How to Change Location on iPhone

Want to stop sharing your current iPhone location immediately? Skip ahead to the sections on turning on Airplane mode and disabling Location Services to instantly boost your privacy and reduce location tracking using your IP address or GPS data.

But first, here’s a rundown of the top methods you can use to make your iPhone location say you're somewhere else:

Change your location on an iPhone using a VPN

A VPN is the fastest and easiest way to change your location on an iPhone. VPNs hide your IP address by redirecting all your web traffic through a remote server and assigning you a virtual IP address.

But location spoofing is just one of many reasons why you should use a VPN. By encrypting your internet data, a VPN can help shut out different types of hackers and would-be snoops, making a VPN one of the best online security software tools available. According to a 2025 CNET survey, 43% of Americans use a VPN, with nearly half of users doing so primarily for privacy reasons.

Here’s how to change your iPhone location with a VPN:

1. Download a VPN app from the App Store

Install a reliable VPN for iOS from the Apple App Store, where all the best privacy and security apps for iPhone are available. With apps outside the Apple App Store, you could experience compatibility issues or even malware threats.

Make sure your VPN has a range of server options, which is especially important for location spoofing. Select a VPN provider that offers multiple unique, frequently updated VPN servers in the US, UK, and all the best VPN server locations around the world.

The Avast Premium VPN iOS app is fully optimized for maximum iPhone compatibility and performance, offering a powerful suite of premium features, including bank-grade encryption, unlimited bandwidth, and dozens of server locations spread across the globe. Try it for free today.

2. Create an account on the app and sign in

Once the app is installed, set up your VPN by creating an account and signing in. As well as helping with authentication, creating an account also allows you to apply your VPN settings and preferences across other devices using the app.

3. Tap “Allow” when asked for permissions to create VPN configurations

When prompted by iOS for permission to create new VPN configurations, tap Allow.

4. Select the country you want to connect to

Connecting to a server location of your choice lets you unblock websites with a VPN and enjoy all your favorite content even when you’re abroad. You can also server-hop to explore region-specific content in different countries — but be aware that this might violate the terms of service of your content provider.

5. Connect to establish a VPN connection

After selecting a VPN server, connect to it to mask your real IP address and location. Once connected, you’ll appear to be in the server’s location to sites and services that rely on your IP address. VPNs with an Auto Connect feature help ensure that your internet traffic is always encrypted on public or unsecured networks, protecting your data from hackers, ISP tracking, and potential security threats without requiring manual activation.

6. Check if your VPN works

You can check if your VPN is working by verifying if your IP address has changed. Start by finding your original IP address using an IP address finder tool or Googling “What’s my IP?” Then, connect to a VPN server and check your IP address again. If it hasn’t changed, the VPN isn’t working properly.

If you’re having no luck with your VPN, there are alternative methods for changing your IP address. Depending on your specific needs, proxy servers and Tor browser can also be used to change or mask your location. It’s even possible to use certain combinations of VPNs, proxies, and Tor together for a more secure browsing experience.

But remember, while a VPN can hide your IP address, it can’t change your Apple ID region, or alter your GPS location or other location services. Apps like Google Maps, Waze, and Pokémon Go use GPS data to determine your location, and even a VPN can’t hide or spoof this information. It’s easy to turn off your iPhone’s GPS location services, but spoofing your GPS data is more complicated.

Change the Apple ID region on your iPhone

Apple uses one billing address for all app purchases and subscriptions, so if you move to a new country, or just want to explore different corners of the App Store, you’ll need to update the Apple ID region on your iPhone. Unfortunately, you can’t bypass these limitations with a VPN; you’ll need to make the changes within your account settings.

Here’s how to change the Apple ID region on your iPhone:

1. Go to Settings and tap your name at the top. Then tap Media & Purchases > View Account, and sign in with your Apple ID password.

