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Google combines a number of methods that include your search history, mobile phone positioning data, cookies, and other information that helps it to know your location even if you are using a VPN. It gets even easier for Google to figure out your physical location if you’re using Google Maps on a mobile device with the same account as your other devices.
VPN is an amazing technology that allows you to hide your physical location and your online traffic. This is possible thanks to establishing an encrypted tunnel between your computer and a VPN server. Unfortunately, sometimes, you may still get surprised by why Google still knows your location, despite your habit of always using a VPN.
How is it even possible for Google to detect your location while you are connected to the Internet via a VPN? The entire idea of a VPN is complete anonymity. That means your real IP address must be hidden as soon as you have connected to a VPN.
If you are not a real privacy geek, there are some reasons for your location cover being blown and you may even not be aware of some actions that are leading to this issue. Before we jump to a guide on hiding your position from Google, let’s take a closer look at what Google is using to locate your device.
Here is how Google knows your location when you’re using a VPN
Before we dive deep into techniques used by Google to locate you, let’s have a shortlist of what Google can do when it wants to know your location:
- Using your real IP address that is leaked via an unreliable VPN
- Via cookies and location history stored in your browser
- Receiving your location from your GPS module
- Using the triangulation via GSM data of your mobile phone
- Approximating your location based on your mobile phone location
- Location detection based on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks nearby
In the next section, I will share some details on how exactly Google is using every method to detect your physical location.
Methods used by Google to detect your location despite using a VPN
Depending on what type of device you are using and which services are turned on, Google may one or many data sources to precisely detect your physical location. These methods work even if you’re using the best VPN.
But, it’s not a problem with your VPN provider in most cases. Because of some preconditions, and the actions that you have taken while not using a VPN, the disguise might not work.
While the easiest thing for Google is to pinpoint your geographical coordinates when you are using a mobile device, there are some less obvious ways of knowing your desktop PC’s location. This gets even easier if you’re not following safety advice, like always using an incognito mode in your browser, avoiding sign-in to your Google account when not necessary, and other mistakes that you can make.
Let’s take a look at the most frequent methods that Google uses to calculate your location, disregarding whether you have a VPN or not.
Your real IP address
Even though this method is not applicable when you are using a VPN (unless your VPN provider is leaking), it’s the first method Google would utilize in order to detect the country where you are located and the nearest big city to you.
In the case of using a desktop PC, you might notice that sometimes, when trying to locate yourself in Google Maps, the location will not be exactly accurate. If you reside in a rural area, far from the big city, your location will oftentimes get approximated to the nearest big city.
This Geo-location technique has been around since the beginning of the Internet and hasn’t changed much since. If your VPN provider is reliable enough and is protected from DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, then IP address-based location will not work for Google.
Cookies in your browser, and the location history
In case Google can not precisely detect your physical location via the IP address, it would try to figure that out by using your cookies and location history feature. The latter is only available if you’re using a Google account and have it enabled.
It’s not only relevant for Google. Many other websites with cookies and profile features will use this data to make a guess of your real location. Like, if your site’s profile includes fields like City, State, and ZIP code, then the website will assume your location based on previously entered data.
However, this method is not going to work if you switch into an incognito mode (Ctrl+Shift+N/Command+Shift+N in most browsers). You also need to make sure you’re not signing into your Google account or another website’s profile.
The location from your GPS module
This one is a very obvious way and is very precise too. Laptops and desktop PCs can not be located with this method (unless an external GPS module is plugged in). However, this works very well for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets that usually have a built-in GPS module. So, if your device’s GPS is turned on, it’s fairly easy for Google to detect your physical location.
Triangulation via GSM data of your mobile phone
Another popular way to precisely find your location is by using your mobile provider’s data taken from base stations located around you. This method will only work if you are using a smartphone or a tablet with a GSM module that has a SIM card installed and is not put into airplane mode.
This method of locating you is pretty much useless if your device is a desktop PC or even a laptop. But, if using any of the cellular devices like smartphones, tablets with GSM modules, or GSM modems – this method is going to provide very precise data of your location to Google, no matter if you have a VPN enabled or not.
