topic Re: My location according to Google is wrong in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

My location according to Google is wrong

penneck — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 17:14:30 GMT

I assume that Google uses my location to list things that are near me when I do a search, rather than hundreds of miles away. The trouble is, Google seems to think I am about 40 miles from where I actually am. The Google location apparently is based on my IP Address. Does Plusnet allocate my IP Address, and if so, have they given me an IP address for another area because Plusnet doesn't understand where I am? Are they assuming my county must be VERY small (like Rutland was before it was consumed by Leicestershire) when it aint? With all due respect to Rutland, Dorset may not be Yorkshire, but its not microscopic either.

Are there benefits for me to correct this (and I don't mean 'move 40 miles')? If so, how do I persuade Google to use my correct location?

Thanks for any help

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

jab1 — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 17:32:56 GMT

@penneck If it's any comfort, I live in Sheffield, but Google thinks I'm in Leicester, and I'm not with Plusnet, so you can't blame them.

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

Dan_the_Van — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:12:10 GMT

@penneck

It can depend on which geolocation data being used https://www.iplocation.net/ip-lookup

According to https://ipgeolocation.io/ I live near @jab1 but I don't, I live somewhere on the south coast.

Dan

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

jab1 — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:20:22 GMT

Thanks, @Dan_the_Van - maybe I should have thought of that.

According to that, I'm in Rayleigh,Ashdon, London, Grantham, Rochdale, Kingston-upon-Thames, City of Westminster or Rotherham (which is close, but wrong).

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

bobpullen — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:23:17 GMT

At the bottom of any Google search, I think there's a hyperlink that allows you to update your location. Might have to be logged in though. I'm always signed into my Google account so it knows to associate my Plusnet IP address/SSID to my home address.

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

jab1 — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:28:31 GMT

OK Bob - I never log into Google - haven't got/don't need an account.

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

jab1 — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:53:43 GMT

As a point of interest, I have had a fixed IP for 18 months, and iplocation usually puts me in the area around Rochdale (my ISPs HQ location) or the London area, where their backbone is, not usually as 'spread out' as that.

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

penneck — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:44:31 GMT

The points of my post were:-

1. Should I be bothered or not that it thinks I'm in North West Dorset, when I'm in South East Dorset?

2. Would I get better search results if I corrected what Google Chrome thinks is my location?

3. How do I correct it? I haven't been able to find anywhere to produce a Google account. I assume from that point, and having generated a Google account, I would be able to find how to correct the location reasonably easily.

Thanks for your help

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

jab1 — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:48:01 GMT

It depends how close you want the results - I usually just add my current location to the search query.

You'll have to ask someone who knows about Google accounts - I won't touch them.

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

Dan_the_Van — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:54:17 GMT

@penneck

perhaps you should have looked at the extensive google help pages

Understand & manage your location when you search on Google

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

penneck — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:55:29 GMT

I've found the link at the bottom of the page - it is what is telling me where it thinks I am - but I haven't been able to persuade it to let me modify that location

Graham

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

jab1 — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 20:02:45 GMT

@Dan_the_Van Even though I don't carry the laptop around when I'm out, it keeps moving me - I've been in Hucknall for a long time, but it has now moved me back to Sheffield, albeit about seven miles Northwest.

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

Dan_the_Van — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 20:12:35 GMT

@penneck

Try looking here https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info?hl=en scroll to the bottom of the page, hopefully it's what your looking for.

@jab1 I mainly use google chrome with a google account, to me it appears to be a dark art how geo locations works with IP Addresses

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

jab1 — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 20:17:24 GMT

That explains a bit, @Dan_the_Van . I use FireFox on all devices, but have location services turned off on the laptop. Still can't work out how it assumed for about six months I was in Hucknall then suddenly changed its mind.

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

shutter — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 09:39:13 GMT

@penneck Shouldn`t worry about it !... but... maybe you should think of changing your user name to "Pimpernel"

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/27376-they-seek-him-here-they-seek-him-there-those-frenchies

Re: My location according to Google is wrong

penneck — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 10:05:55 GMT

I've no doubt been called far worse things than Pimpernel in my time.

I'm not worrying about Google thinking i am a long way from home, but I'm sure this only started happening a few months ago. It's just got a bit irritating.

Anyway, I suggest we close this post, as I don't seem to be getting near a resolution to it.

Cheers and thanks to everyone. Have a nice Christmas