Updated on: August 31, 2024
Only 3 Steps (Quick & Easy) to Change Your Location on Android in 2024:
- Download and install a VPN. Find a good VPN, get a subscription, and then download its app from the Play Store. I personally recommend ExpressVPN, as it’s the best VPN for changing your Android location.
- Open the VPN app. Next, scroll through the list of available servers and connect to your desired location. Or just use the quick-connect tool if you want the fastest speeds.
- That’s it! Once you’re connected to the VPN server, your Android location will change to match the location of said server.
There are many ways to change your Android location, but most of them are risky. If you pick the wrong method, not only will your location remain the same — but it might even be compromised if it’s shared with the wrong third parties or malicious actors!
I’ll show you the safest, easiest, and quickest way to do that — long story short, it’s by using a VPN. This is an online app that changes your location by sending your traffic through an encrypted server. I outlined the best VPNs for changing your Android location in this article, but my favorite one is ExpressVPN. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Change Your Location on Any Android Device
1. Choose a VPN with a native Android app.
My top choice is ExpressVPN. Its Android app is very user-friendly, and it has servers in 105 countries, giving you plenty of options to change location on your Android device. Plus, it has top-notch streaming support.
2. Download and install the VPN to your Android.
You can download the app from the Google Play Store or visit the VPN provider’s website and get the app from there. After downloading, allow the app to install. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup and sign into your account.
3. Open the app and connect to a server.
Once you launch the VPN app, go to the server selection menu and choose the location you want to connect to. That’s it! You can now browse the web as if you were in that location.
Best VPNs for Changing Your Android Location in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for changing your location on Android in 2024:
- 1. 🥇ExpressVPN — Best VPN for changing Android location (fast + reliable connections).
- 2. 🥈Private Internet Access — Excellent privacy-oriented VPN (open-source apps).
- 3. 🥉CyberGhost VPN — Good for changing Android location with a huge server network.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Changing Android Location in 2024
ExpressVPN is my #1 pick for changing my location on Android in 2024 — it has a really large server network, comes with a very user-friendly Android app, has excellent streaming support, and is super secure.
The provider has a large server network, with locations in 105 countries. So, you get excellent variety when it comes to finding a location. Not to mention it’s also very easy to use a nearby location to get the fastest speeds — in fact, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market at the moment.
What’s more, I also love the provider’s Android app since it’s super intuitive. It only takes around 4 seconds to find and connect to your desired server, and I’m really happy that all features and settings come with quick, helpful explanations (so you never feel lost while using the VPN app).
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $4.99 / month, so it’s pretty affordable. Considering the value you get, I’d definitely say the price is worth it. Plus, the provider also backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for changing your Android location on the market — it provides access to servers in 105 countries. Also, its Android app is really user-friendly, and the provider backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Privacy-Focused VPN for Changing Android Location
Private Internet Access (PIA) has an intuitive Android app and high-end privacy features. The provider comes with a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited and also proven true in court documents. What’s more, its Android app (and all of its other apps) is open-source, which means anyone can inspect the code for security issues to make sure the app doesn’t leak your location.
I also really like the provider’s Android app — the design is very beginner-friendly, and I really like how simple it is to manually find and connect to different servers to change your location. In addition, the VPN allows unlimited connections, making it a great pick for large families.
PIA also provides access to servers in 91 countries, which are evenly spread across North and South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. So it’s really easy to use nearby locations if you need fast speeds.
Private Internet Access is really affordable, with prices starting at $2.03 / month. In addition, it also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee for all of its plans.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access is great for privacy and changing your Android location. It comes with servers in 91 countries, and it always correctly assigns the right IP address. Its Android app is also intuitive, the VPN allows unlimited connections, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Great for Masking Android Location With Huge Server Network
CyberGhost is great for changing your Android location, as it has a huge server network, with locations in 100 countries — so you get tons of variety, and you also have a good way to minimize the speed loss by only using nearby locations.
On top of that, the VPN also comes with a great Android app. Its interface is very simple to navigate, and there’s a quick-connect tool if you want to instantly change your location by connecting to the fastest server. Also, you can automate VPN connections on Wi-Fi networks — for example, you can set CyberGhost VPN to automatically connect to a server and change your location when you use an unknown network.
