You open your browser, head over to TrustMyIP, and look at the location map. Suddenly, you notice something strange: the tool claims you are in a city 200 miles away from your actual living room. You might wonder, "Am I being hacked?" or "Is my internet connection compromised?"
"The short answer is No. Seeing a different city on your IP lookup is one of the most common occurrences in networking. In this guide, we break down the mechanics of how IP geolocation works, why it frequently 'gets it wrong,' and what it means for your digital privacy in 2026."
1. How IP Geolocation Actually Works (The Basics)
To understand why the city is wrong, you first need to understand that your IP address does not contain a GPS chip. Unlike your smartphone, which uses satellites to pinpoint your exact coordinates, an IP address is just a numerical label.
Location Logic Grid
IP Geolocation vs. GPS Precision
Queries Geo-IP Databases (MaxMind, IP2Location). Maps IP ranges to where ISPs register their equipment, not your house.
Uses satellite signals and Wi-Fi SSID proximity to determine physical coordinates within meters. 100% accurate.
2. Reason #1: Your ISP’s Centralized Routing Hubs
This is the most frequent reason for a location mismatch. ISPs often buy massive "blocks" of IP addresses and register them to their main headquarters or regional data centers.
"If you live in a small town, your ISP likely routes all your traffic through a larger 'hub' city nearby. Geolocation databases see the location of the Data Center where your traffic enters the public internet, not your actual house."
3. Reason #2: The Role of CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT)
In 2025, the world has officially run out of unique IPv4 addresses. To solve this, many ISPs (especially mobile networks like 5G/LTE) use Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT).
With CGNAT, thousands of customers share a single Public IP Address situated at the ISP’s core network edge. Geolocation databases default to the location of the ISP's central office, causing mobile users to almost always see a city different from their own.
4. Reason #3: Dynamic IP Allocation & Recycled Data
Most home internet connections use Dynamic IPs, meaning every time you restart your router, you might get a "new" IP address. ISPs constantly shuffle these IPs among customers across states.
"An IP address used in New York last week might be assigned to you in New Jersey today. If the Geo-IP database hasn't been updated yet, it will continue to show the old location for days or weeks until the next crawl."
5. Reason #4: VPNs, Proxies, and iCloud Private Relay
If you are using a privacy tool, your location mismatch is intentional to protect your identity:
VPNs & Proxies
Your IP is replaced by the server’s IP. Connect to a Los Angeles server from Tokyo, and TrustMyIP will see you in LA.
iCloud Private Relay
Masks your IP by routing it through two separate relays, often showing a "nearby" major city rather than your specific town.
6. Reason #5: Stale or Inaccurate Databases
Geolocation is a game of "Best Guesses." There is no single, official global database. Instead, dozens of private companies try to map the internet based on:
- User-submitted data: Sold by websites when you allow them to "Know your location".
- Inference: Predicting location based on latency (how long a packet takes to travel).
- WHOIS Data: Looking at the registration address of the company that owns the IP block.
7. Does a Wrong City Affect Your Internet Experience?
| Effect | Real-World Example |
|---|---|
| Localized Ads | Seeing ads for pizza shops or car dealerships in the wrong city. |
| Streaming Content | Netflix or Hulu showing news/sports for a neighboring region. |
| Security Alerts | "New login detected near [City]" emails from Google or Facebook. |
8. Technical Deep-Dive: Anycast Routing
Modern services use Anycast IPs, where multiple servers share the same IP globally. The network routes you to the "closest" server. If the closest server is in a different city or country, your IP appears to be coming from that server’s location. This is common with CDNs like Cloudflare or Akamai.
9. How to "Fix" an Incorrect IP Location
You can't change your IP location directly, but you can follow these expert steps:
- Power Cycle Your Router (20 mins).
- Turn Off VPN/Proxy settings.
- Submit Correction forms to MaxMind.
- Use HTML5 Geolocation for 100% accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible for someone to change my IP location?
Only your ISP or a VPN service can change your IP address, which in turn changes the reported location. You cannot manually edit your IP's physical mapping.
Why does my location change when I switch to 5G?
Mobile networks use large CGNAT pools located at regional switching centers, which are almost never in the same town as the user.
Does a wrong IP location mean my VPN is leaking?
Not necessarily. If the IP shown is different from your real home IP but still in a different city, the VPN is working—you are just seeing the VPN server's location.
Summary: Why TrustMyIP is the Best Verification Tool
At TrustMyIP, we pull data from multiple high-authority sources to give you the most accurate snapshot of your digital identity. Understanding that your IP location is a logical address, not a physical one, is the key to mastering your online privacy.
Verify Your Digital Footprint
Is your VPN actually working? What metadata is being leaked? Get the most accurate transparency on your logical location in seconds.