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How to Disable Intune Location Tracking in Admin Center

Amos Gikunda Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

An organization wants to disable or hide the Locate device option in Microsoft Intune across managed corporate devices to comply with strict internal privacy policies.

Product: Microsoft Intune
Device & OS: Windows, Android, Apple
Scenario: Administrators are configuring device management settings and want to restrict the ability to track user locations.
Observed behavior: The Locate device option is currently visible and accessible to administrators in the Intune admin center, and the organization wishes to completely hide or disable it.

Before you start

You will need Intune Administrator or Global Administrator privileges to modify role-based access control (RBAC) settings in the Microsoft Intune admin center.

Solution 1Recommended

Restrict the Locate Device Feature via Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

While Microsoft Intune does not have a global on/off switch to completely disable the location tracking framework, you can hide the 'Locate device' option from specific IT staff by removing the permission from their administrative roles.

The most effective way to prevent unauthorized location tracking in Intune is to use custom roles. By setting the remote task permissions for location finding to 'No', the Locate action is hidden from administrators assigned to that role.

Access the Intune Admin Center

Navigate to Roles

On the left sidebar, click on 'Tenant administration' and then select 'Roles'.

Create or Edit a Custom Role

Select an existing custom role to edit, or click 'Create' to configure a new role for your IT administrators.

Remove Locate Device Permissions

Under the Permissions settings, expand the 'Remote tasks' category. Find the 'Locate device' permission and ensure it is set to 'No' or remains unassigned.

Save and Assign the Role

Save your changes and assign this role to the appropriate administrator groups. These admins will no longer see the option to locate devices.

Restrict the Locate Device Feature via Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Microsoft Q&A Forums: For highly specific organizational privacy requirements or inquiries about upcoming Intune features, it is recommended to post directly in the Microsoft Intune Q&A forum, as Microsoft frequently updates policy capabilities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I locate an Apple device in Intune without putting it in Lost Mode?

No. For iOS and iPadOS devices, Apple's privacy architecture requires the device to be placed in 'Lost Mode' before Intune can retrieve and display its location.

Does Microsoft Intune constantly track device locations in the background?

No, Intune does not track location continuously. The system only fetches the device's location when an authorized administrator explicitly triggers the 'Locate device' remote action in the admin center.

Will users be notified when their device location is tracked by Intune?

Yes, depending on the OS. For example, when a Windows device is located, the user typically sees a location notification icon in the system tray, indicating that location services have been accessed.

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