You visit WheresThatIP.com or another geolocation service and it shows your IP address in a completely different city — or even a different state or country. This is more common than you might think, and there are several reasons why it happens. This guide explains the causes and what you can do about it.
How IP Geolocation Works
IP geolocation databases map IP addresses to physical locations. They do this using a combination of:
- ISP registration data — When ISPs are assigned IP address blocks, they register a geographic location
- Network infrastructure mapping — Tracing network paths and latency measurements
- User-submitted corrections — Feedback from users and organizations
- Wi-Fi and GPS correlation — Matching IP addresses with known physical locations from mobile devices
- BGP routing data — Analyzing how IP traffic is routed globally
These methods provide an approximation, not a precise location. For a deeper analysis of how accuracy varies globally, see our geolocation accuracy guide.
Common Reasons Your IP Location Is Wrong
1. Your ISP Registered the IP in a Different City
This is the most common cause. ISPs allocate IP address blocks at regional or national level, and the registered location may be their headquarters, a data center, or a regional hub — not your actual city. For example, a user in a suburb may see their IP geolocated to the nearest major city, or even a different city entirely where their ISP's network hub is located.
2. You Are Using a VPN or Proxy
If you are connected to a VPN or proxy server, your IP address belongs to that server, not to you. The location shown will be the VPN server's location. Disconnect your VPN and check again at WheresThatIP.com to see your real location.
3. Your ISP Uses CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT)
Many mobile carriers and some fixed-line ISPs use CGNAT, which assigns a single public IP to hundreds or thousands of customers. The geolocation for that IP may reflect the location of the NAT device rather than your location.
4. You Moved but Your IP Did Not Update
If you recently moved to a new area but keep the same ISP and IP address, geolocation databases may still associate your IP with your old location. It can take weeks or months for databases to update.
5. Mobile Network Routing
Mobile carriers route traffic through regional gateways. Your phone's IP might be registered to a city where the carrier's gateway is located, which could be far from where you physically are.
6. Geolocation Database Errors
No geolocation database is perfect. There are multiple competing databases (MaxMind, IP2Location, DB-IP, etc.), and they can disagree. An IP address might show the correct location in one database and the wrong one in another.
7. IPv6 Address Assignment
IPv6 addresses are sometimes less accurately geolocated than IPv4, because IPv6 adoption is newer and geolocation databases have had less time to build accurate mappings.
How Wrong Can IP Geolocation Be?
| Level | Typical Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Country | 95-99% | Very reliable in most cases |
| Region/State | 70-85% | Generally good, but errors happen |
| City | 50-75% | Often shows nearest major city instead |
| Street level | Not possible | IP geolocation cannot determine street addresses |
These numbers vary significantly by country and ISP. Some countries have much better coverage than others.
How to Fix Wrong IP Geolocation
For Your Own IP
- Report to geolocation providers — Major databases have correction forms:
- MaxMind:
maxmind.com/en/geoip-correction - IP2Location:
ip2location.com/feedback - Google: Search "Google IP geolocation correction"
- MaxMind:
- Contact your ISP — Ask them to update the registration data for your IP block
- Restart your router — If you have a dynamic IP, you may get a new IP with correct geolocation
- Wait — Geolocation databases update periodically. Errors often correct themselves over weeks
For Your Website or Business
If your server's IP shows the wrong location and it affects your business (e.g., local SEO, geo-targeting):
- Check what location is shown using our IP Lookup tool
- Contact your hosting provider to ensure correct WHOIS registration
- Submit corrections to all major geolocation database providers
- Use the WHOIS lookup to verify your IP's registration details
Does Wrong IP Location Matter?
For most casual internet users, incorrect IP geolocation is a minor inconvenience. But it can cause real problems for:
- Streaming services — You might be blocked from content available in your country
- Online shopping — Prices and availability may change based on perceived location
- Local search results — Google and other search engines may show results for the wrong area
- Fraud detection — Your bank might flag transactions as suspicious if your IP location does not match
- Content delivery — CDNs might serve content from a distant server, increasing latency
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Google think I am in a different city?
Google uses a combination of IP geolocation, GPS (on mobile), and Wi-Fi positioning. If your IP is geolocated to the wrong city and you are on a desktop without GPS, Google will show the wrong location. Try clearing your browser cookies and searching again, or use Google's location settings to manually correct it.
Why does my VPN show a different location than I selected?
Some VPN servers are "virtually located" — the server is physically in one country but assigned an IP from another. The geolocation database may show the physical location rather than the intended virtual location. Try a different server in the same country.
Can I make my IP show a specific location?
You cannot change where your IP is geolocated directly, but you can use a VPN to get an IP address that geolocates to your desired location. Choose a VPN server in the city you want to appear in.