If your device merely detects one of these, it knows your rough location. Nearby Wi-Fi networks: Microsoft actively collects location data on Wi-Fi access points.GPS: Some Windows devices do have GPS, but they're in the minority.Its methods vary in accuracy, but by combining some or all of the below, the company can determine your exact location. How then does Microsoft know where you are? The answer is a little bit of everything. You might have already noted that Windows 10 devices like laptops, desktops and hybrid tablets often don't have GPS. Currently, the most widely-used OS is Windows 10, though it will soon be replaced by Windows 11. Since the demise of the Windows Phone operating system (OS), just about all Microsoft devices run on Windows for desktop. But not all programs and apps on your device make the same promise.Īnd unlike phone apps on Android or iOS, Windows 10 desktop apps don't necessarily ask for permission or tell you what they're doing. The company assures people this data is anonymised before it reaches their servers, even if it's synced to your Microsoft account. Microsoft tracks and uses your location in many ways. You have some control over your data, but not over everything.Microsoft shares anonymised location data with other companies.Companies don't need GPS trackers to determine your location.