Device Location vs IP Location

Two websites may report different locations because they use different sources. A browser location request asks your device for a position. An IP-based lookup estimates a location from the internet address used by your connection.

What device location means

A browser's Geolocation API returns latitude, longitude and an accuracy estimate after permission is granted. The underlying device may use satellite, Wi-Fi or other available signals. Using that API does not mean that every result came exclusively from GPS.

What IP location means

An IP address identifies a network connection, not a street address. IP geolocation services associate network ranges with approximate geographic information. That information may describe a city or provider region and can be inaccurate or outdated.

Why VPNs matter

A VPN changes the public network address seen by websites. An IP lookup may therefore point to a VPN server's region. A browser device-location result may still reflect your physical position if location permission is enabled. A VPN alone should not be treated as a block on all location sharing.

Mobile networks and desktops

Mobile traffic may exit through infrastructure away from your physical position. A desktop without a GPS receiver can still return a browser location estimate using other signals. Always evaluate the reported accuracy and map result rather than assuming one method is exact.

Which does InfoHubs use?

Our Find my location button uses the browser's device-location API. It does not silently replace a denied permission with an IP location. If permission is denied, you can still use our manual coordinate tools.

When a broad location is enough

A country or city estimate can help customise general information, but it should not establish a delivery address, prove someone's identity or locate a person without consent. For a meeting, confirm the place directly.