Time and Language Enable or Disable Changing Country or Region GeoID in Windows 11


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Region_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable changing the country or region geographic location (GeoID) for specific or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The country or region home location in Windows, referred to as geographic location (GeoID), indicates the country or region you are in.


You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable changing the country or region geographic location (GeoID).



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Changing Country or Region GeoID for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Changing Country or Region GeoID for All Users using REG file


EXAMPLE: Change country or region geographic location (GeoID) disabled

country_or_region_geographic_location_disabled.png





Option One

Enable or Disable Changing Country or Region GeoID for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.


1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 Navigate to the policy location below you want in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

(All users)​
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Locale Services

OR​

(Specific user or group)​
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Locale Services

country_or_region_geographic_location_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Locale Services in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Disallow changing of geographic location policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.

5 Enable Changing Country or Region GeoID

This is the default setting.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

country_or_region_geographic_location_gpedit-2.png

6 Disable Changing Country or Region GeoID

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

country_or_region_geographic_location_gpedit-3.png

7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Two

Enable or Disable Changing Country or Region GeoID for All Users using REG file


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

2 Enable Changing Country or Region GeoID for All Users

This is the default setting


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Enable_changing_country_or_region_geographic_location_for_all_users.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Control Panel\International]
"PreventGeoIdChange"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Control Panel\International]
"PreventGeoIdChange"=-

3 Disable Changing Country or Region GeoID for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Disable_changing_country_or_region_geographic_location_for_all_users.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Control Panel\International]
"PreventGeoIdChange"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Control Panel\International]
"PreventGeoIdChange"=dword:00000001

4 Save the REG file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

  • Region.png
    Region.png
    12.6 KB · Views: 50
  • Disable_changing_country_or_region_geographic_location_for_all_users.reg
    894 bytes · Views: 125
  • Enable_changing_country_or_region_geographic_location_for_all_users.reg
    838 bytes · Views: 142
Last edited:
Thanks, use case?

Ciao, Han
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    WIN 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinpad X1 Yoga 3gen
    CPU
    i7-8550U
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    16 GB lpddr3
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    2560x1440
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    NVME SSD 2TB Samsung PM981
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    Logitech M590
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    Acronis TrueImage 2019
  • Operating System
    Win 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Tiny M920x
    CPU
    i7-8700T
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Sound Card
    MOTU M4
    Monitor(s) Displays
    DELL P2418D
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    NVME SSD 2TB Samsung PM981a
    NVME SSD 1TB Samsung PM981a
    SSD Sandisk 1T Sata
    Mouse
    Logitech M590
    Browser
    Firefox
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    Windows Security, Malwarebytes
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    Acronis TrueImage 2019
Thanks, use case?

Ciao, Han

Hello Han, :alien:

An option for an environment where you don't want the country or region setting to be changed.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Sure, but is this a problem?
What could happen other than changed advertising or news.

That said it would be nice if no Windows settings changed when not initiated by me.

Ciao, Han
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    WIN 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinpad X1 Yoga 3gen
    CPU
    i7-8550U
    Memory
    16 GB lpddr3
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    NVME SSD 2TB Samsung PM981
    Mouse
    Logitech M590
    Internet Speed
    350 Mbps down and up from 500 advertised
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Security, Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Acronis TrueImage 2019
  • Operating System
    Win 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Tiny M920x
    CPU
    i7-8700T
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Sound Card
    MOTU M4
    Monitor(s) Displays
    DELL P2418D
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    NVME SSD 2TB Samsung PM981a
    NVME SSD 1TB Samsung PM981a
    SSD Sandisk 1T Sata
    Mouse
    Logitech M590
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Security, Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Acronis TrueImage 2019
Sure, but is this a problem?
What could happen other than changed advertising or news.

That said it would be nice if no Windows settings changed when not initiated by me.

Ciao, Han
It usually doesn't get changed unless done by a user (ex: kids) on the PC. This is just an option to prevent that if wanted.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
OK :-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    WIN 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinpad X1 Yoga 3gen
    CPU
    i7-8550U
    Memory
    16 GB lpddr3
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    NVME SSD 2TB Samsung PM981
    Mouse
    Logitech M590
    Internet Speed
    350 Mbps down and up from 500 advertised
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Security, Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Acronis TrueImage 2019
  • Operating System
    Win 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Tiny M920x
    CPU
    i7-8700T
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Sound Card
    MOTU M4
    Monitor(s) Displays
    DELL P2418D
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    NVME SSD 2TB Samsung PM981a
    NVME SSD 1TB Samsung PM981a
    SSD Sandisk 1T Sata
    Mouse
    Logitech M590
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Security, Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Acronis TrueImage 2019

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