How to Fake GPS on iPhone & Android with VPN

We've all been there: you fire up a VPN to access region-locked content or match globally on dating apps, only to find the app still detects your real location. It’s frustrating because, for many modern applications, a standard VPN is only doing half the job. While excellent for privacy and IP masking, VPNs often fail to trick location-aware apps that rely on more than just an internet connection to determine where you are.

In this guide, I’ll explain exactly why this "location mismatch" happens when you use VPN to change location, provide a detailed guide on using the one VPN that actually changes GPS (Surfshark), and show you a universal strategy that works for everything from Pokémon GO to Life360 on any device.

Part 1. Why Using a VPN to Change Location Often Fails

To understand why your location isn't changing, you have to look at how your phone actually determines where you are. When you use a VPN app, it routes your internet traffic through a server in a different country, successfully changing your IP address. This works perfectly for websites that only check where your internet signal is coming from.

However, mobile apps like Tinder, Pokémon GO, and Find My iPhone don't just ask, "Where is this internet connection coming from?" They ask your phone's operating system, "What are the exact GPS coordinates of this device?"

Here is the problem: Most VPNs cannot change your device’s GPS coordinates.

If you are using a VPN set to New York, but your phone’s internal GPS says you are in Seattle, the app detects a "Location Mismatch". In many cases, this mismatch triggers security flags or simply defaults to your GPS location, rendering the VPN useless for changing location.

The "Triangulation" Trap

It is not just GPS, either. Modern iOS 26 and Android 16 devices use a method called "High Accuracy" location services. This combines three data points:

1. GPS Satellites: Your actual physical coordinates.

2. Wi-Fi BSSID Scanning: Mapping nearby Wi-Fi routers to physical addresses.

3. Cell Towers: Triangulating your position based on signal strength.

To successfully change your location on mobile, you need a tool that can override these system-level checks.

Part 2. The Only VPN Location Changer that Can Change GPS Location

While 99% of VPNs fail to mask your physical location, there is one major exception. Surfshark is currently the only major VPN provider with a built-in "GPS Override" feature, making it a true VPN location changer.

How to Change Location with Surfshark VPN on Android

If you are on Android, you can force your phone's GPS to match your VPN server location without using extra apps. Here is how to set it up in detail:

Step 1. Go to Android Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number 7 times rapidly until you see the "You are now in Developer Mode!" message.

Step 2. Open the Surfshark app, navigate to Settings > VPN Settings > Advanced Settings, and toggle on Override GPS location.

Step 3. When prompted to open Developer Options, scroll down to Select mock location app and choose Surfshark from the list.

Step 4. Simply connect to any VPN server (e.g., London), and your phone’s GPS will automatically sync to that location.

Part 3. The "Dual-Layer" Strategy for iPhone & Gamers

If you are an iOS user (where Surfshark's trick doesn't work) or a gamer (who needs to walk around), you need a more powerful solution. I call this the "Dual-Layer" strategy:

• Layer 1 (The Tunnel): Use a functional VPN to encrypt your data and change your IP address.

• Layer 2 (The Coordinates): Use a dedicated GPS Spoofer to change your system-level location data.

For the second layer, you need specialized software like PoKeep Location Changer. Unlike standard VPN apps, PoKeep modifies the location data at the system level, ensuring that every app on your phone—from Google Maps to Snapchat—believes you are actually in the location you selected.

Part 4. How to Fully Change Location on iPhone & Android (With Movement)

This method works on iOS 26 and Android 16 without jailbreaking or rooting. It is the only way to safely play location-based games or change location on iPhone.

Step 1 Secure Your Connection

Open your preferred VPN app on your mobile device and connect to a server in your desired region (e.g., if you want to be in Paris, connect to a French server). This handles the IP address side of the equation.

Step 2 Connect to PoKeep

Download and launch PoKeep on your computer (Windows or Mac). Connect your iPhone or Android device using a USB cable or via Wi-Fi if you have set it up previously.

Step 3 Match Your Coordinates

On the PoKeep map interface, search for the exact same location you chose in your VPN (e.g., Paris). You can pinpoint a specific street corner or landmark.

Step 4 Execute the Teleport

Click the "Start Modifying" button. Within seconds, your phone’s GPS location will shift to the selected coordinates. Now, if you open Google Maps, Tinder, or Pokémon GO, they will all register you as being in that new location.

Part 5. FAQs about Changing Location with VPN