   

2. Tap Country/Region > Change Country or Region.

   

3. Select a new country or region from the list, review the terms and conditions, and tap Agree.

   

4. Select a local payment method and enter your payment information.

What to consider when changing your country on iPhone

Before changing your Apple ID region, there are a number of things to consider, including sourcing a local payment method, spending any remaining store credit, and canceling your subscriptions, as these may not carry over to a new Apple ID region. Afterward, you’ll also need to re-download all your apps, music, and movies.

Here’s what to bear in mind when changing your country or region on an iPhone:

• Family sharing: If you are part of a Family Sharing group, you may need to leave it to change your Apple ID region. Go to Settings > Family > your name > Stop Using Family Sharing.

• Local payment methods: You will need a valid local payment method and billing address for your new country or region to make purchases.

• Subscription services: Active subscriptions, memberships, pre-orders, rentals, or Season Passes may prevent you from changing regions. If so, you’ll need to cancel them and wait until the applicable subscription or rental period ends.

• Store credit: Spend any remaining Apple Account balance before switching location, as credit may not carry over to your new Apple ID region.

• Regional content: Apps, media, and services available in your current region may not be available in another due to licensing or other local restrictions.

• Terms of service: Changing your Apple Account region is generally permitted, but using the change to access region-restricted third-party services could violate those services’ terms.

• Previously purchased content: Some apps, music, movies, books, or other content may not be available in your new region. Download content you want to keep before changing regions, as you may not be able to redownload it afterward.

Can you fake your GPS location on an iPhone?

It’s possible to fake your iPhone’s GPS location, but there are no Apple-approved GPS spoofing apps available in the App Store. While there are workarounds and quick fixes, these methods require you to purchase hardware or spoof your iPhone’s location by plugging it into a computer using paid software that may be unreliable, glitchy, or unsafe.

Another option is to jailbreak your iPhone to install unauthorized third-party GPS spoofing apps, but we do not recommend jailbreaking your iPhone due to the security risks of venturing outside of Apple’s “walled garden.” However, in some circumstances, there are legitimate reasons why whistleblowers, activists, or political dissidents might need to jailbreak an iPhone to fake their GPS country location.

Although iPhones generally can’t get traditional viruses, they’re still vulnerable to other forms of malware, and some fake location apps may be Trojan malware disguised as legitimate software. Before installing any app, always read the reviews carefully, protect your device with mobile security for iOS, and make sure you know how to spot a fake app.

How to spoof your GPS location on iPhone using a computer

Several desktop programs allow you to spoof your iPhone's GPS location. While most aren’t free, many offer trial versions. Though we can’t vouch for these tools, popular options include iAnyGo (Mac, Windows) and MobiAnyGo (Windows).

Here’s how to spoof your GPS location on iPhone using iAnyGo:

1. From the iAnyGo website, download and install the app on your computer (Mac or Windows).

2. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable.

3. Unlock your iPhone and trust the computer.

4. From the iAnyGo interface, select Change Location mode and click Enter.

5. Select the desired location or country via the map or search bar and click Start to Modify.

Fake GPS hardware

Fake GPS hardware plugs directly into your iPhone’s Lightning or USB-C connector and uses a companion app to spoof your country or region. While hardware options from reputable manufacturers like GFaker are more expensive than software solutions, they are harder to detect, don’t require jailbreaking, and can be used on the go since you aren’t tethered to a desktop.

How to stop sharing your iPhone location in Settings

There are lots of reasons to change your iPhone location, but if you mainly just want to prevent your phone from being tracked, or don’t like the idea that certain contacts can follow your every move, an easier solution may be to simply stop sharing your location altogether using one of the following iPhone Settings methods.

Turning off Location Services on your iPhone is a discreet way to stop sharing your location, as no notifications are sent. But people may see that your location is unavailable or notice that it hasn’t updated. Also bear in mind that they may receive a notification if you later start sharing your location again, potentially alerting them that sharing had previously been paused.

Turn on Airplane mode

Airplane mode disables cellular service, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, which means that your IP and GPS location can no longer be shared with apps or other devices.

