Google Chrome uses geolocation data to tailor search results and online experiences to your physical location. While this can be convenient, there are scenarios where IT professionals and advanced users may want to mask or modify their location. This could be for privacy, bypassing regional restrictions, or testing location-based applications. This article provides detailed steps to manage Chrome’s location settings across platforms and explains how to use a VPN for enhanced control.

Why Modify Your Location in Chrome?

Altering your location in Google Chrome can serve several purposes, particularly for technical users:

  • Privacy Protection: Masking your location prevents targeted ads or scams based on your geographic data.
  • Avoiding Price Discrimination: Some online services adjust pricing based on user location, which can be circumvented by changing your apparent location.
  • Application Testing: Developers can simulate different geographic locations to test location-specific features without physical travel.

Changing Location on Chrome for PC or Mac

To manually set a custom location in Chrome on a desktop, you can use the browser’s developer tools. This method is ideal for testing or temporary location changes.

Steps to Set a Custom Location

Follow these steps to override your location in Chrome:

  • Open a new Chrome tab and press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac) to open Developer Tools.
  • Click the three-dot menu in the Developer Tools panel.
  • Select More tools > Sensors.
  • In the Location dropdown, choose a preset city or select Custom to enter specific latitude and longitude coordinates.
  • To find coordinates, visit Google Maps, right-click a location, and copy the coordinates for pasting into the custom location fields.

Note: This change applies only to the active tab and does not affect IP-based geolocation tracking used by some websites.

Disabling Location Tracking in Chrome on PC or Mac

For users who prefer to block location access entirely, Chrome offers settings to restrict websites from accessing your geolocation data.

Steps to Disable Location Tracking

  • Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu > Settings (or enter chrome://settings in the address bar).
  • Navigate to Privacy and security > Site Settings > Location.
  • Toggle the option to Don’t allow sites to see your location.

This setting prevents websites from requesting your location, enhancing privacy across browsing sessions.

Managing Location Settings on Mobile Devices

Chrome on mobile devices (Android and iOS) offers limited options for changing location directly but allows control over which sites can access location data.

Android

To block location access on Chrome for Android:

  • Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu > Settings.
  • Go to Site settings > Location.
  • Set the Location toggle to Blocked.

iOS

To disable location tracking on Chrome for iOS:

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Locate and tap Chrome.
  • Tap Location and select Never.

These settings allow per-site control, enabling you to block or allow location access as needed.

Using a VPN to Change Your Location

For a more robust solution, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can mask your IP address, making it appear as though you’re browsing from a different location. This method is effective for bypassing IP-based geolocation and securing your connection.

How a VPN Works

A VPN routes your internet traffic through a remote server, replacing your device’s IP address with the server’s. This makes websites, including Google, detect the server’s location instead of yours. VPNs also encrypt your data, adding a layer of security.

Steps to Set Up a VPN for Chrome

  • Choose a VPN provider and subscribe to a plan. For pricing details, visit our pricing page.
  • Install the VPN’s Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store or download the VPN app for device-wide protection.
  • Log into the VPN service via the extension or app.
  • Select a server in the desired location and connect.

Note: A Chrome VPN extension only encrypts browser traffic. For full device protection, use a VPN app.

Below is a sample of VPN plans for reference:

Plan Users Devices Price (Monthly)
Individual 1 1 device $3
Family 5 5 devices $5
Business 10 10 devices $7

All plans include: Dedicated IP, Port Forwarding, Unlimited Bandwidth, No-logs Policy, WireGuard & IKEv2.

Conclusion

Changing your location in Google Chrome can enhance privacy, prevent price discrimination, and support application testing. While Chrome’s built-in tools allow manual location overrides or disabling tracking, they are limited against IP-based geolocation. Using a VPN provides a more comprehensive solution by masking your IP address and securing your connection. By combining browser settings and VPN usage, IT professionals can maintain greater control over their online presence.