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. Urban residents have a huge advantage over everyone else who plays the game, while people living out in the country are stuck in deserted lands with nary a Pidgey in sight. So let’s even the playing field a bit, shall we?
By using mock location apps, you can trick the app into thinking you are somewhere you’re not. This GPS hack for Pokemon Go means you can hunt and battle in New York City’s Central Park, for example, from anywhere in the world. In this article, we’ll talk you through what you need to spoof your location 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.
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 here. 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, we particularly recommend NordVPN, but Surfshark and IPVanish are solid choices also.
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Once you’ve signed up for a VPN, pick a server near where you want to hunt and connect to it. NordVPN, IPVanish, and all the VPNs we recommend for Android have servers all over the world, including dozens in the US alone.
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
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:
- Connect to a server in the US using a VPN app of your choice. We recommend NordVPN however, Surfshark and IPVanish are great alternatives.
- Go into your phone settings, select Applications > Google Play Store > Storage
- Tap CLEAR DATA and confirm
- Open Google Play and accept the terms of service
- 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
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:
- Connect to a server in the US using a VPN app of your choice
- Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store
- Tap the “View Apple ID” link
- Click “Country/Region” > Change country or region”
- Tap the United States and click Agree
- When prompted for an address, simply use a random US address, such as a hotel or hostel
- When prompted to input new payment information, tap “none” or enter an iTunes gift card code
- Open the App Store, search for Pokemon Go
- Download, install, and enjoy!
Pokemon Go location spoofing FAQs
Can I play Pokemon go without moving?
Yes, you can use the GPS spoofing and VPN method above to play Pokemon Go wherever you like without physically moving or leaving your home.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
is there any app from which I can change both my GPS location and IP address location like vpn + gps. and if there is a feature of time interval from which the GPS and VPN location change in every X Seconds it will be great!
Can I GPS spoof without getting banned?
We can’t guarantee it.
Hello I live in india .how to go New York in Pokemon go ?
I am from India and I have downloaded pokemon go and tried to play…but there is no pokemon near me….or anything…I can see only roads etc. Help me please I am dying to play pokemon go.
I can move…but can’t find any pokemon near me..nor pokestop or anything and I am from India…plzz help me..
Well i have samsung galaxy note 2 and its android version is kitkat. as i am not able to use android pokemon hack. do you have any suggestion for me to use pokemon go in android ?
DOne !!! But i can find a single pokemon or pokestops pls help , even if i put the coordinates
i cant move my avatar and its say failed to detect location (my fake gps app and VPN is on)
Yes it will display a failed warning, but Pokemon will still appear. You can’t move the avatar with the GPS spoof app on, so I suggest you input coordinates using http://www.pokevision.com/
hi i have downloaded the app pokemon go via US playstore … i live in Pakistan and i want to do spoofing. how does it it work? i mean i’m really confused . Do I turn on the gps or not, and how to set it to new york?
Hi Pakistani,
Did you download and install the GPS spoofer app that I linked to? Open it and then you can set your location using a map.
Best,
Paul
i did all the steps u said … so tell me how to move the avatar and should i turn the GPS to high accuracy ???
You can’t move the avatar. The GPS should be turned on. You can use this site: http://www.pokevision.com/ to find the coordinates of Pokemon, then input those into the GPS spoof app.
Hi,
I am from india. First of all thanks for this post… As you guided i have connected to vpn for US and cleared data for play store. But when i try to open pokemon go i am not able to find. If i search and download via chrome i get message that its not available for my country can you please help
1 more update i am now able to search pokemon go in google play but when i go for installing i get message as this app is not compatible with all your devices
That’s a device issue, not a region issue.
Follow all the instruction and downloaded the game. The catch is, the map is empty, can’t play it all.
I’ve added some instructions for GPS spoofing that can be used for players in the Philippines to play Pokemon Go as well as other countries that don’t have Pokemon yet.
Hi Simon,
What country are you in? As I mentioned at the bottom of the post, some countries are still bare and have no Pokemon. Only countries with an upcoming release will have them there ahead of time.
Best,
Paul
nicee
Can u use a VPN and download the game then just play or is it recessary to keep the vpn on? Cuz i life close to the US/ Canada border and was rhinking of just driving 30 min and downloading it over there then coming back. also how soon do u think a canadian release mught occur (estimate (
Hi George,
You don’t need to keep the VPN while playing. It’s just for downloading the official version from the App Store/Google Play store. I have no idea when a Canadian release might be, but I expect sooner than later since there are already Pokemon there.
Best,
Paul
Butt… In my case im in philippines.. I downloaded the app already but… I cant connect to the servers… I only see roads in the app…. Theres no PokeStops or Aything…
Pls.. How do i connect to the servers?
Hi Kaedei,
I just added a section on GPS spoofing to the bottom of the article so you can play from anywhere, although it’s a bit of a hassle.
Best,
Paul
Please read to the bottom of the article. Not all countries are populated with Pokemon yet.
but i dont understand.. The thing is that i appear in the map but i cant move and i dont see anything… HELP? do i need to use vpn while playing?