How to change your VPN location on different devices

Changing your virtual location allows you to maintain your privacy, get better prices for goods and services, and bypass internet censorship and geo-blocks. A VPN (virtual private network) is the best tool to switch your IP address and make it appear as if you are in a different location.

The steps to change your virtual location depend on your VPN provider and device. Usually, getting a reliable VPN with a wide range of global server coverage, downloading and installing the app, and connecting to one of the servers does the trick.

My top VPN choices for changing your virtual location are NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN. I found NordVPN to be the best overall due to a wide server fleet and advanced security features, while Surfshark offers an affordable alternative and Proton VPN is the best for privacy. Continue reading for a detailed guide on how to change your virtual location with a VPN.

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How to change VPN location on iPhone and Android

Using a VPN is the simplest way to change your IP address on a mobile device. However, not just any VPN will perform optimally, so before downloading the app, ensure that your chosen VPN offers robust encryption, like AES-256 or ChaCha20, modern tunneling protocols like WireGuard or OpenVPN, a kill switch, and an IP & DNS leak protection.

A VPN works by changing your IP address without affecting the GPS location of your mobile device. In most cases, this is a very convenient trait as the majority of sites and services determine your location via IP address, while your iPhone or Android device uses GPS to know where you are. However, certain applications, like Pokemon Go, also use GPS location services, and to change your location in the app, you will need a VPN and a GPS spoofing app.

Step 1: Download a VPN provider with a large server network

A large server network is important for always finding the exact connection spot you’re looking for. A large number of available servers ensure you’ll never run into connectivity issues due to congestion. I recommend NordVPN as the best VPN to change your location on iPhone or Android because it has over 7400 high-speed servers in 118 countries, so you’ll always be able to find a server in your desired location. Depending on your device, you can download the NordVPN app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Step 2: Install the VPN app on your device and log in

Installing the VPN app on a mobile device usually simply consists of downloading the app and launching it. If any additional steps are needed, your provider will have instructions, or you’ll get notifications requiring you to perform certain steps. Once the app is installed, you may need to register an account or subscribe to a paid plan before logging in.

During the VPN installation process, the app may ask to grant it certain permissions for optimal performance, such as to modify system settings (Android), storage access (Android), network access (iOS), background app refresh (iOS), and others. You should always grant these permissions if you want your VPN to perform at its best.

Lastly, some VPNs, like Proton VPN, may ask for email verification when creating a new account.

Step 3: Connect to a preferred VPN server

Most VPNs display their available servers’ list on the main app page, provide an interactive map from which to choose the location, or offer a quick connect feature that connects you to the fastest available server regarding your location and other factors.

If you’re choosing a server from the list, simply pick the one in your desired location and connect. So, to access the US Netflix library, connect to a server in the US and if you’d like to stream on the BBC iPlayer, use a UK server. Remember, that your new virtual location and IP address will match the server’s you are connected to.

Wondering how to check my VPN location? To do so, head to the ipleak.net page and see whether the location shown on the page matches the location of your chosen server. If not, try switching servers and checking again.

How to change VPN location on Mac and Windows

Due to the operational system architecture and the possibility of introducing advanced features, desktop VPN apps generally offer more features and more control than mobile apps. Such features might include split tunneling, custom protocol selection, dedicated IP, multi-hop, and more, all meant to enhance your experience and boost your privacy.

Below, you’ll find a detailed guide on how to change VPN location on Mac and Windows.

Step 1: Download a reputable VPN that suits your needs and budget

If you’re looking to use the full power of a VPN, then using it on the desktop is a very good idea, as such apps often include more advanced features like split tunneling and double hop. However, I always recommend choosing a trustworthy VPN provider and downloading the app only from its official website or a reliable app store. One such VPN is NordVPN, as it has a five-time verified no-logs policy, offers a wide server net, and an ultra-speedy WireGuard-based NordLynx tunneling protocol.

Step 2: Login and navigate to the server list or map

After downloading and installing the VPN app on your device, launch it and log in to your account. Once the app is loaded up, you’ll be able to find the available servers’ list displayed on the main window of the interface. Additionally, you might also see an interactive server location map or find a quick connect feature which will automatically connect you to the fastest available server depending on your location.

Usually, you can filter the available servers by location, speed, specialty, and in some cases, pick a connect point on a city-level. While this option isn’t very common, you can find it on NordVPN US and UK servers. Such level of customization is very important for bypassing local blackouts, accessing some government pages, or gaining a specific IP address.

