Two ways websites find your location
IP geolocation works on every visit without asking. A database maps your IP address to the area where your internet provider uses it. It is usually right about the country and often the region, but city-level results can be tens of kilometres off, and it can be completely wrong with a VPN, mobile data or satellite internet.
Browser geolocation uses GPS, nearby Wi-Fi networks and cell towers to find your position, often to within a few metres. Browsers only share it after you click Allow, and you can revoke permission at any time in the site settings.
Why is my IP location wrong?
- Your ISP routes traffic through a regional hub, so your IP is registered to a different city.
- You are using a VPN, proxy, iCloud Private Relay or Tor, so sites see the exit server's location.
- Mobile networks often place large regions of users behind a few gateways.
- The database is out of date after your ISP reassigned the address block.
To correct it, you can submit a correction to the major geolocation providers. See How accurate is IP geolocation? for the details.
Privacy
When you press the button, your browser calculates your position and our page displays it locally. The coordinates are never sent to our server. Map tiles are loaded from OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
Can a website get my exact location without permission?
No. Without permission, sites only get the approximate IP-based location shown on the left.
How do I change my location for websites?
Use a VPN with a server in another region, and deny browser location permission. See how to hide your IP address.