Location Services not working in my Mac Mini 2020

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Level 1

4 points

Location Services not working in my Mac Mini 2020

Hello Guys,

I have recently purchased a Mac Mini 2020 version, which is my first Apple Device in all category. The device is working so far so good but the only issue in it, is the Location Services is just not working. It's not working in Safari, Find My, Apple Maps or whatever program.

Before you think that this may be a hardware fault, let me tell you that I have visited an Apple Authorised Service Centre near me, the technicians at the service centre connected my Mac with their WiFi Network and the Location Services is been perfectly working in there to my surprise.

So they gave my device back and I got back home with it, I tried it connecting with my Personal WiFi and the same thing, no result, it doesn't worked. Then I thought there might me an issue with my WiFi, so I took my smartphone (Android Smartphone) out and created a personal Hotspot using it and tried connecting my mac on that Network.

But same thing again, Internet works, location doesn't, I tried with my 3 different smartphones (All Android) with sim cards of 3 different operators in it, but no result.

It just doesn't work in any of my networks (let it be a Hotspot created from a Phone or my WiFi connection) but it does work in the WiFi of the service centre.

Now it seems to me that, this issue is not specific to my ISP or my WiFi network then.

I read some articles online about "Known WiFi Access Points and their Mac Address" it's a kind of database which tech giants like Apple/Google maintains, which provides the location service by being in a near proximity of a "Known WiFi Access Point" and since my WiFi/Mobile Hotspot Access Point is not known to Apple hence my Mac is unable to detect it's location.

I tried to convey my understanding to Apple Advisors but factually since the issue is happening on my Networks they are suggesting me to get it touch with my ISP (Internet Service Provider) if there is any privacy settings preventing it and not focusing on the "Known Access Point" thing.

I have contacted my ISP also and as per them there is absolutely no issue in the network and also No Firewall or any ind of Privacy Settings is not enabled in my router.

My problem remains and none of them was actually able to find me a way out, so I am asking for suggestions in this community, any answer will be fully appreciated and please correct me if I have a wrong understanding of the matter.

Points to Remember:

This Mac Mini is my First/Only available Apple Device in the Network.
My ISP is the largest Internet Service Provider In India i,e JioFiber (People from outside of India just search "Jio Network" on Google to get info"
The issue exists with my other network as well such as a Mobile Hotspot
This same Mac Mini was able to detect Location only in the WiFi of the Service Centre but not other networks which was available nearby the Service Centre.
I don't have any iPhone or iPad for now.

Thank You Everyone if you take your valuable time to suggest me any possible way out.

Regards,

Samadrita

Mac mini, 12.2

Posted on Feb 11, 2022 11:45 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 26, 2022 3:01 AM in response to Samadrita

As mentioned already, Jio is using a special configuration for your locality, which means your router doesn’t get a public IP (as it would normally from other ISPS), but a private IP. If you want to stick to Jio, a static IP from them at extra charge should fix it. Otherwise, the “other available ISP” should provide a public IP to your router with their normal subscription (assuming they aren’t playing the same private address spoofing game as Jio), no need to pay extra.

A known WiFi Access point is one that’s connected to a router with a public IP. So, if and when your router gets one, your Mac will readily play. All the best!

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Answer 2

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 18, 2022 11:33 PM in response to Samadrita

Unfortunately your JioFiber appears to be shared fiber access in your local community, not true fiber all the way to their main switch with everyone getting a unique public IP. So they have special configurations to provide their fake fiber, which messes with location in the way the Mac requires.

Ask them if for an extra charge, your Jio home router can be assigned a fixed public address. If no, you’ll need to look for non-Jio broadband options, or relocate to another area, or live with a location-less Mac. All the best.

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Answer 3

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 12, 2022 12:18 AM in response to Samadrita

Details please on your router and WiFi connection (with shift pressed, click on the WiFi icon, snapshot & post here).

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Answer 4

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 12, 2022 1:20 AM in response to Samadrita

Looks good! Now details on your router please. Additionally, click on https://whatismyipaddress.com/ and see if the results include your location.

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Answer 5

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 18, 2022 11:17 PM in response to Samadrita

That’s unrelated - the Mac needs location-known WiFi devices to serve location, which because of where you’re located, isn’t possible.

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Answer 6

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 12, 2022 1:38 AM in response to Samadrita

Yes, thank you. Looks definitely like a Jio problem - they are not assigning you a public IP address but a private one 10.x.x.x which can’t be used for location identification. You’ll need to follow-up with them. Good luck!

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Answer 7

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 12, 2022 1:49 AM in response to Samadrita

See https://www.avast.com/c-ip-address-public-vs-private. You’ll need to ask them why you aren’t being assigned a public IP like a regular ISP does. You can also check if they’re doing it across the board for everyone by asking a suitable forum/friends. There is no other way out unfortunately, a public IP is required for location services.

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Answer 8

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 12, 2022 2:01 AM in response to hcsitas

Yes, but your Jio router won’t disclose it to you = something funny in their setup. What you could try is buy a router and hook it up to your Jio box. That might fix any Jio-specific issues.

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Answer 9

Samadrita Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 12, 2022 12:48 AM in response to hcsitas

I am not sure if you have asked for the image attached, but with shift pressed, click on the WiFi icon gave no different output.

I got this while pressing the Options key and then WiFi Icon.

If this is not what you have asked for, please elaborate me a little bit, cause i am very much new to mac.

I will retry. Thanks.

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Answer 10

Samadrita Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 12, 2022 1:44 AM in response to hcsitas

Can you please elaborate me a little bit about this Public and Private IP Address?
What I need to ask to them actually?
How a Public IP Address Looks like?
And if a Public IP is not available by them, is there any other way out?

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Answer 11

Samadrita Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 18, 2022 10:38 PM in response to hcsitas

Sorry for the delayed response, I was off-station for a little while,

What I would like to ask you is, if this is a sole issue from the side of Jio, then why the location services is not working while I connect the Mac to my Mobile Hotspot created from an Android smartphone?

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Answer 12

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 18, 2022 11:07 PM in response to Samadrita

Because your Android is also on the same Jio local network except that it’s skipping the fibre part to get to the local switch. All related to the funny config Jio is providing in your area. I’m sorry but unless you move locations, IMO there’s nothing that can be done about it (other than follow up with Jio). Good luck!

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Answer 13

Samadrita Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 19, 2022 12:53 AM in response to hcsitas

Honestly speaking, I was a Desktop user for a long time and since the last 2 years I was using a Windows Desktop with this JioFiber connection, and never encountered any such issues with the Location Services.

Maybe the Windows was not able to show my exactly accurate pin-point location with the appropriate Latitude, Longitude but it displays an Approximate Location or my area, which was fine for me in most of the cases.

So I never thought that there will be any issues in the Network specifically.

Then I got this MAC MINI and it just can't detect anything about the location from the Network.

Apple Developers should also take this in account to develop a passive way of getting the location data when WiFi with proper configuration is not available.

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Answer 14

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Feb 19, 2022 1:22 AM in response to Samadrita

In the Apple world, unlike Windows, location is a key security feature used across all devices and Apple Apps. As such the requirements for location estimation are considerably more stringent. The two are not comparable. That said, feel free to feedback here Product Feedback - Apple.

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Answer 15

Samadrita Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 19, 2022 1:31 AM in response to hcsitas

I got the point of stringent policies and requirements due to security concerns, but in India where still many of the people just use the Mobile Dataand have no WiFi even, or maybe a niche local Broadband Service, an approximate location is any time better than the "No Location Service"

That's my personal opinion, Thank You for helping me out.

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Location Services not working in my Mac Mini 2020

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