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my macbook air says I'm in Idaho Falls but I'm in Arizona

Whenever I am experiencing something that is multi-device oriented, or am using developer tools, or on other occasions which escape my memory, I get a message "Your Apple ID is being used to sign in to a new device near Idaho Falls." But, I'm in Arizona and I'm not using a VPN. What is going on? I've reported this to Apple and they've never gotten back to me. Here is an image that was posted by someone else to this stream. I find this extremely bothersome. What's going on? Could someone from Apple Networking please respond to this so you could put my mind, and the minds of many others, at ease? Thank you.


Posted on Mar 14, 2021 2:45 PM

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Posted on Mar 14, 2021 3:25 PM

See the following from Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


When you sign in on a new device, you’ll get a notification on your other trusted devices that includes a map showing the approximate location of the new device. This is an approximate location based on the IP address the device is currently using, rather than the exact location of the device. The location shown might reflect the network you're connected to, and not your physical location.


If you know you’re the person trying to sign in but you don’t recognize the location shown, you can still tap Allow and continue signing in. However, if you ever see a notification that your Apple ID is being used to sign in on a new device and you're not the one signing in, tap Don’t Allow to block the sign in attempt.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 14, 2021 3:25 PM in response to jasonohler2

See the following from Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


When you sign in on a new device, you’ll get a notification on your other trusted devices that includes a map showing the approximate location of the new device. This is an approximate location based on the IP address the device is currently using, rather than the exact location of the device. The location shown might reflect the network you're connected to, and not your physical location.


If you know you’re the person trying to sign in but you don’t recognize the location shown, you can still tap Allow and continue signing in. However, if you ever see a notification that your Apple ID is being used to sign in on a new device and you're not the one signing in, tap Don’t Allow to block the sign in attempt.

Mar 14, 2021 3:43 PM in response to jasonohler2

As stated above...

If you just triggered something that would cause that sign-in warning, ignore the location.

If it’s in the same country, that’s about the best that can be expected.

Location data varies widely in its inaccuracy.

Your ISP has provided that address-to-location mapping.

Precise location mapping is a Very Bad Idea, too.

Around here, I’m routinely located “in” neighboring states.

my macbook air says I'm in Idaho Falls but I'm in Arizona

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