How to use a VPN to change your GPS location (2024)

Want to access region-locked services? Need an IP address in a specific country? We explainhow to fake your GPS location to access websites and services that are usually blocked.

While a Virtual Private Network (VPN) makes it easy to spoof your IP address, it doesn’t always work to update your GPS location. The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses coordinates based on your actual location, gathered by using data from cell phone masts and satellite signals. This GPS coordinate can give away your real location, contradicting the IP address provided by your VPN, in turn giving online websites and services a way to determine your actual location.

Unfortunately, there are a few different ways that websites can detect your location besides your IP address. To help you out we have listed them all below:

• GPS coordinates: Websites can determine your actual location by accessing the GPS coordinates obtained from your device. Most smartphones and tablets have GPS built in, meaning this data could betray your actual location.
• Browser Geolocation: Modern browsers have built-in geolocation features that websites can leverage to detect your location.
• HTML5 Geolocation API: Websites can leverage Google’s popularHTML5 Geolocation APIto access data from various sources, including WiFi networks and cell towers. This allows websites to locate devices that don’t have any native geolocation features.
• DNS leaks: DNS leaks can reveal your actual location to websites, even if you are using a VPN. The same is true of WebRTC leaks. Unfortunately, many VPNs fail to proxy DNS requests inside of the encrypted VPN tunnel. This causes DNS queries to be resolved by a default server, which can allow websites to detect your physical location based on the location of the resolver.
• WiFi network names: Websites can analyze the SSID of the WiFi networks you use and use databases of known WiFi networks to approximate your location.

Once you’re aware of these alternate tracking methods, you can take appropriate measures that enhance your privacy and ensure that your VPN effectively masks your physical location.

The important thing to remember is that some apps require GPS to be enabled before allowing you to access their content. Other apps and web services require GPS, IP address, geolocation, and DNS traffic to match a single location.

The good news is that we will explain how to combine a VPN with other tools to successfully fake your GPS data and gain access to services remotely.

VPN apps with location spoofing

The simplest solution to this problem is to subscribe to a VPN service that offers GPS location spoofing extensions as part of their package.

Many popular VPN providers offer browser extensions specifically designed to prevent browser-based WebRTC leaks, which can reveal your true location. However, a few reputable VPN brands take it a step further by spoofing your geolocation in addition to the standard IP address spoofing we have all come to love and expect. Here are the best options:

Surfshark VPN

Surfshark is a highly popular VPN that is well known for providing fast speeds, servers in 100+ countries, apps for all devices, and a solid no-logging policy. It is surprisingly cheap considering the level of service it provides. And it allows you to use the VPN on unlimited devices, which means you can share your account with friends and family!

Besides all these awesome advantages, Surfshark also provides users with an Android app that includes a native GPS override feature.

This allows you to set a GPS location that matches the IP address of the VPN server you use. This makes it easy to override device-level GPS which is messing with your VPN’s ability to access some services.

The only caveat is that you have to follow the on-screen instructions to enable developer options if you want to use this feature. The good news is that this is actually much easier than you might think. All you need to do is open your Android settings, head toAbout Phone>Software informationand then tap onBuild numberseven times.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPNis well-known for providing secure AES encryption, a kill switch, obfuscated OpenVPN connections, DNS leak protection, and speedy servers in 105+ countries that can be used for a VPN connection.

To help users further, it also includes a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi that successfully works to spoof your HTML5 geolocation. This makes ExpressVPN effective at spoofing your location when using websites and services in a web browser. However, it does not spoof your GPS location on mobile.

Location spoofing is enabled by default when you install the ExpressVPN app. You can switch this off manually in the extension if you want to. When location spoofing is enabled, websites that leverage HTML5 geolocation will detect the same location as that of your VPN server.

Do any other VPNs provide location spoofing?

Unfortunately, this is a relatively rare feature that most VPNs don’t provide. As a result, you will need to use the methods described below to fake your GPS location successfully when using the majority of VPNs.

It is important to note that, while some VPNs offer location spoofing features, they may be limited to certain devices. For example, Surfshark's location spoofing feature is available on Android devices, while ExpressVPN's feature is compatible with desktop computers. Therefore, it is possible that you may need to use the methods outlined below to protect against GPS tracking on different platforms.

How to fake your GPS location

Below, we have described various methods that you can use to fake your GPS location and get your VPN working with stubborn services. These methods will all help your VPN to work better and allow you to use services that monitor your GPS data in addition to your IP address.

GPS Spoofing Apps

Various GPS spoofing apps allow you to set up mock GPS locations. These apps are available for both Android and iOS and can be downloaded from the usual Google Play and Apple App Store. Below, we have included a few examples of the types of location-faking apps that are available in those app stores:

• Fake GPS Location Professional(Android)
• Fake GPS location(Android)
• GPS Emulator(Android)
• Fake GPS 2023(Android)
• Tenorshare iAnyGo(iOS, Android, Mac, Windows)
• iSpoofer(iOS)
• iTools(iOS)

Keep in mind that these apps often rely on in-app advertising, which may not be desirable for some users in terms of online privacy. We do not endorse or recommend any specific GPS spoofing apps from the list above. For this reason, we recommend that you do your own research and only use reputable apps that you trust.