To enable Airplane Mode, swipe down from the top right to open the Control Center and tap the airplane icon. Once enabled, the Airplane Mode icon will change from transparent to orange.

Turn off Location Services

Turning off Location Services prevents apps from tracking your location using your device's GPS position.

To disable Location Services on iPhone:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.

   

2. Toggle off Location Services, and then tap Turn Off to stop all tracking.

   

Turn off Location Services on specific iPhone Apps

If you only want to turn off Location Services for a specific app on your iPhone, you can change its permissions without turning off Location Services entirely:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.

2. Select the app you want to change, such as Camera.

3. Tap Never.

Turning off location access for individual apps can improve your privacy by preventing those apps from accessing location data from your device. Depending on the app and how frequently it uses your location, restricting location access may also reduce background activity, helping to extend its battery life and prevent overheating.

Reasons to change your location on iPhone

Faking or changing the location on your phone has many benefits, including getting around geoblocking, which puts content restrictions on websites, apps, and streaming services. Changing your location also helps block targeted ads, access restricted services, and protect you from hackers and snoops who track your every move.

You can make your location say you’re somewhere else and reap these benefits:

• Keep your location private: Apps and websites are increasingly tracking your location and other private information to target you with ads. Faking your location will keep this data out of their reach and help secure your online privacy.

• Access different versions of streaming services: Streaming services — like Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu — offer different content from region to region, based on distribution rights. By changing your location, you can unblock YouTube videos and access content that may not be available in your current locale, which is especially helpful while traveling.

• Access restricted services: Some sites and services are not available everywhere. Faking your location enables access to a wide variety of services from all over the world, which is especially helpful when you’re away from home and trying to watch TV online.

• Change your IP address on apps: Apps often use your IP address to track you online or enable certain website functionality. Spoofing your location lets you change your IP address to hide from trackers or modify app functionality.

• Work remotely: By faking your digital location, you can connect securely to company networks, evade snoops spying on your online activity, and work safely from anywhere.

Although using a VPN on your iPhone will boost your privacy and let you change your streaming region, it can slow down your overall browsing speeds. If you experience a performance drop, there are steps you can take to speed up your VPN connection.

The risks of iPhone location tracking

Location tracking can make your iPhone more useful, but sharing or exposing that data can also create privacy and security risks. Depending on who has access to it, location data may reveal where you live, work, shop, or spend your time and could be used for advertising, profiling, scams, or unwanted monitoring.

Other risks of iPhone location tracking include:

• Unwanted location sharing: Apps such as Find My let you share your location with family, friends, or partners. While useful for safety and coordination, sharing can become a privacy concern if someone has access to your location when you no longer want them to.

• Data collection: Location data collected by apps and other services may be shared with or sold to third parties, including data brokers. Data exposed through breaches or other illegal activity could also circulate on the dark web.

• Targeted advertising: Apps and websites may use location data to personalize ads and build profiles based on places you visit. Limiting unnecessary location permissions can reduce the amount of location data available for these purposes.

• Location-based pricing: Some online businesses may vary prices or offers based partly on factors such as your location, although pricing algorithms usually consider many other signals as well.

• Government surveillance: Governments may obtain or collect location information under certain circumstances, raising privacy concerns about digital surveillance. Location and device data can also be targeted using sophisticated surveillance tools such as Pegasus spyware.

• Targeted scams: If a scammer learns where you live, work, or spend time, they may use it to make a social engineering attack more convincing — for example, by crafting a phishing email that impersonates a familiar organization or colleague.

Change your location with Avast

The best way to hide your location and protect your privacy online is to use a premium VPN service. Avast Premium VPN encrypts your web traffic, masks your IP address, and blocks your ISP from tracking your online activity.

With servers spread across five continents, dedicated streaming and P2P sharing servers, and unlimited bandwidth, our VPN enables fully optimized, lightning-fast connections from various locations worldwide. Get your free trial now.