question

ToddAnderson-1015 avatar image
0 Votes"
ToddAnderson-1015 asked DSPatrick commented

Windows 10 Location Services Source

We have location services enabled and "Set time zone automatically" enabled on our computers. Some computers are getting set to the incorrect time zone with this configuration. We assumed this must be related to the internet service provider location and where the public IP was being detected but after investigating a few devices this is not the case. We are seeing the public IP as being located in the same time zone as actual. So my question is what is Windows 10 location services using to determine location other than public IP?

windows-10-general
· 2
5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

Hi,

I would like to check if your issue has made some progress and if the reply could be of help? If yes, please help accept answer, so that others meet a similar issue can find useful information quickly. If you have any other concerns or questions, please feel free to feedback.

Best Regards,
Joan

1 Vote 1 ·

Hi,

We have lost you for a few days, I would like to check if the reply could be of help? If yes, please help accept answer, so that others meet a similar issue can find useful information quickly. If you have any other concerns or questions, please feel free to feedback.

Best Regards,
Joan

0 Votes 0 ·
DSPatrick avatar image
0 Votes"
DSPatrick answered DSPatrick commented

Sounds good, you're welcome. The location service would use all of the mention sources assuming they're available. GPS would have the highest priority.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-location-service-and-privacy-3a8eee0a-5b0b-dc07-eede-2a5ca1c49088

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--


· 2
5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

Thanks for the info and doc. Will continue investigation as we are seeing location services detecting incorrect location / time zone for computers that don’t have gps or mobile broadband. So if IP is the only source it can go by need to understand why location services is detecting different location than ipstack or whatsmyip for public IP for instance. Thanks!

0 Votes 0 ·

Geolocation by IP address alone may not be reliable or accurate. Better option may be to set a default in Settings\Privacy\Default Location


0 Votes 0 ·
DSPatrick avatar image
0 Votes"
DSPatrick answered

The location service will use a combination of global positioning service (GPS), nearby wireless access points, cell towers, and your IP address to determine your device’s location. You're correct in that the location service can auto-set the time zone. Another option may be to set a default since it doesn't seem to have access to enough info to make a correct determination.

Start\Settings\Privacy\Location then under Default location, select Set default

--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

ToddAnderson-1015 avatar image
0 Votes"
ToddAnderson-1015 answered

Interesting. Do you know if there is an order/priority to the different checks? Like gps first, and if not available check IP address, etc.. Or does it check all possible sources and take an avg of some sort?

Took a quick look at the Set Default option. I see it requires Windows Maps to be installed. Will investigate potential value there. Thanks.

5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

DSPatrick avatar image
0 Votes"
DSPatrick answered

Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--




5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.