One of the known advantages of using a virtual private network, or “VPN” for short, is the ability to spoof your location to thwart any attempts by hackers or ISPs to track you or block content based on your geolocation. Sometimes it seems to work and sometimes it doesn’t. So can a VPN hide your location? Let’s find out.
Short Summary
- A VPN hides your IP address, not your actual GPS location. It prevents location tracking by your internet service provider, but not GPS tracking.
- Streaming websites like Netflix use IP addresses to assign you a regional library. A VPN lets you spoof your location to access geo-restricted content.
- A VPN enhances online security and privacy by encrypting traffic and hiding your IP. It can also save you from legal warnings and fines while torrenting.
- Services like Google or social media websites can still track your activity on their sites despite using a VPN.
The short answer is “no”, a VPN will not prevent location tracking. A VPN, or “virtual private network,” is good for changing your IP address, which contains some location data but does not alter your GPS location.
The primary way a VPN will cover your digital tracks is by hiding your IP address, which is that unique address that identifies your device on the internet. Apart from conceling your real IP address, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic so your browsing history and search history remain inaccessible to your internet service provider.
What’s worth noting is that IP addresses reveal a bit of information about your general location (not specific GPS coordinates).
Many content providers use this IP address to determine what kind of content they are licensed to offer you (think Amazon, Netflix, BBC, etc.), so if you use a VPN service to change your IP address, you can essentially change what kind of content they allow you to view.
This, however, is not the same as location tracking, which means that you can still be tracked with a VPN. Most VPNs do not change any GPS data on your device. You can still open up Google Maps or Apple Maps with a VPN connected, and you’ll see that your GPS location has not changed.
Does a VPN Hide Your Location on iPhone?
Apple makes it very difficult to spoof the GPS data on an iPhone (although it is possible).
Unfortunately, connecting to a remote VPN server in another country will not change your GPS location on your iPhone. Some VPN companies advertise a way to change GPS data on Android devices (Surfshark is a VPN provider that does this), but they don’t advertise those same spoofing features for iOS.
To change the GPS data on your iPhone, you’ll have to either jailbreak your device (not recommended) or use specialized, paid software to alter GPS temporarily. If that’s what you aim to do, here’s a detailed guide on changing the GPS location of iPhone.
Does a VPN Hide GPS Location?
While connecting to a VPN server is useful for changing your IP address to increase online security and spoofing your location for many streaming services, a VPN does not hide your GPS location by default.
In case all you want is enhanced security or geo-spoofing, consider subscribing to a VPN service. I recommend NordVPN due to its reliable customer service and dedicated P2P servers that ensure high internet connection speeds without throttling
However, it’s important to recognize that a VPN doesn’t hide your entire online identity, as social media platforms and services like Google can still track your activities on their sites, even with the use of a VPN.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Tinder app will display individuals in your local area, unaffected by a VPN IP address located miles away, as the GPS data remains unchanged.
