for a particular location. Some services provide you with local information such as news and weather.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable all users from being able to change their geographic location (GeoID) in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable all users from being able to change their geographic location (GeoID) in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
EXAMPLE: Location Enable and Disabled
OPTION ONE
To Enable or Disable Changing Location using REG File Download
Note
The .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Control Panel\International
PreventGeoIdChange DWORD
0 = Enable
1 = Disable
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Control Panel\International
PreventGeoIdChange DWORD
0 = Enable
1 = Disable
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Enable Changing Location in Windows
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Changing_Location.reg
3. To Disable Changing Location in Windows
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Changing_Location.reg
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK.
7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION TWO
To Enable or Disable Changing Location in Group Policy
1. From the Start screen, start typing gpedit.msc and press Enter when finished.
NOTE: You could also press Windows+R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and click/tap on OK.
2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
3. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, and open Locale Services. (see screenshot below)
4. In the right pane of Locale Services, double click/tap on Disallow changing of geographic location. (see screenshot above)
5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.
6. To Enable Changing Location in Windows
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 7A)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
7. To Disable Changing Location in Windows
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
8. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
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