change location pokemon go

Pokemon Go is now worldwide, but that doesn’t mean everyone has equal access to Pokemon. Those who live in big cities will find far more Pokemon, Pokestops, and gyms in their area than those who live in the suburbs and rural areas with nary a Pidgey in sight. Luckily, it’s easy enough to level the playing field by changing your location and making the Pokemon Go app think you re somewhere that you’re not.

Using mock location apps as a GPS hack for Pokemon Go means you can hunt and battle in, for example, New York City’s Central Park without leaving your hometown. In this article, we’ll talk you through what you need to spoof your location from anywhere in the world and how to go about it.

Pokemon Go VPN cheat using a GPS Hack

If you’re dead set on playing Pokemon Go but live in a barren region, you will need three things: a GPS spoofing app, a mock locations masking module, and a VPN. These tools allow you to change your location on the map in Pokemon to anywhere you like. We recommend placing yourself in a big city like New York or Chicago, where Pokemon are most prevalent.

gps spoofer android
Need help choosing which VPN to use to spoof your location on Pokemon Go? Here’s a summary of the ones we recommend, or you can check out more detailed reviews of each in our Best VPNs for Gaming article.

  1. NordVPN: Our top recommended VPN. Extremely fast, servers in over 5,500 locations in 60+ countries, including plenty in the US. Strong security and privacy protocols. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. Surfshark: Best budget alternative. Solid choice for gaming. Reliable servers, great multi-platform support, strong encryption, and allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
  3. ExpressVPN: Operates servers in 94 countries. Fast connections and works with a wide range of devices, including Android and iOS.
  4. CyberGhost: Great beginner-friendly VPN. Solid provider with plenty of useful features for gaming online and a vast network of over 9,000 servers. 45-day money-back guarantee.
  5. IPVanish: Fast servers in more than 75 locations. Tier 1 network. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections for gaming on multiple devices.

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How to spoof your Pokemon Go location on Android

GPS spoofing on Android is fairly easy with an app like this one. Go to Settings > About Device and tap the Build Number seven times to enable developer mode. Back in the settings, you now have a new tab called Developer Options. Click into it and check the box that says “Select mock location app” (on older versions, this will be “Allow mock locations”).

Pokemon Go got wise to mock location apps early on, so you will not be able to play and might even get banned if caught using one. For this reason, you’ll also need to install a module called “Mock Mock Locations.” This simple add-on prevents apps from detecting that you have mock locations enabled in your settings. You can download the module APK from the Xposed repo. It installs just like a third-party application.

Now for the VPN. Pokemon Go can detect if your device’s IP address does not match your GPS location. This is where the VPN comes in. A VPN encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through a server in a location of your choosing, masking your IP address in the process. This hack will work with various VPNs, but we particularly recommend NordVPN.

Once you’ve signed up for a VPN, pick a server near where you want to hunt and connect to it. NordVPN, Surfshark,  ExpressVPN, and all the VPNs we recommend for Android have servers all over the world, including dozens in the US alone.

IPVanish android server location

Once that’s ready, open the spoofing app and set a location. With the VPN turned on, open Pokemon Go, and you should see some Pokemon around!

How to spoof your Pokemon Go location on iOS

GPS spoofing on iOS is a bit tougher, and you’ll need to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad first. Find, download, and install Protect My Privacy from Cydia, a mobile package manager for jailbroken iPhones. In the app, go to Location and select Protect. Here you can use a map to drop a pin on your desired fake location. Once that’s done, connect to your VPN and open Pokemon Go to get started.

The downside of GPS spoofing is you can’t really walk around because the spoofing app holds you in place, so you’ll have to switch back to the GPS app to change your location and get near Pokemon. Pick a place with a lot of lures so that Pokemon will spawn on top of you without having to move.

Use a VPN to download Pokemon Go for Android on Google Play

google play clear data screen

If you’re traveling in a country where Pokemon Go hasn’t been released yet, follow these steps to get Pokemon Go from the American version of Google Play.

Here’s how to get Pokemon Go from anywhere:

  1. Connect to a server in the US using a VPN app of your choice. We recommend NordVPN however, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and IPVanish are great alternatives.
  2. Go into your phone settings, select Applications > Google Play Store > Storage
  3. Tap CLEAR DATA and confirm
  4. Open Google Play and accept the terms of service
  5. Search for Pokemon Go, download, install, and enjoy!

Google Play will now be configured for the US store. Even if you turn off the VPN, you should still be able to access the American version, at least until you turn off your phone and turn it back on again.

Use a VPN to get Pokemon Go on iOS from the Apple App Store

ios itunes apple id
If you’re traveling in a country where Pokemon Go hasn’t been released yet, follow these instructions to get Pokemon Go on iPhone from the US App Store.

Here’s how to get Pokemon Go on iPhone:

  1. Connect to a server in the US using a VPN app of your choice
  2. Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store
  3. Tap the “View Apple ID” link
  4. Click “Country/Region” > Change country or region”
  5. Tap the United States and click Agree
  6. When prompted for an address, simply use a random US address, such as a hotel or hostel
  7. When prompted to input new payment information, tap “none” or enter an iTunes gift card code
  8. Open the App Store, search for Pokemon Go
  9. Download, install, and enjoy!

change location pokemon go

Pokemon Go location spoofing: FAQs

Can I use a free VPN to spoof my location on Pokemon Go?

It’s possible, but free VPNs tend to lack the privacy and security standards of their paid counterparts. They often leak data that can reveal your true location, such as DNS requests and WebRTC connections. Free VPNs tend to have far fewer locations available as well, limiting the places you can hunt for Pokemon.

Also, be wary of free VPNs that track your online activity and sell the data to third parties. Some free VPNs are just honeypots with malware payloads, so be careful!

What do i need to know before changing my location in Pokemon Go?

Spoofing your location in Pokemon Go is against the rules and could get you banned if caught. That’s why it’s important to take every precaution—VPN, GPS spoofing app, and mock location module—in order for it to work.

How do Pokemon Go bans work?

If you’re caught violating Niantic’s rules in Pokemon Go, such as using spoofing to change location, you’ll likely get a soft ban that lasts 12 hours for a first offense. Repeat offenders will get a soft ban for 24 hours; the subsequent punishment is one week. You can tell if you’ve been soft bans as Pokemon you encounter will flee immediately, and you’ll be unable to catch anything during the ban window. The final straw is a hard ban, preventing you from accessing the game and erasing your progress.

What devices can you spoof your Pokemon Go location on?

You can spoof your Pokemon Go location on any device that has a GPS and supports the Pokemon Go app, which for right now just includes iOS and Android phones and tablets. Note that iOS devices must be jailbroken to properly spoof your GPS location.

How can I play Pokemon Go on a PC?

You can play Pokemon Go on a PC using an Android emulator. Bluestacks is a popular choice, or you could try a developer option like Android Studio. You’ll need to take the same steps outlined above to spoof your GPS location and IP address. 

What other games is a VPN useful for?

A VPN is useful not only for Pokemon Go but for almost any online game. The reason for this is that VPNs provide a multitude of benefits. For starters, they can be used to access geo-blocked games as well as to bypass unfair or erroneous bans. If you’re suffering from slow speeds (perhaps due to bandwidth throttling), a VPN may improve your connection and lower your ping while playing games online. Last but not least, a VPN can protect you from DDoS attacks because your IP address is hidden when using one.