Word: 'Location is turned off in system settings' message appears
Summary
Word for Microsoft 365 (Monthly Enterprise Channel, Version 2511, Build 19426.20260) shows the message 'Location is turned off in system settings' in environments where Windows Location Services are disabled. Microsoft has confirmed the issue and deployed a fix with the Monthly Enterprise Channel update of February 10 (Build 19530.20220 or newer).
Symptoms
When working with Word files in the Word desktop application, a message appears in the top corner: 'Location is turned off in system settings.' It occurs where Windows Location Services are disabled.
Affected
- Word for Microsoft 365
- Version 2511 (Build 19426.20260)
- Monthly Enterprise Channel
Workaround
- Back up the registry first.
- Deploy the registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\WebView2 with the value DefaultGeolocationSetting = 2.
- This denies geolocation access for all sites and effectively disables the warning message.
Fix
Fixed in the Monthly Enterprise Channel update of February 10 (Build 19530.20220 or newer).
Recommendation
Update Microsoft 365 Apps on the Monthly Enterprise Channel to Build 19530.20220 or newer. Use the registry workaround only if the update cannot be installed yet, and remove it afterwards if the geolocation denial is not wanted.
Sources
- Word: Users get the message "Location is turned off in system settings" when working with Word files in Windows Vendor · support.microsoft.com
Compiled from the sources listed and translated with AI (Claude); status and dates come from the vendor. The vendor’s statements are authoritative. Updated 1 Nov 2026, 18:20.
Where the information comes from
We continuously read the vendors’ official sources, community reports and trade media and summarise them in our own words, with a link to the source:
- Microsoft: Windows release health (Windows 10/11, Server 2016 to 2025), Windows message center, known issues of Microsoft 365 Apps (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Edge, Intune, Autopilot, Windows 365 and Entra Connect, Microsoft KB articles with timelines, Exchange and Windows IT Pro blogs, optionally Microsoft 365 service health and message center
- other vendors: Veeam KB, Citrix (known issues), Ubuntu and Debian (regressions), Broadcom (VMware), Fortinet, Cisco, Mozilla, Let’s Encrypt
- community (title, short excerpt and link only, without the names of the authors): Microsoft Q&A, Microsoft Tech Community (discussions), Veeam R&D Forums, Eleven Forum
- targeted web research with AI (Claude), e.g. on the updates of the month – this also finds discussions on Reddit and in forums; such entries are labelled as community reports until the vendor confirms them
- early warning from trade media (title and link only): Born’s Tech and Windows World, BleepingComputer, AskWoody, Windows Latest, Windows Central, gHacks, The Windows Club, Deskmodder, Dr. Windows, WindowsArea, Frankys Web, heise online
Summary and translation with AI (Claude by Anthropic) – without any data of visitors.
Affected? We can help.
We check whether your systems are affected, apply workarounds properly and plan for dated changes in good time.