[NFBMO] Strange message lately

Thu Dec 11 01:56:35 UTC 2025

I think this might be something that people have seen for some time now when  running Word or Excel, and we are just now getting the information from our screen readers, or at least JAWS. This has been coming up in a lot of blind community related places in the last several weeks, because we are only recently getting that announcement it seems. Here is a Perplexity answer to the question. Text is below link:

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/this-site-has-access-to-your-l-fUwOFW.KQZi9WeoAPFmT.Q#0

"This site has access to your location" while using either MS Word or MS Excel

The "This site has access to your location" prompt seen while using Microsoft Word or Excel is most commonly related to Windows' built-in location services rather than the Office apps themselves. This can be triggered especially if you are working with cloud-connected features like SharePoint, web-based documents, or files stored in OneDrive, or when add-ins or web content embedded in documents request location data through Windows.

Why You See the Prompt

*	Location Services on Windows: Windows provides a centralized location service, which apps (including Office, Edge, and others) can request to access. After recent Windows updates, applications must ask for permission before accessing location data.
*	Office and Online Content: Opening Word or Excel files that interact with online content (such as Office.com, SharePoint, or certain add-ins) may result in these prompts. Sometimes, security policies or untrusted locations can also trigger warnings about site or file access, which may mention "location," though they often relate to file origins rather than device geography.
*	Web-based Office Apps: If using the web version of Word or Excel, browsers like Edge or Chrome control site access, and you may see native browser prompts regarding site location access.

How to Control or Disable Location Access

*	Windows App Permissions: Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & Security > Location. Here you can toggle "Location Services" globally, and control which apps (including Office) have permission to use your location. Turning this off for Office or altogether will prevent such prompts.
*	Trusted Locations and Sites: For warnings about "unsafe" locations (sites or folders), you can add trusted cloud or network locations within Word/Excel at File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations. This doesn't control geographic location permissions, but can address certain security prompts.
*	Browser Permissions: For Office 365 web apps, check your browser’s settings under site permissions and turn off location access for the portal in question.

When This Is a Security Concern

*	These prompts are part of improved security in recent versions of Windows and Office. Only allow location access to trusted Microsoft apps or when functionality (such as mapping, collaborative tools, or address lookup) specifically requires your location.

If you are regularly seeing prompts without using map-related features or web add-ins, it may be safe to disable location access for Office apps or globally via Windows Settings.

From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Steve Cook via NFBMO
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 5:48 PM
To: 'NFB of Missouri Mailing List' <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Steve Cook <stanley7709 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMO] Strange message lately

Gary, 

I am having the same issue! This has been a big discussion on a couple of jaws list I am on, but no one has found a solution at this time. 

Steve Cook

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From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Gary Wunder via NFBMO
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 11:11 AM
To: 'NFB of Missouri Mailing List' <nfbmo at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbmo at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net <mailto:gwunder at earthlink.net> >
Subject: [NFBMO] Strange message lately

Whenever I edit a document in Microsoft Word or Microsoft XL, I have recently been getting the following message

This site can access your location. Change this setting in the address bar. While I have seen this on certain websites, never before have I seen it in the opening of office documents. I thought it was a problem particular to my own unit, but last evening on the technology committee meeting, I heard the same thing come through on someone's screen reader. Any thoughts as to how to rectify this? It can be quite a problem, because you start editing or reading a document, and it may come up fifteen or twenty seconds after you are into the work.

Thanks for any advice.

Warmly,

Gary

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