Step 3: Select your preferred VPN server location and click Connect

Once you’ve chosen your desired server either from the list or on the interactive map, click on it to connect. If you’re looking to simply encrypt your traffic and experience optimal performance, choose a nearby server, as it will always be the fastest. If you want to unblock geo-restricted content in a specific region, connect to a server located there. So, for instance, if you want to unblock DAZN Italy, select an Italian server, or if you want to access Hulu, connect to a server in the US.

Filtering servers on their specialty can also optimize the performance of the service. For instance, if you’re planning on streaming, then choose a streaming-optimized server, and if you’re about to head to a torrenting site, choosing a P2P-optimized server might be a good idea. Alternatively, some servers may be optimized not for performance but for enhanced security, such as obfuscated servers, double hop, and Tor over VPN.

Why does my VPN not change my location?

VPNs work by encrypting your network traffic and routing it through a server in a different location. This effectively changes your IP address to appear as if you’re connecting from that server’s location.

However, your device’s GPS and other location services, like Wi-Fi triangulation, use methods different from the IP address to determine your real-time location, and a VPN cannot alter that. To sum it up, while a VPN can effectively change your IP address, it’s incapable of altering your device’s GPS location or other location services.

Here are the most common reasons why you might still see your original location even though you’re using a VPN:

• GPS override. If your device’s GPS is enabled, it will continue to report your current actual location, despite the fact that you’re using a VPN and your IP address is changed. You can try disabling your device’s GPS if there’s such a possibility. If not, you may want to look into GPS spoofing apps or rely on Surfshark’s GPS spoofing feature, available for Android devices.
• App and service behavior. Certain apps and services may be using GPS or other location data even when you are connected to a VPN server. This can cause discrepancies in your reported location and to solve it, you might also need to use a GPS spoofing app.
• Browser cookies and cache are giving away your location. Browser cookies and cache are excellent in making your browsing experience smoother, but if you’ve neglected to clear them for a while, they may be giving away your true location even while using a VPN. If that’s the case, simply clear out browser cookies and cache, reconnect to VPN and check if it helped.
• VPN server isn’t working properly. Overcrowded servers or servers in poor working shape might not be able to hide your real IP address. If you suspect that’s the case, switching to another server should fix it.
• VPN leak. In some cases, a VPN might be leaking your original IP address, making it visible to the websites you are visiting. To check for IP leaks, you can do a test on ipleak.net. To avoid leaks, you can try choosing a different tunneling protocol or a server, but if it continues to happen, I recommend switching to a premium VPN, like NordVPN, that will ensure your real IP address is always well hidden.

Change your location with NordVPN

Best VPNs to change your location in 2025

Before picking my top 3 VPNs to change location, I put them through rigorous testing, which included evaluating their server lists, checking their security features, and assessing their geo-unblocking capabilities. In the end, I picked NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN as the best VPNs for changing virtual locations. Here’s why:

1. NordVPN – offers a wide RAM-only server list in over 118 locations. I found its advanced feature set to be close to the best, plus it passed all of my IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks failproof.
2. Surfshark – an excellent VPN to change your location, especially if you’re looking for something very affordable and with unlimited connections. Although it has a smaller server fleet, they’re all well-functioning and fast due to the WireGuard protocol.
3. Proton VPN – perfect location change VPN for anyone concerned about privacy. The provider undergoes yearly no-logs policy audits and offers such privacy features as Secure Core and Tor over VPN servers.

Is it legal to change your VPN location?

Using a VPN to change your location is perfectly legal in most countries, including the US, Canada, and most of Europe. However, some countries, like UAE, China, Russia, and Turkey, restrict VPN use. Some countries restrict their use without any serious legal consequences, while some countries may impose fines for VPN use. For more information and the legal status of VPNs in your country, you can refer to our guide.

Remember that using a VPN to bypass geo-restriction may violate a service’s Terms of Conditions (for example, Netflix), and employing a VPN to obtain pirated content or commit fraudulent activities is illegal in almost all countries worldwide.

Benefits of using a VPN to change location

Changing your virtual location with a VPN enhances your online privacy, may get you better prices for goods and services when shopping, and bypass even the most severe internet censorship. Additionally, using a VPN to change your location is the easiest and the most secure way to do it.

