Body
Questions
- How do I enable location services for Teams Calling on Windows?
- How does E911 know where I am when I call from Teams on a Windows computer?
- Teams says my emergency location is unknown — how do I fix this on Windows?
- How do I verify my campus location is showing correctly in Teams on Windows?
- Do I need to do anything on Windows to make sure 911 dispatchers can find me?
Environment
This article applies to Bowdoin College faculty and staff who use Teams Calling on a Windows 11 computer on campus. Enabling location access allows Teams to share your precise building and room location with E911 dispatchers and Bowdoin Security when you call 911.
- Operating system: Windows 11
- On-campus note: Bowdoin's campus network identifies your location automatically through the network port or wireless access point you are connected to. Enabling Windows location services provides an additional, more precise location signal to Teams.
- Mac users: See Enable Location Services for Teams Calling on a Mac (E911) in the Related Articles section.
- Off-campus: When working off-campus, your 911 call is still routed through Intrado, Bowdoin's E911 provider, using your best available location. See How Emergency Calling (E911) Works at Bowdoin in the Related Articles section for full details.
Resolution
Step 1 — Enable location services in Windows
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
- Click Location.
- Make sure Location services is turned on.
- Make sure Let apps access your location is turned on.
- Scroll down to the Let desktop apps access your location section and confirm it is also turned on.
Step 2 — Verify your campus location in Teams
- Restart Microsoft Teams so it picks up the updated location permission — right-click the Teams icon in the taskbar and select Quit, then reopen Teams.
- Click the ellipsis (…) next to your profile picture in the upper-right corner of Teams.
- Click Settings.
- Click Calls in the left menu.
- Scroll down to the Emergency calling section.
- Confirm that your current campus building and room location are displayed.
Done: When your campus location appears in the Emergency calling section, Teams will transmit that location to 911 dispatchers and Bowdoin Security if you call 911 from this device.
Location not showing or showing as unknown? On campus, Teams primarily identifies your location through the network port or wireless access point you are connected to — this happens automatically and does not require any action on your part. If your location is still showing as unknown after completing these steps, contact the Service Desk to confirm your office port is registered in Bowdoin's E911 system.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.