iPhone is (seemly randomly) switching location to an old address

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Level 1

16 points

iPhone is (seemly randomly) switching location to an old address

I recently moved, about 4 miles east. Ever since I moved, my iPhone appears to be randomly saying it's back at my old place. I have a device tracker / logger via "Home Assistant." Here's a graph from yesterday:

Slate blue = new apartment

Purple = old apartment

Turquoise = some random address due west

I have verified it's my phone doing it. When I get a notification I've gone "away," I log into "Find My" (on my iPad) and my phone shows as my old location. I check Apple Maps on the phone, and it shows it at my old place. Often within minutes (each sliver is just a few minutes), my phone "bounces back" home. I also noticed my phone will say I'm doing random activities, such as "Automotive" when I'm clearly at home, not going anywhere, at the most, just walking around the apartment with the phone.

Has anybody seen this? Any idea what's causing this? I've tried resetting "Privacy & Location" but that doesn't work. It's like my phone is "caching" an old home address, but I can't figure out why or where. When I moved, within my Contact card, I renamed my old address to the year(s) I lived there, and created a new "home" entry. Apple Maps does correctly show "Home" as my new address.

iPhone 11 Pro Max

Posted on Jan 2, 2023 7:50 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,324 points

Jan 3, 2023 12:24 PM in response to guice

guice wrote:

Have you noticed this behavior happen on Wi-Fi, cellular or both?

I just tried this morning, and it appears to only happen while on my wifi. Let's drill down there: why? Is there some kind of location "cache" iPhone is using for wifi locations? I ran a network settings Reset and it's still happening.

There is a database of known WiFi networks that Apple and many, if not most, companies use to aid in geolocation.

If you took your router with you when you moved, the database probably hasn’t been updated yet. You may want to try changing the name of your network if you didn’t change it when you moved.

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Answer 2

guice Author

Level 1

16 points

Jan 9, 2023 2:07 PM in response to guice

For the record - it does appear to be an Apple cache "issue." I've set my SSID to hide. But, for a few, I unhid my SSID and the problem dissipated. It's been solid at "Home" within 48hrs after I made the change.

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Answer 3

Lee_ms

Community Specialist

Jan 3, 2023 10:57 AM in response to guice

Hi guice,

Have you noticed this behavior happen on Wi-Fi, cellular or both? Does Apple Maps show your positioning accurately? Are you using any type of VPN software? This will help us isolate things better. Also, you'll want to make sure you're running the latest iOS version when possible. You can learn how here:

"Update your iPhone or iPad wirelessly

Back up your device using iCloud or your computer.
Plug your device into power and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi.
Go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update.
If you see more than one software update option available, choose the one that you want to install."

You can take a look at the full resource here: Update your iPhone or iPad

We look forward to hearing back from you.

Take care.

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Answer 4

R_Gabriel

Community Specialist

Jan 3, 2023 12:13 PM in response to guice

Hi guice,

It might be helpful for you to speak with Apple directly about this issue. Click the link below, choose the phone number for your region from the list, and call when it is convenient.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Kindest regards!

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Answer 5

guice Author

Level 1

16 points

Jan 3, 2023 11:56 AM in response to Lee_ms

Have you noticed this behavior happen on Wi-Fi, cellular or both?

I just tried this morning, and it appears to only happen while on my wifi. Let's drill down there: why? Is there some kind of location "cache" iPhone is using for wifi locations? I ran a network settings Reset and it's still happening.

Does Apple Maps show your positioning accurately?

No. That was the biggest indicator it's the phone. The phone -- Apple Maps, Google Maps, "Find My" -- inaccurately shows my location. I can literally watch Apple Maps adjust the geoscrope position at the wrong location, then suddenly "jump" back to the correct location while still watching my phone geoscrope spinning.

Are you using any type of VPN software?

No VPN connecting. And I turn off Private Browsing, iCloud "Private Relay" while on my wifi.

Is there some kid of location caching within the wifi settings? I'm using my exact same wifi network and Comcast account, just a few miles East. The Geodecode puts me several miles *West* of my old apartment location (i.e. opposite direction).

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Answer 6

guice Author

Level 1

16 points

Jan 3, 2023 1:17 PM in response to KiltedTim

This is helpful. Using your added info, and some additional searches, this appears to be a common problem:

Looks like the only way to resolve this is time, and keeping Maps open/updated, I guess.

Unfortunately, due to the number of network devices, changing my SID isn't the best or ideal solution. Changing my SID will require updating all IoT devices, too. I can see this is clearly an Apple-side issue, now. It's annoying, but certainly Apple's side.

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iPhone is (seemly randomly) switching location to an old address

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