It's important to note that although these apps can help to spoof your GPS location, they aren’t completely foolproof and will not always work to fool the apps and applications you use. Some apps are excellent at monitoring your device settings to detect the use of mock locations. If these apps detect that you are attempting to falsify your location, the app may deny access based on your geographical location.

Below, we have included a list of apps that are known for blocking users based on GPS information:

1. Tinder: The popular dating app Tinder uses location-based matching to connect users. It has mechanisms in place to verify and validate user locations, ensuring authenticity and preventing fake GPS usage.
2. Major League Baseball: The official MLB app is well known for requiring your IP address to match your GPS location and it is highly effective at detecting the use of mock GPS addresses.
3. Uber/Lyft: Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft require accurate location data to provide their service. As a result, these apps use various methods to detect and prevent GPS spoofing.
4. Banking apps: Many banking apps have location-based security features to protect users against fraud. These apps often use GPS data to confirm that users are accessing their accounts from authorized locations and use advanced methods to monitor device settings that enable location mocking. Expect location tracking.
5. Geocaching apps: Geocaching apps like Geocaching.com and C:Geo rely on real GPS coordinates for treasure-hunting activities. These apps know that GPS spoofing undermines the integrity of the game and work hard to block users who employ GPS spoofing apps.
6. Location-based AR games: Augmented Reality (AR) games like Pokemon Go, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, and Jurassic World Alive leverage GPS data for gameplay. These games are highly effective at detecting GPS spoofing.

How to enable GPS spoofing on Android

If you want to use GPS spoofing apps like the ones listed above, you’ll need to enable developer settings on your smartphone or tablet. This is because these kinds of apps cannot set mock locations unless you give them permission to do so in your Android device’s settings.

To help you out, we have described the steps needed to enable Android developer settings below:

1. Open your AndroidSettingsmenu (cog icon)
2. Scroll down toAbout phoneorAbout tabletdepending on your device
3. SelectSoftware information
4. TapBuild numberseven times (it will warn you that you are about to enable developer settings)
5. Go back toSettings. ClickSystem > Advanced > Developer options
6. TapSelect mock location appand set it to the GPS spoofing app that you opted for on Google Play

At this stage, you are ready to run your GPS spoofing app. Once it has launched, select the desired mock location you require. Once it connects to that location, you can check that it worked by opening Google Maps.

With valid GPS coordinates in the country or city you require, you can now launch your VPN and connect to a server in the same location. This will sync both location identifiers, allowing you to use online services that require them to match.

If you have any problems changing your GPS settings or are having issues using your VPN with your GPS location spoofing app, you may want to root your Android device. Rooting allows you to utilize mock locations without the need to declare it in your phone settings, offering a more stealthy approach and potentially improving your chances of success.

With that said, we urge you to remember that rooting an Android device can increase your exposure to malware, trojans, and cyberattacks. This can put your personal data at risk and increase the chance of being victimized by identity theft or fraud. For this reason, it is essential that you only proceed if you completely understand the potential ramifications.

GPS spoofing on iOS

Unfortunately, it is not possible to install a GPS spoofing app directly from the Apple App Store. This is because GPS spoofing apps for iOS do not work. As a result, you will need to jailbreak your iOS device and install an app calledProtect My Privacy. This is a mobile package manager for jailbroken iPhones that lets you change your location using a map for privacy purposes.

A safer alternative is to install a GPS spoofing app on a desktop computer and then connect your iOS device to that computer via USB. iTools is a popular tool that enables GPS spoofing on an iPhone or iPad using this technique. Desktop-based solutions work by allowing you to pick a mock location in the desktop app, and then send that location to your iOS device via the USB cable.

No matter which option you decide to use, once the mock location has been correctly set, you are ready to connect to a VPN server in the same location. This will ensure that your GPS and IP address match.

How to set up geolocation spoofing in Google Chrome

If you are having trouble using your VPN because your HTML5 geolocation doesn’t match your IP address, you will be happy to know that Chrome lets you set up a fake location using developer tools. This is perfect if you are using a streaming service or some other website that uses both IP address and HTML5 geolocation to track your location.

You can set up a fake geolocation in Chrome by following the following steps:

1. Open Chrome and click thethree vertical dotsto open the menu bar.
2. SelectMore Tools>Developer Tools.
3. In the developer window, accessMore Toolsby clicking thethree vertical dotsnext toConsole. You can find this toward the bottom left of the window pane:

4. SelectSensorsfrom the More Tools menu. A new tab will open:

5. Choose the location you desire next toLocation. Only a few locations are available, so you will need to set up a new location using GPS coordinates if the location you desire isn’t listed. To do this clickManage.

