Where Google gets your location and how to change it

Google uses your location in three separate ways, and you control each one differently. Your device location comes from GPS, Bluetooth, and nearby WiFi networks — you turned that on or off in the previous guide. Your Google Account location is what you tell Google about where you live or work, which it uses for ads and search results. Your location history is a record Google keeps of everywhere your phone has been, which you can delete or turn off entirely. Most people need to change their account location, not their device location.

The steps differ depending on whether you are on a phone, tablet, or computer, and whether you use Android or Apple. This guide covers the most common scenario: changing where Google thinks you live so your search results and ads match your actual location.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Google Account location is separate from your device location — changing one does not change the other.
  • On Android, go to Settings, then Google, then Manage Your Google Account, then the Location tab to update where you live.
  • On iPhone or iPad, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Settings, then Personal Info to change your home address.
  • On a computer, visit myaccount.google.com, click Personal Info on the left, then edit your home or work address directly.
  • Google location history is optional and separate — you can turn it off in Settings without affecting your account location.

Changing your location on Android phones and tablets

Open the Settings app on your Android device. Scroll down and tap Google. Tap Manage Your Google AccountLocation. You will see a section called "Your places" with options for Home and Work. Tap the pencil icon next to Home (or Work, if that is what you want to change). Type in your address or search for it on the map. Tap Save when you are done.

If you do not see a Location tab, your phone may be using an older version of Google services. Swipe left on the tabs at the top until you find it, or update your Google app from the Play Store. The location you enter here is what Google uses to personalize your search results, show you nearby businesses, and target ads to your area.

Changing your location on iPhone or iPad

Open the Google Maps app. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Personal Info. Tap Home or Work to edit that address. Type in your address or search for it on the map. Tap Save when you are done.

If you do not use Google Maps, you can also change your location through your Google Account on the web (see the next section) and it will sync to your iPhone. Apple's location services and Google's location settings are separate — turning off location services in iPhone Settings will not change your Google Account location, but it will prevent Google from tracking your location history.

Changing your location on a computer

Go to myaccount.google.com in your web browser. On the left side, click Personal Info. Look for the "Home" or "Work" section and click the pencil icon to edit. Type in your address or use the map to find it. Click Save when you are done.

This change syncs to all your devices within a few hours. If you are signed into multiple Google Accounts on the same device, each account can have its own location — Google will use whichever account you are signed into when you search.

The difference between account location and location history

Your account location (what you just changed) tells Google where you live so it can show you relevant results and ads. Your location history is a separate record of everywhere your phone has been, stored in your Google Account. You can have location history turned on while your account location is set to a different city, or vice versa.

To turn off location history, go to myaccount.google.com, click Data & Privacy on the left, scroll down to "Web & App Activity," and toggle it off. You can also delete your location history by clicking My Activity, then the three-dot menu, then Delete activity by, and selecting a date range. Deleting history does not change your account location — it just removes the record Google kept of where you have been.

Why Google might show the wrong location even after you change it

If you changed your account location but Google still shows results for a different city, the problem is usually your device location, not your account location. Go back to the previous guide and check that location services are actually on. Google prioritizes your device location (from GPS or WiFi) over your account location when both are available.

Another reason is that you may be signed into a different Google Account than you think. Check the profile picture in the top right corner of Google Search or Gmail — if it is not the account you just edited, sign out and sign back in to the correct one. If you use a work Google Account and a personal account, make sure you are searching while signed into the one whose location you changed.

What happens to your old location data

Changing your account location does not delete any old searches or history tied to your previous location. Google keeps your search history and activity log separate from your location setting. If you want to remove old activity, go to myaccount.google.com, click My Activity, and delete entries by date or by product (Search, Maps, YouTube, etc.).

If you are concerned about Google tracking your location at all, you have options beyond just changing your address. You can turn off location history entirely, pause Web & App Activity, or use Incognito mode in Google Search (which does not save your searches). None of these steps will change your account location — they only affect what Google records about your behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my Google location affect my phone's GPS?

No. Your Google Account location and your phone's GPS are separate systems. Changing your account location in Google Settings does not turn GPS on or off, and turning off GPS does not change your account location. You control them independently.

Will changing my location stop Google from showing me ads for my old city?

Usually, yes — Google uses your account location to target ads. However, if your device location services are still on and showing your old location, Google may use that instead. Check that your device is reporting the correct location, or turn off location services entirely if you do not want Google to use GPS.

Can I set multiple home locations in Google?

Google lets you set a Home address and a Work address, but not more than two. If you split time between three or more places, you can update your Home address as needed, but Google will only remember the most recent one you saved.

What if I share a Google Account with someone else?

Do not share a Google Account. Each person should have their own account. If you do share one, changing the location affects both of you, and Google will use whichever location your shared device is currently reporting. Create separate accounts so each person's location and search history stay private.

Does Google know my location if I turn off location services?

Google can still estimate your location from your WiFi network and IP address, but it will be less precise. Your account location setting will still be whatever you entered manually. If you want Google to have no location information about you, turn off location services, delete your account location, and turn off location history.