Find answers to common questions about Location Guard browser extension, including installation, privacy settings, Chrome availability, browser compatibility, and troubleshooting.
Location Guard is a free, open-source browser extension that protects your location privacy. When websites use the browser's Geolocation API to request your position, Location Guard adds controlled random noise to the coordinates, so websites receive an approximate location rather than your exact position. It was created by Kostas Chatzikokolakis and has been available since 2013.
Yes! Location Guard is completely free to use with no premium features, subscriptions, or hidden costs. The source code is publicly available, allowing anyone to review the code and verify that it doesn't collect any personal data.
No. Location Guard does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. All location processing happens entirely within your browser. The extension never sends your real or modified location to any external server. Because it's open source, you can review the code yourself.
Installing Location Guard on Firefox is quick and easy:
Unfortunately, Location Guard was removed from the Chrome Web Store because it doesn't meet Chrome's Manifest V3 requirements. You can still use Location Guard on Firefox, or review Location Guard V3 as a Chrome-compatible option.
Yes, but it requires manual sideloading. You can get the extension package, enable Developer Mode in your browser's extension settings, and load the unpacked extension. The download section includes browser-specific setup options.
Use our check my location page to verify Location Guard is active. Click "Check My Location" and compare the displayed position with your actual location. If they differ, Location Guard is successfully adding noise to your coordinates.
Location Guard offers three privacy levels:
Fixed Location mode lets you set a specific configured location on a map. Instead of adding random noise to your real position, websites receive the coordinates you choose. This is useful when you need consistent location data for testing or want to reduce precise location exposure.
Yes! Location Guard supports per-site configuration. You can set a default privacy level for all websites, then customize settings for individual domains. For example, you might use "Low" noise for your local weather site but "High" noise for social media platforms. Access per-site settings through the extension's options page.
Location Guard is officially available for Firefox through the Firefox Add-ons store. It can also be manually sideloaded on Microsoft Edge and Opera (both Chromium-based). Chrome support was removed due to Manifest V3 requirements. Setup links and browser-specific instructions are listed in the download section.
Location Guard is primarily designed for desktop browsers. On mobile, Firefox for Android supports some extensions, but Location Guard compatibility may vary. For reliable location privacy on mobile devices, consider using your device's built-in location permissions settings to restrict which apps can access your location.
Most websites will work fine with Location Guard. Websites that need approximate location (like weather or news sites) will still function correctly. However, apps that require precise location (like ride-sharing or turn-by-turn navigation) may not work well with high noise levels. You can use per-site configuration to set lower privacy levels or disable protection for specific sites that need accurate coordinates.
Yes! Using Location Guard together with a VPN provides comprehensive privacy protection. A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic, while Location Guard protects your browser's Geolocation API data. Together, they prevent both IP-based and GPS-based location tracking, giving you maximum location privacy online.
If Location Guard doesn't seem to be working, try these steps:
If a specific website isn't working properly with Location Guard, you can configure per-site settings. Click the Location Guard icon, go to Options, and add the website's domain with a lower privacy level or set it to "Use real location" for that site only. This lets you maintain privacy on other sites while allowing accurate location access where needed.
Start with the main Location Guard guide, compare the V3 option, or check what location your browser reports.
Use one of these core pages based on what you need next.
