Level 1

10 points

MBP my location completely wrong

Hi folks!

Since a few weeks my MBP is always locating me in »Tempe, AZ« although I'm locating in Austria/Europe.

I tried to use different Wi-Fis --> problem stays the same.

I have an iMac and iPhone just beside my MBP within the same network --> iMac and iPhone locate me at the correct location, MBP doesn't.

I have updated my MBP to Big Sur, checked through all System Prefs, enable/disabled »Find my Mac« through iCloud, etc. --> issue stays the same.

I hope that you guys can help me here 'cause it is annoying af.

bit of background info:

Initially I realized the issue when I couldn't use »ETA travel time« in my iCal anymore and checked with Apple Maps. When opening Apple Maps there is always a notification that »Phoenix Public Transport« is now available within Apple Maps and my location is shown in Tempe, AZ. The issue goes on with the weather widget and any other app that uses my location. So, it seems that there's a fundamental issue with my location regarding my MBP that I couldn't solve with updates, enabling/disabling my location services, etc.

Thank you for your help!

Best,

Satoshi

MacBook Pro

Posted on Mar 13, 2021 3:19 AM

Top-ranking reply

etresoft

Level 9

56,326 points

Posted on Mar 13, 2021 7:32 PM

satoshimage wrote:

• IP address on my MBP is the same as on my iMac.

• No VPN (is it even possible for Apple's location service that is within the system to connect through a VPN?)

Maybe double check that by going to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Proxies and see if you have any proxies setup. It is pretty common to see malware install proxies to inspect and/or modify your network communications. This would not change your IP address. But any external servers could see your traffic coming from some other location.

If it isn't malware, it could be some other system modification. You said that it started happening a few weeks ago. Did you install any software or make any system change at that time?

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23 replies

satoshimage Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 14, 2021 4:06 PM in response to etresoft

iMac is using both. My iPhone is using only WiFi - the same WiFi like MBP and iMac. iMac and iPhone are showing the correct location (WiFi as well as ethernet). Just for test purposes I tried to locate the iPhone with 4G by my mobile phone provider --> works fine as well.

If I share the 4G with my MBP through hotspot --> location seems to be corrected after couple of minutes. If I switch back to the WiFi --> my location is back in Tempe, AZ.

So, no clue why only the MBP switches my location to Tempe, AZ when I'm connected to the SAME WiFi like the iPhone and iMac although both locate me at the correct location...

satoshimage Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 15, 2021 1:31 AM in response to etresoft

Thank you very much for your detailed answer.

Are you saying that although I'm connected to my WiFi that my MBP tries to connect to other WiFi's close by to get data and determine my location? That would be a huge privacy and security issue for all!

The only thing that I don't get is why did it work all these years and suddenly it changed?

satoshimage Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 16, 2021 1:46 AM in response to etresoft

Thank you very much again for your profound answer.

etresoft wrote:

But if my theory is correct, any one of your neighbours could have made a small change to their WiFi network, or someone left, or someone new moved in, and that was enough to change the radio frequency "fingerprint" of your location.

I just checked, but the only WiFi networks that are listed at my place are my own. Either my neighbour's WiFi signal is weak enough to not reach to my MBP or they are connected via Ethernet. So, even if they have changed something it shouldn't effect me, should it?

Anyway, as long as I don't want to reset my MBP just to try out if it's an OS issue I'll have to live with it? Not very satisfying. And it seems to be a very finicky system, but I'll get in touch with my provider - maybe they need to change something on their end.

satoshimage Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 16, 2021 6:00 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

As stated before if I set the time zone automatically it switches to Phoenix, AZ. So, I need to set the time zone manually. However, it doesn't change anything concerning »my location«. e.g. Apple Maps still locates me in Tempe, AZ.

jorielw

Level 1

8 points

Mar 18, 2021 12:08 AM in response to satoshimage

Thanks. for the answer , which has been a Q for me for some time (since 2014, when we moved) I was able to do as you suggested, Luis. But I still, (and have been for some years, through several OS UpDates) am' located' in the city next door to me. I AM in the Phoenix Metro area (ha, ha, Satoshi). How does one fix this? Is it in the DNA of my MBPro? OR do I understand it is determined by my WiFi network's connection, or by my router? Manually setting my TimeZone, did not work. Is there some other setting,I can use to OVERRIDE this? HELP!

satoshimage Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2021 5:46 AM in response to jorielw

jorielw wrote:

I AM in the Phoenix Metro area (ha, ha, Satoshi).

Just because I got curious now: where exactly does your »my location services« locate your MBP? If it's the same as here on my Apple Maps, then it might be a bigger issue with OS itself?

satoshimage Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 13, 2021 3:31 PM in response to etresoft

IP address on my MBP is the same as on my iMac.
No VPN (is it even possible for Apple's location service that is within the system to connect through a VPN?)

satoshimage Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2021 5:47 AM in response to etresoft

WT*?! Those coincidences ... I'll get in touch with him in the other thread.

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MBP my location completely wrong