My location according to Google is wrong

[#1]

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

[#2]

@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.

[#3]

@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

[#4]

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).

[#5]

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.

[#6]

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

[#7]

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.

[#8]

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

[#9]

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.

[#10]

@penneck 

perhaps you should have looked at the extensive google help pages

Understand & manage your location when you search on Google

[#11]

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

[#12]

@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.

[#13]

@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

[#14]

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.

[#15]

@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