Approximation based on your mobile phone location
This may sound complicated, but in fact, it’s not. One of the non-obvious ways for Google to detect the physical coordinates of your laptop or desktop computer is to guess them based on what data is available from your mobile devices. Google will use this method when others are not available.
If you are logged into a Google account on both a desktop PC with VPN turned on, and a mobile device that either does not have a VPN turned on or has a GPS running, Google may take your mobile phone’s location and use it as your desktop or a laptop computer’s location. So, you can easily blow your cover by using a Google account on a device that has lesser protection against location tracking.
Location detection based on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks nearby
Last but not least. One of the best and most precise modern ways to locate your device. This applies to laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and basically any device type that supports and are using wireless networks.
Google has a large database of Wi-Fi networks thanks to their street-view cars that have recorded most of the world’s existing Wi-Fi networks, and have measured their signal strength. With that data, Google can easily know your location very precisely (with the error of not more than 6.6 feet) no matter where in the world you are.
How do you hide your location from Google when using a VPN?
Now, as we’ve discovered most of the possible methods for Google to locate you, it’s time to find out what actions need to be taken if you want to completely hide your physical coordinates from Big Brother.
Based on the info from the first part of this article I have prepared some steps that you must take to protect your location info from Google’s eyes.
Here is the checklist of actions you must take when hiding your location with a VPN.
Turn off positioning modules like GPS or GLONASS
If you are using a mobile phone, smartphone, or tablet with navigation features available, turning those off would prevent Google from knowing your precise location, and allow you to use the VPN safely.
Turning off the cellular network is also desirable, but in that case, you won’t be able to use the Internet and make phone calls.
As you can see, there is really a limitation on what you can do to hide your location, when using a VPN on a mobile device. Not using mobile devices with a Google account will help hide your coordinates.
Use the incognito mode of your favorite web Browser
Since Google and other sites can detect your location via cookies, it is recommended to use incognito mode whenever possible if you want your location hidden. You can also choose to delete all the cookies (but be advised – you will have to re-login to most of the websites you are using) before you establish a VPN connection. This will prevent third parties from detecting your location based on past sessions that happened before a VPN connection.
Do not allow Google and other sites to access your device’s location
Most modern browsers would ask your permission when any of the websites request your location. You can always choose to not allow sharing your location, therefore not letting Google and others know where you are.
Check your VPN provider for WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS leaks
There are still some VPNs that would suffer from different types of leaks. You can always check if your VPN is leaking by using the following websites:
If you are using one of the best and most reliable VPN providers, you will unlikely face any type of leaks mentioned above.
It is also important to use a VPN client app with a built-in Kill-Switch feature. This will prevent you from blowing your location cover should your VPN connection suddenly drop.
Log off of your Google account on the device you want to be hidden from Google
When using a VPN on your laptop or a desktop PC, do not forget to sign off of your Google account. If you have your mobile phone also turned on and connected to a network, Google will use your phone’s location as if it was your VPN-connected device’s location.
This will only happen if you are signed in to Google on both your smartphone and another device using the same Google account.
Always use a wired Internet connection
As we’ve discovered earlier, when using the Internet via Wi-Fi, your wireless network adapter will always be on. This will allow Google and other sites to approximate your location based on the surrounding Wi-Fi networks.
Using the Internet via an “old-school” wired connection combined with a VPN will prevent this from happening. Do not forget to also turn your wireless network adapter off when doing so. You better also apply the previous advice and sign off from a Google account on a device that you want to use with Wi-Fi.
Bottom line
Google utilizes sophisticated algorithms based on multiple sources of data to discover your physical location. Even if you are using a VPN, there is no guarantee your physical location is completely unknown to Google. Having said that, now you know a bunch of effective ways to prevent Google from knowing your position.
If you are really into hiding your location, you may also try using virtual machines when you want to be completely hidden from location services.
Using a reliable VPN with a zero-logging policy is another solid way for you to stay completely anonymous. Even if you implement all the recommendations from this article, your location is still at risk if an unreliable VPN provider fails to cover you.
