Locate your position on modern Windows

Geolocate the current Windows machine using the native WinRT Location API (PowerShell 5.1). No external API keys, no browser, no dependencies — uses Windows.Devices.Geolocation directly. Trigger when user asks to locate themselves, find their position, or for device-based geolocation (as opposed to IP-based geolocation). Outputs latitude, longitude, and accuracy in meters.

Locate the Windows machine using the built-in WinRT Windows.Devices.Geolocation API.

Usage

Save the script below as geolocate.ps1 and run:

powershell

powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File geolocate.ps1

Returns JSON:

json

{
  "error": false,
  "message": "ok",
  "latitude": 35.6762,
  "longitude": 139.6503,
  "accuracy_m": 1500,
  "timestamp": "2026-01-01T08:00:00.0000000+09:00"
}

Script

powershell

# geolocate.ps1 — Windows Geolocation via WinRT (PowerShell 5.1 only)
Add-Type -AssemblyName "System.Runtime.WindowsRuntime"
[Windows.Devices.Geolocation.Geolocator, Windows.Devices.Geolocation, ContentType=WindowsRuntime] | Out-Null

try {
  $geo = New-Object Windows.Devices.Geolocation.Geolocator
  $geo.DesiredAccuracy = [Windows.Devices.Geolocation.PositionAccuracy]::Default
  $geo.DesiredAccuracyInMeters = 100

  $asyncOp = $geo.GetGeopositionAsync()

  $asTask = [System.WindowsRuntimeSystemExtensions].GetMethods() |
    Where-Object {
      $_.Name -eq 'AsTask' -and
      $_.GetParameters().Count -eq 1 -and
      $_.GetParameters()[0].ParameterType.IsGenericType -and
      $_.GetParameters()[0].ParameterType.Name.StartsWith('IAsyncOperation')
    } | Select-Object -First 1

  if (-not $asTask) {
    $output = [Ordered]@{
      error      = $true
      message    = "Cannot resolve AsTask<T> overload"
      latitude   = 0.0
      longitude  = 0.0
      accuracy_m = 0
      timestamp  = [datetime]::Now.ToString("o")
    }
    Write-Output ($output | ConvertTo-Json)
    exit 1
  }

  $genericMethod = $asTask.MakeGenericMethod([Windows.Devices.Geolocation.Geoposition])
  $task = $genericMethod.Invoke($null, @($asyncOp))
  $task.Wait()
  $pos = $task.Result

  $output = [Ordered]@{
    error      = $false
    message    = "ok"
    latitude   = [math]::Round($pos.Coordinate.Point.Position.Latitude, 6)
    longitude  = [math]::Round($pos.Coordinate.Point.Position.Longitude, 6)
    accuracy_m = $pos.Coordinate.Accuracy
    timestamp  = $pos.Coordinate.Timestamp.ToString("o")
  }
  Write-Output ($output | ConvertTo-Json)
} catch {
  $output = [Ordered]@{
    error      = $true
    message    = $_.Exception.Message
    latitude   = 0.0
    longitude  = 0.0
    accuracy_m = 0
    timestamp  = [datetime]::Now.ToString("o")
  }
  Write-Output ($output | ConvertTo-Json)
  exit 1
}

How It Works

1. Loads System.Runtime.WindowsRuntime for WinRT type resolution.
2. Instantiates Windows.Devices.Geolocation.Geolocator.
3. Calls GetGeopositionAsync() — returns IAsyncOperation<Geoposition>.
4. Converts to Task<T> via reflection on System.WindowsRuntimeSystemExtensions.AsTask<T>.
5. Blocks with .Wait() and outputs JSON.

The location source depends on hardware: GPS (if present), WiFi triangulation, or IP fallback. Typical WiFi accuracy is 1–3 km.

Requirements

• Windows 10+
• PowerShell 5.1 (powershell.exe, not pwsh 7)
• Location must be enabled: Settings → Privacy → Location → On
• No admin rights needed

Reverse Geocoding

Use the coordinates with any free reverse-geocoding service:

bash

curl -s "https://api.bigdatacloud.net/data/reverse-geocode-client?latitude=35.6762&longitude=139.6503"

Troubleshooting

• "Location access denied": Enable in Windows Settings → Privacy → Location
• Timeout / no response: The Location service may be disabled or blocked by group policy
• Accuracy > 10km: No WiFi/GPS available, falling back to IP-based estimate