Why Is My Location Wrong on My iPhone? Fix It Fast!

Navigation is one of the features I use most on my phone, so when my iPhone location is wrong, it's a huge problem. There are many reasons for the location to be wrong on your iPhone; here are all the ways to fix your iPhone location!

Jump To:

• Fix Your Date & Time Settings
• Turn Off Hide My IP Address
• Reset Location & Privacy Settings
• Restore Your iPhone from a Backup
• FAQ

Why Is My iPhone Location Wrong? Fix It Fast!

If the location accuracy on your iPhone is off, try these initial fixes before checking the settings below. First, install any iPhone software updates and available app updates for apps that aren't showing the correct location. You can also close apps showing the wrong location and then open them again. If this hasn't worked, turn Airplane Mode on for a minute, then turn it off again. You should also turn on location services on your iPhone and make sure to enable location services for apps that are showing the wrong location. If the location is still displaying incorrectly, check the settings below.

Fix Your Date & Time Settings

If the location on your iPhone is wrong after trying the fixes above, check your date and time settings. To do this:

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1. Open the Settings app.
   
   

2. Tap General.
   
   

3. Tap Date & Time.
   
   

4. Make sure the Set Automatically toggle is enabled, and that the time zone listed is accurate. 
   
   

5. If you're traveling, you can set your iPhone to use your current location. Go back to the main Settings page and tap Privacy & Security.
   
   

6. Tap Location Services.
   
   

7. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap System Services.
   
   

8. Make sure Setting Time Zone is toggled on. 
   
   

Turn Off Hide My IP Address

If your iPad or iPhone location is wrong, the next fix is to check Apple's Hide My IP Address. This feature helps protect iPhone users' privacy by hiding your IP address from trackers. The downside is that Hide My IP Address can cause problems with connecting to specific websites and can contribute to iPad or iPhone Location Services not working. To check if Hide My IP Address is the reason your location is wrong on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Settings app and tap Safari.
   
   

2. Tap Hide IP Address.
   
   

3. Select Off to disable Hide IP Address.
   
   

Now, check to see if your iPhone location still needs to be corrected. If it's accurate, great! You've figured out why the location was wrong on your iPhone. If your iPhone still shows the wrong location, turn Hide My IP Address back on and move to the next fix.

Reset Location & Privacy Settings

If your location is not available on your iPhone, or just not updating to your new location, resetting Location & Privacy settings may fix the location on your iPhone or iPad. To do this:

1. Open the Settings app and tap General.
   
   

2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
   
   

3. Tap Reset.
   
   

4. Tap Reset Location & Privacy. 
   
   

5. Enter your passcode to confirm, then tap Reset one more time.

Hopefully, this fix resolved your issue! However, if your current iPhone location is still incorrect, read on.

Restore Your iPhone from an iCloud or iTunes Backup

If none of the previous fixes have made your iPhone location accurate, it's time to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup or, more rarely, from an iTunes backup. Be sure to restore your iPhone from a backup made before your location services stopped updating or working. For more great iPhone and iPad tutorials, check out our free Tip of the Day. 

Hopefully, your iPhone's location is now accurate, and you can use Find My, Weather, Maps, and other apps that use Location Services. If your iPhone location is inaccurate or not updated after the fixes above, you should consult Apple Repair, as you may be dealing with a hardware issue.