What "changing your location" means and why you might need to
Changing your location usually means one of three things: updating the city or address your device thinks you are in, turning location services on or off, or telling a specific app where you actually are instead of where your device thinks you are. Your phone or computer guesses your location using GPS, cell towers, or WiFi networks — and that guess is often wrong, especially if you have moved, traveled, or your device has not updated in a while.
You might need to change your location because a map app is sending you the wrong directions, a weather app is showing the wrong forecast, or you want to stop apps from tracking where you are. Some services also need an accurate location to work properly — banking apps sometimes require it for security, and delivery services need it to find you.
The steps differ depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac, and whether you want to change it system-wide or just for one app. This guide covers all four.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and toggle it on, then adjust which apps can see your location.
- On Android phones, swipe down from the top twice to open Quick Settings, tap Location, and choose which apps have access in Settings > Apps > Permissions.
- On Windows computers, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location and turn it on, then manage which apps can use it.
- On Macs, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and check which apps have permission.
- If your device location is still wrong after turning services on, restart your phone or computer — this forces it to recalculate using nearby cell towers and WiFi networks.
Changing location on an iPhone
Open Settings and tap Privacy. Then tap Location Services. You will see a toggle at the top — if it is gray, location services are off. Tap it to turn them on. Your phone will now use GPS, cell towers, and WiFi to figure out where you are.
Once location services are on, scroll down to see every app on your phone. Next to each app name, you will see three options: Never, Ask Next Time, or Always. Tap an app to change which one is selected. Choose Never if you do not want that app to know your location. Choose Always if you want it to work at full power. Choose Ask Next Time if you want your phone to ask you each time the app tries to use your location.
If a map app is still showing the wrong location after you turn services on, force-close the app and reopen it. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to see all open apps, find the map app, and swipe it up to close it. Then tap the app icon to open it again. This forces your phone to recalculate your position.
Changing location on an Android phone
Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open Quick Settings — the second swipe shows more options. Look for Location and tap it. If it is grayed out, tap it to turn it on. Your phone will now use GPS and nearby networks to find where you are.
To control which apps can see your location, open Settings and go to Apps. Tap Permissions. You will see Location listed. Tap it to see which apps have asked for permission. Next to each app, you will see Allow all the time, Allow only while using the app, or Don't allow. Tap an app to change its setting.
If your location is still wrong, restart your phone. Hold the power button until you see the power-off menu, then tap Restart. This clears your phone's location cache and forces it to recalculate using cell towers and WiFi networks nearby.
Changing location on a Windows computer
Click the Start button and type Settings. Open the Settings app. Click Privacy & Security on the left side. Then click Location. You will see a toggle at the top that says Location services. If it is off, click it to turn it on.
Below that toggle, you will see Allow apps to access your location. Make sure that is also turned on. Then scroll down to see a list of apps. Next to each one, you will see a toggle. Turn it on if you want that app to know where you are, or off if you do not.
Windows uses WiFi networks and cell data to guess your location — it does not have GPS like a phone does. If your location is wrong, restart your computer. This forces Windows to reconnect to nearby WiFi networks and recalculate.
Changing location on a Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click Privacy & Security on the left. Then click Location Services. You will see a checkbox that says Enable Location Services. Click it to turn location services on.
Below that, you will see a list of apps. Next to each app name, you will see a checkbox. Check it if you want that app to know your location, or uncheck it if you do not. Some apps will show Precise or Approximate — Precise means the app gets your exact location, while Approximate means it only knows your general area.
Like Windows, a Mac uses WiFi networks to figure out where you are. If your location is still wrong after you turn services on, restart your Mac. Click the Apple menu, select Restart, and wait for it to come back on.
What to do if your location is still wrong after you change the settings
If you have turned location services on and restarted your device, but maps or weather apps are still showing the wrong place, your device may be using an outdated location database. The fastest fix is to open the map app, find your actual location on the map, and tap it. Most map apps will then update their database and remember that spot.
Another common cause is that your device is connecting to an old WiFi network. If you are at home and your location is wrong, try turning WiFi off and back on. Go to Settings (on any device) and toggle WiFi off, wait five seconds, then toggle it back on. Your device will reconnect to the network and recalculate.
If you are using a VPN (a service that hides your real internet address), your location will be wrong on purpose — that is how VPNs work. If you need accurate location services, turn off your VPN first.
Turning off location services to protect your privacy
If you want to stop apps from tracking where you are, you have two choices: turn off location services entirely, or turn them off for specific apps. Turning off location services entirely means no app can see your location, but some services like maps and weather will not work. Turning it off for specific apps is usually the better choice — you keep location on for maps and weather, but turn it off for social media or shopping apps.
On any device, go back to the location settings described above and toggle off the apps you do not trust. You do not need to turn off location services completely unless you are traveling internationally or concerned about battery drain — location services use very little power on modern devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my phone think I am in a different city?
Your phone uses GPS, cell towers, and WiFi networks to guess your location. If you just moved or traveled, your phone may be connecting to an old WiFi network or a cell tower from your previous location. Restart your phone and turn WiFi off and back on. If you are at home, open your map app, find your actual location on the map, and tap it so the app updates its database.
Will turning off location services drain my battery faster?
No — modern phones use very little battery for location services. Turning it off will not noticeably extend your battery life. If battery is your concern, focus on closing apps running in the background or lowering your screen brightness instead.
Can I change my location for just one app?
Yes. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, find the app, and choose Never or Ask Next Time. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Permissions > Location and change that app's setting. On Windows or Mac, go to Location Services settings and uncheck that app only.
What is the difference between "Always" and "While Using the App"?
Always means the app can see your location even when you are not using it — useful for maps or weather, but a privacy concern for social media. While Using the App means the app only knows your location when you have it open. Choose While Using the App for most apps unless you have a specific reason to choose Always.
Does restarting my device erase anything?
No. Restarting just turns your device off and back on. It does not delete any files, photos, or apps. It simply clears temporary data and forces your device to recalculate things like your location.