How to change your VPN location
While you have plenty of VPN providers to choose from, most VPN apps work in much the same way, so you don’t need technical experience to switch locations. Most of the time, the process of changing your VPN location will look like this:
- 1.Choose a reliable VPN provider. Pick a service with plenty of server locations so you can easily find the best country for a VPN based on what you want to do online.
- 2.Download and install the app. Complete the VPN download from your provider’s website or your device’s app store.
- 3.Log in to your account. Open the app and log in with your account credentials.
- 4.Choose a location. Browse the list of countries or use the search bar to find a specific VPN server location.
- 5.Connect to the server. Tap or click the server you want to connect to.
That’s all there is to it. From that point on, websites and online services see the VPN server’s IP address and virtual location instead of your real IP.
DISCLAIMER
But keep in mind that a VPN changes your location online, not your GPS location. Apps that rely on GPS, browser location permissions, or your device’s location services can still determine where you are.
The exact steps of changing your location using a VPN may look slightly different depending on your provider and device, of course. Below, we’ll show you how to change the VPN location with NordVPN on each supported platform.
How to change your VPN location on an iPhone
If you want to change your IP address on an iPhone, with NordVPN, it only takes a few taps:
- 1.Open the NordVPN app and sign in.
- 2.Browse the map or use the search bar to find a VPN server location you need. If you don’t need a specific destination, tap “Secure my connection” instead. NordVPN will automatically choose the fastest available server for your network.
- 3.Tap the country or city you want to use.
- 4.Wait for the connection to complete.
- 5.To change your location online again, tap another server.
How to change your VPN location on Android
The process on Android works almost the same as it does on iPhone. The interface looks slightly different, but the steps stay the same:
- 1.Open the NordVPN app and sign in.
- 2.Browse the map, search for the country or city you want, or tap “Secure my connection” to find the fastest available server automatically.
- 3.Tap on the server of your preferred VPN location.
- 4.Wait until the app confirms the connection.
- 5.To change the VPN location again, select another server from the map or server list.
How to change your VPN location on Windows
Changing your VPN location on Windows with NordVPN only takes a few clicks:
- 1.Open the NordVPN app and sign in.
- 2.Browse the map, scroll through the list of countries, or use the search bar to find a VPN server location.
- 3.Click the country or city you want to use.
- 4.Wait until NordVPN confirms the connection.
- 5.To change your VPN location, click another server on the map or in the server list.
If you don’t have a specific destination in mind, click “Secure my connection.” NordVPN will automatically choose the fastest available server for your network.
How to change your VPN location on macOS
The NordVPN app on macOS works much like the Windows version, so switching locations feels familiar if you use both operating systems:
- 1.Open the NordVPN app and sign in.
- 2.Browse the map, scroll through the list of countries, or search for a location. If speed matters more for you than the specific destination, click “Secure my connection” and let NordVPN choose the best server for you.
- 3.Click the country or city you want.
- 4.Wait for NordVPN to establish the connection.
- 5.To change your VPN location, select another server.
How to change your VPN location on Linux
You can change your location with a VPN on Linux using either the Linux VPN graphical app or Terminal. The GUI works much like the apps on Windows and macOS. If you prefer the command line, follow the steps below:
- 1.
Open Terminal. Before you continue, make sure you’ve already set up a VPN app on Linux.
- 2.
Log in to NordVPN.
nordvpn login - 3.
Connect to a VPN server with the "
nordvpn connect [country_code] " command. Replace “[country code]” with the country you want to connect to. For example, if you want to connect to a server in the UK, use “uk.”nordvpn connect uk - 4.
If you want to switch to a different server after connecting, disconnect from your current server, then run the “nordvpn connect [country code]” command again with the new country code.
nordvpn disconnect
How do I know if my virtual location has changed?
The easiest way to confirm that your VPN works is to check your IP address location after you connect.
Open an IP lookup tool and compare the reported country or city with the VPN location you selected. If the locations match, your VPN has successfully changed your virtual location. For example, if you connect to an Australia VPN server, websites should see an Australian IP address instead of the one associated with your current location.
Keep in mind that your virtual location isn’t the same as your physical location. A VPN changes the IP address that websites and online services see. It doesn’t change your phone’s GPS location or the location your browser receives through device permissions.
What to do if my VPN isn’t changing my location
If your VPN doesn’t appear to change your location, the VPN may not be the problem. Websites and apps often store location data in several places. If a problem happens, try one of these fixes:
- Reconnect to the VPN server. Disconnect and reconnect to the same server. Many VPN services assign a new IP address every time you establish a connection, which may fix the problem.
- Choose another server. Switch to a different server in the same country or try another nearby location.
- Restart the VPN app or your device. A fresh connection often clears temporary network issues.
- Clear your browser’s cookies and cache. Some websites store information from previous visits. If a page still shows your old region after you connect, refresh the page or clear your browser cookies and cache before checking again.
- Check your location permissions. A VPN changes your online location, not your GPS location. If your browser or an app can access your device’s GPS, it may ignore your VPN connection.
- Contact NordVPN Support. If the problem doesn’t go away, our support team can help you identify the cause and get everything working again.
Other ways to change your IP location
A VPN app offers the easiest and most reliable way to change your location online, but it isn’t your only option. If you’d rather not use a VPN, you can change your IP address manually in a few ways:
- Proxy server. A proxy routes your internet traffic through another server and changes your IP address for the websites you visit. However, most proxies don’t encrypt your traffic, so they don’t offer the same level of online security as a VPN.
- Tor Browser. Tor sends your browser traffic through several volunteer-operated servers to change your IP address. It provides anonymity, but it usually works much more slowly than a VPN. It also protects only the traffic inside the Tor Browser, not the rest of your device.
- Manual IP address change. You can change your local network settings or request a new IP address from your internet service provider. While changing your IP this way may give you a different public IP address, it usually won’t let you appear in another country or protect your internet traffic.
- Router restart. If your internet provider assigns dynamic IP addresses, restarting your router may result in a new IP address. However, you’ll most likely receive another IP address from the same region, so this method won’t help if you want to appear somewhere else.
Why would I want to change my location?
Most people change their VPN location to improve their privacy online, but that’s only one of the benefits. Depending on what you want to do, changing your IP address can help you:
- Improve your privacy and online security. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, which helps protect your data from snoopers on unsecured Wi-Fi networks. While changing your VPN location doesn’t stop every cyber threat, it adds an important layer of online privacy and security when you browse.
- Compare prices while shopping. Many sites offer different prices to visitors from different countries. Once you learn how to change your location online, you can explore global prices and use a VPN to get cheaper flights or purchase goods for less.
- Reduce online tracking. Many websites combine your IP address with cookies and other information to recognize returning visitors. A VPN replaces your IP address with the VPN server’s, which makes it harder for websites, advertisers, and other third parties to build a profile around your online activity.
- Access content from your home country while traveling. When you’re away from home, certain content, such as paid streaming services or websites, may be restricted based on your location. If you change the VPN location to that of your home country, you can easily access your favorite shows, news, and other content you pay for as if you were right there.
- Test websites and apps. Developers, marketers, and QA teams often connect through different countries to check localized content, regional pricing, translations, or how a website behaves for users in different locations.
DISCLAIMER
Please note that using NordVPN to bypass any regulatory or judicial measures, or for any other illegal activities is strictly prohibited and violates our Terms of Service. Make sure you use NordVPN in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as the terms of any websites or services you access using NordVPN.
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