iPad showing wrong location in Find My and Maps

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Level 1

4 points

iPad showing wrong location in Find My and Maps

I have a MacBook Pro, iPhone and iPad. The Mac and iPhone show their correct locations on Find My and Maps as well as the correct time. However the iPad shows its location about 4000 kms away in another country in an area that I've never been to and incorrect time. Location Services are on, no VPN, Time and Date set to Auto, I don't share my Location. Running iPadOS 15.8.5. I tried a Factory Reset with no success. All 3 devices were connected to the same Wifi network - tried putting the iPhone on cellular with a hotspot and connected the iPad to that but did not correct the issue. Texts come in on all 3 devices but the iPad texts have the wrong time stamp. Issue started October 2nd.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

iPad Air 2, iPadOS 15

Posted on Oct 3, 2025 3:22 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 3, 2025 4:43 AM in response to zuel1

Location Services typically “infer” their location from a database lookup of neighbouring WiFi networks for which the geographic location is known, or the geographic location of your public IP address. For static applications in urban locations, where the location of IP public IP addresses and WiFi networks are known, an “inferred” location can be relatively accurate. However, in rural locations, or when using a Cellular/Satellite/VPN connection, location accuracy of an inferred location [if it works at all] may be very inaccurate.

When using Satellite internet systems, such as Starlink, the public IP Address of the internet gateway through which your internet traffic is routed may be in a completely different country/region to your actual location - and this can impact where Location Services suggest that you are located.

In summary, the location of your ISPs internet gateway (through which your internet traffic is routed) is entirely beyond your control. If all devices are indicating a location that significantly differs from your actual location, it is your ISP's internet traffic routing that is the likely cause.

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