You might have heard that you can use the best VPNs to stay anonymous online, but did you know you can also use them to change your virtual location? As complex as it may sound, changing your location is easy, whether you're trying to protect your freedom of speech or just see what people in other countries are watching on Netflix .
Every time you connect to a VPN server , you change your IP address — a unique fingerprint that allows your device to communicate online. IP addresses are the key to making the internet work, but they can also be used to restrict what your web browser shows. Each address is tied to a location, so it's possible for websites to declare that only people in certain countries — or states — can see a particular piece of content (a practice called "geoblocking").
However, when you get online through a VPN, sites will see the VPN server's address instead of your own. By choosing your server location, you can get around geoblocks, dodge nationwide firewalls and travel the world through your web browser. It doesn't even necessarily have to cost you anything.
How to change your location with a VPN
The very short explanation of how to change your virtual location: subscribe to a VPN, pick a server in the location you want to change to and connect. But if you've never used a VPN before — or aren't totally clear on what that even is — you'll need a little more to go on. The steps below will work on any desktop or mobile device; I've left a note when there are variations between operating systems.
Step 1: Choose a VPN
You're looking for a commercial VPN that offers individual subscriptions, like Proton VPN , ExpressVPN or Surfshark (not the kind of VPN you might use to access your office network remotely). To make the call, use Yahoo Tech's best VPN picks, or check out my list of the best free VPNs if you don't want to spend money. We also regularly post VPN deals that can save you a lot on a subscription.
The most important factors are up-to-date encryption, good speeds, usable apps and a history of immediately closing security loopholes. Once you've picked your VPN, create an account. Choose what length and level of subscription to pay for — the most basic tier is almost always enough for changing your location. Pick a username and password and sign into your account on the VPN's website.
Step 2: Download and install the VPN
This is the only step that varies depending on whether you're using a mobile or desktop device. You can't use a VPN through its website; it has to be downloaded and installed on your device first. On a desktop or laptop computer , you should be able to download the app (sometimes called a VPN client) from the VPN's website. On a phone or tablet, you'll generally have to get it from the app store like any other app, then log in with the username and password you chose when signing up.
Once you've downloaded the VPN client, follow the instructions to set it up. All the VPNs we've recommended on Yahoo Tech have a built-in setup wizard that handles everything for you. In rare cases, you may be asked to grant some permissions or change system settings. This is safe to do — you're just giving the VPN security clearance for your computer.
Step 3: Choose a server location and connect
After finishing all the installation, open the VPN app (if it doesn't open itself) and click through any welcome messages. Poke around the main window and familiarize yourself with where the settings are. Make sure to find the connection/disconnection button and the list of server locations. It's also a good idea to locate and activate the kill switch, which will protect you against leaking information if the VPN server ever fails.
Now, all you have to do is choose where you want your new virtual location to be. If you're only using the VPN for general privacy, let the app choose the fastest location for you — they're all anonymous, even ones in the same country or city as you. Conversely, if you want to break through a nationwide firewall, use the nearest country with a free internet. If you're in western Russia, for example, you'll get the best speeds from Estonia, Finland or Romania.
If you want to unblock a streaming service or a show or movie you know is available in a specific country, you'll need a server location in that country. Pick the location that meets your needs, then click on its name and return to the VPN's home screen. If clicking the location didn't connect you automatically, hit the connect button to get your new IP address.
Step 4: Get online through a browser
That's it! All you have to do now is open your favorite web browser and use it like you normally would. If you visit a streaming service, you should see content from the country you changed your location to. If you don't, use a website like ipleak.net to check whether your location has really changed — and if it hasn't, refer to the troubleshooting section below.
Why change your location?
Connecting to a VPN and changing your virtual location is a simple and meaningful step you can take to improve your personal cybersecurity . The VPN removes any connection between you and your online activities, so nobody can track you without a warrant, build a profile to serve you with invasive ads or SWAT you if they're mad that you beat them at League of Legends.
An unconcealed IP address can do a lot of damage. It can be used to find your general location, to pose as you online and to shut down your internet with DDoS attacks. But it's not just about avoiding the negatives — there are positives as well, such as being able to use websites from your homeland when traveling abroad.
While you're home, you can change your location to access streaming platforms and other geographically restricted websites. For example, people living anywhere other than the U.S. won't be able to watch Hulu without a VPN. You can even route around age verification laws and download apps that might be banned in your home country.
Can a VPN change your GPS location?
Although a VPN protects you from broadcasting your location through the IP address, that protection doesn't apply to GPS. If you leave location services active on your phone, tablet or web browser, or give a website permission to access your location, your real position will be visible even if you're using a VPN.
GPS location spoofing isn't a standard feature of VPNs, though some are beginning to incorporate it. To make sure your GPS location doesn't leak while you're using the VPN, be sure to never give a website permission to access your location, and turn off location services on the device you're using.
Troubleshooting: What to do when your VPN isn’t changing your location
Not every VPN works all the time. If you see websites referencing your real location or failing to change their content to match your virtual address, use an IP testing tool to see if your location has actually changed (the easiest way is to Google "what is my ip address.") If this reveals your real IP address and location, try the troubleshooting steps below.
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Disconnect from the VPN, count to 10 and reconnect to the same location.This should switch you to a new server that hopefully won't leak.
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If you don't need a particular location, connect to a different one.
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Change your VPN protocol.Some protocols don't mix well with certain servers. Try WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN over TCP or UDP (whichever options are available) and see if the leaks persist.
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Turn off location services on the device you're using.
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Clear your browser's history, cookies and cache.There's a chance that saved information is storing your real location.
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Contact tech support for the VPN.To expedite help, take screenshots of the failed leak test and note which server or servers had the problem.
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Test-drive a different VPN.Connect to a free VPN like Proton VPN, Windscribe or hide.me and test for leaks again. This can tell you if the problem is on your end.
Best VPNs to change your location
The best VPN is Proton VPN, which got outstanding results in almost all my tests. Not only is it great at changing your location without leaks, it's also often the fastest VPN, and is backed by a privacy-focused nonprofit.
Surfsharkis almost as fast and comes with a selection of 100 different server locations. ExpressVPNand NordVPNare two other examples of trustworthy VPNs that I've never seen leak my real location. Note that my current research suggests Netflix is going after VPNs more aggressively, so you might not get ideal results for a little while on that particular platform.
