Particle.news

Google Adds Approximate Location Sharing to Chrome on Android

The update curbs needless GPS precision by limiting many site requests to neighborhood-level data.

Overview

  • Chrome for Android now offers a permission prompt with Precise (exact) and Approximate (neighborhood) options when a site asks for location.
  • Google says the feature will reach desktop Chrome in the coming months, with no timing shared for iOS.
  • New web APIs are coming so sites can ask for an approximate area or state when exact coordinates are required.
  • Approximate location covers needs like local weather, nearby news, or store hours, while delivery orders and finding the closest ATM still call for precise data.
  • The move extends Android’s app-level location choice introduced in Android 12 and follows recent Android 17 privacy updates.