Chrome for Android May Soon Let Websites Access User Location

Sources has revealed by reporting that Google is apparently developing a new location capability in its Chrome browser for Android cellphones. The IT giant appears to be developing an estimated location toggle, which would allow websites to obtain a less precise location rather than their specific GPS coordinates. This new feature is meant to provide consumers with more discretion over which websites can access their location data. Users may be able to disclose their exact location with particular websites if they select the approximate location option.

Android Authority has identified a new feature in Chrome for Android (version 142.0.7444.171) that enables users to share only their approximate location with websites. Google appears to be conducting A/B testing on this revised location-permission prompt, so the option may not become immediately available on all devices. The update is intended to strengthen privacy controls by allowing users to restrict the precision with which websites can determine their location.

The new feature allows Chrome to retain accurate location access at the app level while still allowing users to share merely an estimated location with selected websites. With this upgrade, sites that simply need a broad notion of where they are will no longer receive GPS-level detail, but those that require precise position, such as navigation, can still request it.

According to reports, the capability can be enabled early by touching the Chrome address bar and typing chrome://flags, then scrolling through Chrome’s experimental options until you see the Approximate Geolocation Permission option. After selecting the Enable – Prompt arm: Horizontal with Icon + Description option, selecting ‘Approximate location’ restricts websites to viewing your approximate area rather than exact positions.

Meanwhile, beginning with version 141, the browser will receive a cosmetic refresh. More devices are now apparently receiving the server-side upgrade, which includes UI modifications based on Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language. It features changes to the three-dot menu and a new Bookmark icon.

This feature is intended to provide users with an alternative to the “all-or-nothing” approach to location sharing.

It varies from Android’s system-level location controls in that it allows for site-specific permissions. Users can provide the Chrome app precise location access at the OS level while still limiting specific websites to only estimate location data.

Websites that merely require a user’s approximate location (such as a weather site) will receive coarse coordinates (within roughly a three-square-kilometer radius) rather than precise GPS-level precision.

Websites that actually require exact location, such as navigation or ride-hailing services, can still seek it, and users will be able to grant that permission.

This redesign attempts to improve user privacy by giving them more discretion over how much location data is shared, while still ensuring that location-dependent services function properly.