Applies To
Word for Microsoft 365

Last Updated: February 2, 2026

ISSUE

When working with Word files in the Word Desktop Application, a message appears in the top corner stating: "Location is turned off in system settings."

Location services turned off message with Word document

This occurs in environments where Windows Location Services are disabled.

Affected Builds

  • Version 2511 (Build 19426.20260)

  • Monthly Enterprise Channel

STATUS: INVESTIGATING

The Word team is investigating the issue.

WORKAROUND

Important: Please be aware that incorrect changes to the registry can cause serious system problems. Always back up the registry before making any changes.

Deploy the following registry key:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\WebView2 DefaultGeolocationSetting = 2

Setting this key to value 2 will deny geolocation access for all sites, effectively disabling the warning message.

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See Also

Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Word for Windows

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