Here’s a more detailed list of the benefits of using a VPN to change location:

• Access geo-restricted content. Many streaming services and websites are geo-locked to a certain region and unavailable unless you’re accessing them from those specific places. Connecting a VPN server in that region will allow you to bypass these geo-restrictions.
• Enhance privacy. A VPN encrypts your traffic with robust protocols, such as AES-256 or ChaCha20, making it close to impossible for your ISP or other onlookers to track your online activities.
• Improve connection speeds. Sometimes, connecting to a VPN server in a different country can enhance your connection speeds, especially if that server is close to the content you’re trying to access. Additionally, a VPN can help bypass ISP bandwidth throttling, which may also increase your speeds.
• Bypass internet censorship. Using a VPN and connecting to a server outside the censorship area can help you bypass these government-imposed restrictions and access blocked websites and content.
• Anti-tracking protection. A VPN can make it harder for websites and advertisers to track your location and online activity, by masking your real IP address.

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What VPN location should you choose?

Choosing the best VPN location depends on the activity you have in mind. For instance, unblocking geo-locked content will require connecting to a server in that specific location, while to bypass censorship, you will need to choose a location where the restrictions do not apply. Below, you’ll find a handy table with VPN use cases and which locations are the best for them:

As you can see from the table, there are a few specific locations that are the best for enhanced privacy, including Switzerland and Iceland. To unlock US, UK, European, Australian, and Canadian content, you will have to connect to a server located in those regions, whereas for the best gaming experience, it’s good to choose a server that’s closest to you.

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Is there a completely free VPN to change location

Most free VPNs are highly unreliable due to crippling daily data limits, slow connection speeds, and unclear logging policies. In fact, some free VPNs might even be dangerous to use as they could be selling your data to undisclosed third parties. In the worst-case scenario, the free VPN apps may be infected with malware, and downloading such apps could infect your device.

Instead of picking out some random, potentially dangerous free VPN, I recommend using a reliable freemium VPN, like Proton VPN. The service’s free version is just as reliable as the premium one, and while it limits possible connection sites to just 5 countries (Romania, Poland, the Netherlands, Japan, and the US) and access to some advanced features, it comes with no data or bandwidth caps. Alternatively, you can choose a fully featured premium VPN, like NordVPN or Surfshark, and use them for free during the offered 7-day free trials.

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Conclusion

To change your location with a VPN, you will first need to choose a reliable VPN service, download its app and install it on your device. Then, after you launch it and create an account, simply connect to a server in your desired location, and it will change your virtual location. Overall, using a VPN to change your location, is the best and the easiest way to achieve it.

After my research, I found NordVPN to be the best VPN to change your virtual location. The provider offers a huge server fleet spread across 118 countries for optimal use and offers the fastest connection speeds for a truly smooth browsing experience. Lastly, NordVPN is excellent at bypassing geo-blocks, which is very useful for accessing restricted content and overcoming internet censorship. You can try NordVPN commitment-free today, as all your purchases are protected with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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FAQ

Can you hide your location with VPN?

Yes, a VPN can hide your real IP address as well as your location. A VPN achieves this by routing your network traffic through your selected server and giving you a new IP address tied to the server’s location. However, a VPN is incapable of overriding your device's GPS tracking and other location services.

Which VPN is best for hiding location?

The best VPN for hiding location is NordVPN. The service offers a wide server fleet for optimal location choice and protects your real IP address with a reliable kill switch and additional IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection features. Lastly, NordVPN has a 5-times verified no-logs policy, so you can be sure your data remains private while using it.

Does a VPN change 'Find My iPhone' location?

No, a VPN does not change your ‘Find my iPhone’ location because Apple uses GPS and Wi-FI to determine your location instead of just your IP address. If you want to change your ‘Find my iPhone’ location, you will have to use additional GPS spoofing apps.

Does a VPN make you untraceable?

Yes, a VPN with strong encryption can make you almost untraceable. However, remember to use a robust VPN, like NordVPN, as less advanced services might still leave an opportunity for your ISP or government to track you via cookies, browser fingerprinting, GPS, or DNS leaks.

How often does VPN change IP address?

With NordVPN you can get a new IP address each time you connect to a server, even if its the same one. If you want the most stable connection, you can choose a dedicated IP address, which will only be available to you during your subscription. Alternatively, you can choose to use Surfshark’s Nexus-powered IP Rotator feature, which changes your IP address every 5 to 10 minutes.