Google announced in May 2026 that Chrome on Android now allows users to share an approximate location with websites instead of their precise location, giving Android users more control over their location data.
Previously, when a website requested location access, Chrome shared the user’s exact coordinates. The updated feature lets users choose a less specific location when full precision isn’t necessary. Google cited local weather and news as examples where approximate location is sufficient, while noting that precise location remains available for use cases that require it, such as placing a delivery order, finding a nearby ATM, or navigating.
“By letting you share your approximate location, we’re giving you more control over your location data,” Google said in a blog post. “And you can still share your precise location when it’s needed — e.g., for navigation — so you won’t lose functionality.”
Alongside the user-facing change, Google plans to introduce new APIs that allow web developers to request either approximate or precise location depending on their site’s needs. The company says it is encouraging developers to review their location requirements and only request precise location when it is essential to their site’s functionality.
Google says it plans to bring the approximate location feature to the desktop version of Chrome in the coming months. The company did not provide a timeline for a potential rollout on Chrome for iOS, or confirm whether one is planned.
The change may offer a meaningful privacy benefit for Android users who regularly interact with location-dependent websites, giving them a way to limit data exposure without losing access to core functionality.
Source: TechCrunch