Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Tech News Today
Home»Windows»Computer Location Is Wrong? Here’s What You Can Do

Computer Location Is Wrong? Here’s What You Can Do

AbhishekBy AbhishekJuly 29, 2022
Computer Location Is Wrong

Your computer’s current location affect many settings and services. Many web contents are only available on certain countries. Moreover, if your location is incorrect, you may not be able to download system updates. It can also set incorrect date and time settings on your system.

If the wrong location changes your date and time settings, you can bypass the issue by setting your timezone manually. But if you want to debug this issue for other reasons, there are only a limited thing you can do. First, lets take a look at how the location services determines your computer’s location.

Table of Contents

  • Why Is Computer Location Wrong?
  • What to Do if Computer Location is Incorrect?
    • Give Permission to Access Location
    • Change Default Location
    • Disable Mock Locations
    • Clear Browser Cache
    • Update Windows OS
    • Use Google Maps
    • Disable Virtual Private Network and Proxy
  • Conclusion

Why Is Computer Location Wrong?

Most computers do not have a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS). The computer’s location services use the connected network or IP address to locate its position.

Your system builds a location database using some or all of the following factors:

  • IP address or your router and ISP.
  • Nearby WiFi access points.
  • Other devices connected to the same network (if they have GPS).

Some systems also use other application and data components to pinpoint the location. Your system then sends the database to Microsoft, Google, Apple, etc., depending on the system.

While the history data is useful in making more accurate predictions, the main factors determining the location your computer shows are the current IP addresses.

You will usually see the location of your ISP as it is the last access point before the network routes to the public internet. However, some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) route their traffic to a different location as an exit point to the public internet. In this case, the location shows the exit point, which may be much farther from your current location.

What to Do if Computer Location is Incorrect?

As long as the computer or any apps you are using show the correct general location, there’s no problem. But if the location is completely wrong, there are a few things you can try, such as:

Give Permission to Access Location

Normally, if you haven’t enabled the permission setting to access location services, you’ll get prompts asking you to enable it whenever you use Maps. However, some apps will just show incorrect location instead.

You need to provide your system and the apps with access to the location services to avoid such issues. Here are the necessary steps for this process on Windows, Mac and some web browsers:

On Windows

  1. Open Run (Win + R) and enter ms-settings:privacy-location.
  2. Toggle On the switch for Location services or Allow access to location on this device.
  3. Enable Allow apps to access your location or Let apps access your location.|
    enable-location-windows
  4. Make sure the switches next to all the apps showing incorrect location are On.

On Mac

  1. Go to Apple icon > System Preferences > Security & Privacy Preferences > Privacy > Location Services.
  2. Click the lock and enter your password.
  3. Check Enable Location Services and all the apps you want to allow access to your location.
    enable-location-mac

On Chrome

  1. Enter chrome://settings/content/location?search=location on the address bar.
  2. Check Sites can ask for your location.
    enable-location-chrome

On Firefox

  1. Enter about:preferences#privacy on the address bar.
  2. Scroll down to Permissions and click Settings next to Location.
  3. Uncheck Block new requests asking to access your location and click Save Changes.
    enable-location-firefox

Change Default Location

It is possible to set a default location on your PC. Your apps and Location services will use this location only when it fails to find your current location. Most people usually set their home location as default to account for such cases.

If you have entered a different default location, your computer may have failed to detect your current position and shown the default location instead. You can change this data using the steps below:

  1. Open Run (Win + R) and enter ms-settings:privacy-location.
  2. Under Default location, select Set default.
  3. On the Map, click on the Show my location (Circle) icon.
  4. If it displays We can’t find your exact location or shows a wrong location, click on Default location, and then Set default location or Change on the floating tab.
    set-default-location
  5. Manually enter the location you want to set as default.

Disable Mock Locations

Some applications that fake your location on a computer are also available on the internet. You might have been using such an app and forgot to turn it off, leading to this issue. In such scenario, disable or close the program.

Clear Browser Cache

Some users have also encounter this issue on a web browser while browsing websites that use their location, such as Amazon. It happens if the location information on the browser’s cache is incorrect.

You need to clear the browser cache to resolve this issue. The process is different for all the browsers. However, here are the steps for Google Chrome:

  1. Enter chrome://settings/clearBrowserData on Chrome’s address bar.
  2. Set the Time range to All time and check the following:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  3. Click Clear data.
    clear-cache-chrome

We have a dedicated article on How to Clear Cache on Browsers which you can visit to get the necessary steps for other browsers as well.

Update Windows OS

Microsoft’s location determining algorithm has been improving in the recent years. If you have an old Windows system, you should update Windows to have the most accurate Location services.

To update Windows:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Windows Update or Update & Security > Windows Update.
  3. Click Install now or Check for updates if a newer update is not available. If you have paused your update, select Resume update.
  4. Install all available additional updates as well.
    optional-updates

You can also go to Microsoft’s update catalog and install the latest updates.

Use Google Maps

Most users consider Google Map’s algorithm to determine their location as superior to Bing Maps or Apple Maps. You can use this app instead of the default location services on your system if it shows wrong location.

Disable Virtual Private Network and Proxy

VPNs and Proxies redirect your IP address to a different locations. So, naturally your computer will show an incorrect location when using such services.

If you really need to know or use your current location, you can disable your VPN or proxy temporarily.

Conclusion

If there’s any issues with your location permissions or you use a VPN, the methods we have provided will troubleshoot all of them. However, even after executing those solutions, your computer may not show the correct location.

As we have mentioned earlier, this is an infrastructural defect as most PCs don’t have GPS. So there’s not much you can do except contacting your ISP.

Question
Abhishek

I'm an electronics engineer, avid writer, and tech-enthusiast specializing in troubleshooting computer-related issues. I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction in diverse genres. Apart from that, I also have a habit of trying out most new games but never completing them.

Related Posts

how-to-open-and-use-chrome-settings

How to Open and Use Chrome Settings

January 16, 2023
start menu wont open

Start Menu Won’t Open? 7 Ways to Fix it

January 13, 2023
motherboard-audio-not-working

Motherboard Audio Not Working? Try These Fixes

January 13, 2023
empty recycle bin for all users

How to Empty Recycle Bin for All Users on Windows

January 10, 2023
how-to-stop-screen-from-turning-off

How to Keep Your Stay Screen On for Longer Time

January 9, 2023
gmail-notifications-not-working-iphone

Gmail Notifications Not Working on iPhone? 9 Ways to Fix It

January 7, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest Posts
what is ghost of tsushima legends

What is the Ghost of Tsushima Legends Mode

January 12, 2023
raid 5 vs raid 10

RAID 5 Vs RAID 10 – Which One Is Better?

January 12, 2023
best-tv-settings-for-gaming

Best TV Settings for Gaming

January 9, 2023
You may also like
tv-screen-goes-black-randomly

TV Screen Goes Black Randomly? Try These 11 Fixes

January 15, 2023
how to find unique values in excel

How to Find Unique Values in Excel

January 15, 2023
how-to-open-and-use-chrome-settings

How to Open and Use Chrome Settings

January 16, 2023
Recommended
Cookie Clicker Garden Guide

Cookie Clicker Garden Guide to Unlocking Every Seed

September 26, 2021
monitor no signal

Computer Turns On But Monitor Says No Signal (9 Ways To Fix)

November 10, 2022
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
© 2023 TechNewsToday.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.