CyberGhost VPN’s prices start as low as $2.03 / month, so it’s really affordable. It also backs all long-term plans with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee — for its shortest plan, it has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has one of the biggest server networks out there, so it’s easy to find a nearby server for the fastest possible speeds, plus its Android app is also beginner-friendly and comes with strong security tools. CyberGhost VPN backs all long-term plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
How to Choose the Best VPN for Changing Android Location in 2024
- Pick a VPN with Android support. To change your location on Android, you need to get a VPN that has a dedicated Android app — ideally one you can download from the Play store, not from the provider’s site. All of my top picks come with Android apps that can be found on the app store.
- Look for a large server network. I recommend choosing a VPN provider that has servers in most parts of the world, so that you can easily change your Android location to whatever you want. I personally think a good VPN should have servers in at least 50+ countries.
- Opt for strong security and privacy. You need to get a VPN with strong leak protection, so that it doesn’t leak your actual location. The provider should also have other security and privacy features to protect your data, like military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy.
- Choose a VPN with an intuitive Android app. The provider’s Android app should have an interface that’s very simple to navigate, it should make it easy to find and connect to servers, and it should also provide quick explanations for all features and settings.
- Get a VPN that provides good value. I also recommend picking a VPN that has affordable prices, a generous money-back guarantee, fast speeds, and good torrenting support. All the VPNs on my list offer that (and more).
Other Ways to Change Your Location on Android
- Proxy servers. A proxy is an online app that changes your location by masking your IP address just like a VPN does — by routing your traffic through a server. However, I don’t recommend using proxies instead of VPNs, as proxies don’t use encryption, so they’re less secure.
- GPS-spoofing apps. There are several third-party GPS-spoofing apps on the Play Store, which you can use to change your device’s GPS data. That said, there’s no guarantee such an app can 100% change your Android location, as it doesn’t mask your IP address. If you’re interested in changing your GPS data, just use Surfshark — it masks your IP address, and it also has a feature on Android that spoofs your GPS data.
How to Change Your Location Settings on Android
In addition to using a VPN, you can also tweak certain Android location settings to get more privacy. This includes disabling location services completely, disabling only certain location services, and changing how each app on your phone interacts with your location data.
How to Disable All Location Services on Android
- First, head to Settings.
- Then, look for Location and tap on it.
- At the top, switch the slider from On to Off.
How to Disable Specific Location Services on Android
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on Location.
- Next, tap on Location services.
- Choose which location services you’d like to turn off.
How to Change App Permissions on Android
- Head to Settings.
- Find Location and tap on it.
- After that, tap on App permissions.
- Pick the app you want to change location settings for. You can choose to:
- Allow the app to access your location all the time.
- Allow the app to access your location only when you’re using it.
- Have the app ask you for permission to use your location every time it needs it.
- Disable the app’s access to your location.
Can I Use a Free VPN to Change My Location on Android?
Yes, but I don’t really recommend it since most free VPNs are not secure. They either lack essential security features that protect your real location, or they might leak your data. Plus, some free VPNs might even log your real location and share it with third parties for a profit.
That said, there are some good free VPNs out there, but they still have limitations. For example, they limit how much data you can use, they only let you use servers in a few countries, and they don’t work with streaming sites. Proton VPN is the best free VPN on the market since it has unlimited data, excellent security, and a user-friendly Android app — but it only lets you use servers in 5 countries, and its free plan doesn’t support streaming.
It’s best to just get a paid VPN — most of them are affordable and also come with generous money-back guarantees, so you can try them risk-free. For instance, ExpressVPN has a 30-day refund policy, and it’s the best VPN for changing your Android location on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to change your location on Android?
The best way to change your Android location is to use a VPN — just download and install it from the Play Store, open the VPN app, and connect to a VPN server. Once you do that, your Android location will change.
The best VPN for changing your Android location is ExpressVPN — it always changed my location in my tests without any issues, it has servers in 105 countries, it works with 100+ streaming services, and it’s super secure.
Is it legal to change my Android location?
Changing your location on Android is legal, but it depends on where you live. In most countries, it’s perfectly legal to use a VPN to change your Android location — but there are restrictive countries that have banned the use of location-changing tools, like VPNs. It’s best to research your local laws to make sure it’s 100% safe to do this.
Also, keep in mind some mobile apps prohibit the use of location-changing services. Always make sure to closely read the terms of service of the app you’re using to make sure you don’t risk violating them (and potentially losing access to your account) by changing your Android location.
Can I change my GPS location on Android?
Yes, as there are GPS-spoofing apps on the Play Store. You have to perform a quick manual setup to use them, but it’s pretty straightforward. That said, there’s no guarantee these apps will 100% work — especially since they only change your GPS data, and not your IP address (which also reveals your real location). I recommend using a VPN like ExpressVPN with GPS-spoofing apps so you’re fully covered.