6. If you prefer to hide your location rather than enter a specific location, you can opt for Error Location unavailable in the drop-down menu:

Once you have successfully chosen a location, set up a location entry manually, or opted for Location unavailable, you are ready to connect to your VPN. Your Chrome browser should now work to use services that require your HTML5 geolocation to match your IP address.

How to prevent DNS leaks when using a VPN

Unfortunately, there is very little that you can do to prevent a VPN from leaking your DNS. This is because the VPN that is causing the leak through a failure to include your DNS queries inside the encrypted VPN tunnel. Thus, if you are using a VPN that leaks your DNS, the best solution is to ask for a refund and opt for an alternate service that works properly.

That said, there are some instances when a VPN app may allow you to turn on DNS leak protection inside of the app. This is a feature that is designed to stop DNS requests from leaking outside of the VPN tunnel. If your VPN has a DNS leak protection tool that you can turn on in its settings menu, this is a good place to start.

You can check whether your VPN is causing DNS leaks by heading over toBrowserleaks.comand clickingRun DNS Leak Test. If the VPN is working properly, you should not be able to see an address that belongs to your ISP. Instead, you should see an address in the location of the VPN server.

If you want to use a reliable VPN that does not suffer from DNS leaks, we recommend that you opt for a secure VPN with a reliable VPN tunnel, secure tunneling protocols such as OpenVPN and WireGuard, and reliable DNS leak protection. You can see our recommendations below:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN to change your location. Many useful advanced features. No logs policy and strong encryption, with servers in 59+ countries. Double VPN and obfuscation. Works with popular streaming services. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best cheap VPN to change your location.Excellent value for money, Apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. Android app includes a GPS override tool. Strong encryption. Works with popular streaming services like Netflix.
3. ExpressVPN: Highly reliable and secure. Strong AES encryption, system-level kill switch, and reliable DNS leak protection. Servers in 94+ countries. Browser extensions can spoof your HTML5 geolocation.
4. CyberGhost: Superb for beginners. Reliable DNS leak protection. Easyto use to spoof your location to 89+ countries. Has strong encryption, a kill switch, and ad and tracker blocking. Works with Netflix, Hulu, and more.
5. ProtonVPN: A highly advanced VPN with many privacy and security features. Strong encryption, kill switch, strong DNS leak protection, zero logs policy, obfuscation, port selection, auto-connect, and more. Port forwarding and split tunneling make it perfect for torrenting.
6. PrivateVPN: Strong data policies and reliable security features. PrivateVPN offers solid DNS leak protection and superb value for money. Has apps for all devices with strong AES encryption. Servers in 63+ countries. Not the fastest, but works to watch a dozen Netflix regions.
7. Atlas VPN: A fast VPN that is excellent for watching streaming services. Solid DNS leak protection. Fast WireGuard protocol is great for gaming, streaming, and torrenting. Servers are available in 44+ countries.

All the best VPNs recommended above offer reliable DNS leak protection and securely route your DNS requests to their own servers. This is the most secure way for a VPN to handle your DNS queries.

Fake your GPS location - FAQs

Is it legal to fake your GPS location abroad?

Yes. It is legal to change your GPS location and IP address as long as you are not doing it to conceal online harm and cybercrime. Thus, it is not the act of changing your GPS location, but rather what you do while spoofing that may be criminal. You should never send spam, harass people, engage in cyberstalking, or carry out any other criminal activities online.

That said, it is important to remember that changing your location information to access streaming services, bookies, game servers, and other online platforms may be against the Terms of Service for that particular platform. We recommend that you check the terms for the services you use to understand the legitimacy of using a VPN or GPS spoofing apps.

Please be aware that in most countries, attempting to use GPS spoofing to appear to be someone else without their knowledge or consent is illegal. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations of your own country. For this reason, we strongly advise conducting your own research to ensure compliance. This article does not constitute legal advice and should not be taken as such.

Can I use a free VPN while changing my GPS location?

Although there are some free VPNs available on the market, we strongly advise against using the majority of them. Most free VPNs have dodgy privacy policies that allow them to share user data with third parties to create a revenue stream. They use this data to profile users and sell that information to data brokers, marketing companies, and anybody else that is willing to pay.

In addition, many free VPNs have been found to suffer from leaks, have app and server vulnerabilities, lack encryption, and even concealspywarein their apps. This makes using most of the free VPNs you can find on app stores a huge threat to the safety of your devices, as it may be leaking your real IP address and online location in the process.

It is true that a few legitimate and reliable VPNs have a limited free plan. We have recommended two VPNs on this page that let you try their service without paying anything. However, they only provide access to servers in a few locations, so they are not as useful as a premium VPN for spoofing your location.

Despite this, the free plans we have recommended allow you to use a couple of servers without paying a dime. This is useful in times of crisis, such as when governments block social media during protests, and citizens cannot communicate with loved ones unless they use a VPN. Your public IP address will be safe while using an audited service.

Bear in mind that free servers are usually much slower than the premium servers, and you are usually limited in how much data you can download each month. The free plan also doesn’t work to access Netflix or other streaming services like BBC iPlayer, so you will need to pay for an account if you want to stream.