The location features of the Firefox and Chrome browsers are automatically used to determine your location. While this can have its benefits (enabling you to utilize map services), there may be instances when you’d rather hide or even alter your location, such as when you want to access geo-restricted material or just want to safeguard your privacy.
Fortunately, you may accomplish this using several techniques, such as a Virtual Private Network (VPN), manually changing your location or a specialized browser plugin. You might need to employ further than one technique to get around numerous detection techniques. We’ll examine each of these choices in more detail in this post.
How to change your location using a VPN
Setting up a VPN is relatively simple, even if you’ve never used one before. Here’s how to use a VPN to modify your IP address in Firefox or Chrome:
- Select a service provider and a subscription period, and make your payment. (We advise using NordVPN.)
- Install the correct VPN app on your smartphone. Native Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android applications are available from the most trustworthy VPN services.
- You must need to enter your username and password to log in (which will be provided when you sign up).
- Join a VPN server in your preferred region. For instance, you would choose a US server if you wanted to stream Netflix in the US. Your IP address will have changed, giving the impression that you are there.
Remember that not all VPNs can access geo-restricted sites. Many websites, including gaming, gambling, and streaming platforms, have tools to identify whether users are using proxies (VPNs are included in this). Notably, many free VPNs cannot get through these proxy scanners. Before signing up for a VPN service, it is recommended to ask the provider if it can give access to the service you wish to access (you can check here for VPNs working with Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and Hulu).
How Firefox and Chrome can detect your location
Let’s examine how Firefox and Chrome determine your location. Your IP address is one of the simplest Firefox, Chrome, and other internet service methods to determine where you are. Each machine connected to the internet has a unique collection of numbers (and symbols in the case of IPv6’s more recent iteration). Your location may be ascertained from a portion of your IP address. As a result, hiding your accurate IP address and substituting a different one might alter your area and give the impression that you are someplace else.
By substituting your current IP address with one from a place of your choice, you may quickly change it by using a VPN. However, this might not get around other geolocation services the browser uses. You may use an extension like Location Guard or manually change your location in your browser to solve this problem.
Use VPN extension Firefox to change your location
Your internet data is encrypted and tunnelled through a central server using a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN has the following two main advantages:
- Encryption: If someone manages to intercept your internet traffic, it will be entirely secure and impossible for them to decipher. ISPs, governmental organizations, cybercriminals, and anybody else who could be watching your online behaviour are all covered by this.
- Location shifting: Since your traffic is routed through a central server, you will receive an IP address from that server. When using a VPN, you may pick the country from which your IP address originates by selecting the location of the server you connect to.
The extension offered by Ivacy VPN stands out from the rest a little. In addition to serving as remote controllers for device-level VPN applications, the VPN extension Firefox can also automatically modify the browser’s geolocation services. As a result, the identified location is the same as the VPN server to which you are now connected. This indicates that your only option is connecting to your preferred VPN server.
The best VPN for changing your location in Firefox and Chrome
We’ve put a ton of the best VPNs through extensive testing, and NordVPN consistently comes out on top. In fact, we advise using this VPN service with Chrome and Firefox. With a headquarters in Panama, NordVPN manages a network of over 5,000 servers spread over 59 nations.
It may open up many geo-restricted websites and gives customers incredibly fast, dependable connections that are perfect for streaming. Netflix US (and other Netflix libraries) are simple to watch, as are Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and many more options. A live chat customer support representative is always accessible if you need assistance connecting to the correct server.
The browser extension for NordVPN automatically updates your Firefox or Chrome geolocation information to reflect the location of the VPN server you are connecting to when you connect to one. So long as you’re using a VPN, you won’t ever need to bother about manually altering any settings; simply connect to the correct server, and you’re good to go.
Conclusion
Since browsers have several mechanisms to determine your location, you might need to utilize a few techniques to alter your background. Our suggested option is using a VPN and manually changing your browser’s location. It’s a little trickier in Chrome, but if you find that burdensome, attempting the Location Guard feature in conjunction with a VPN extension Firefox would be a very workable alternative.
