Jaragos

Q: MacBook Air thinks it's located in Australia when I am in the Philippines?

I was testing my new iPad mini and tried the Find my iPhone app to test my iPhone and MacBook Air. Both of them are in front of me and are using the same network. When I tried to a Find my IPhone app to find the iPhone, it was able to locate that it is in the same area as I am. BUT when I tried Find my IPhone to look for my MacBook Air, it says that the MacBook Air is in australia! Totally weirded out with this one. I checked my macbook's setting, time zone, and when I let it automatically determine its location, it would still say that my MacBook Air is in Australia when I am in the Philippines and the MacBook right in front of me. Appreciate your help!

MacBook Air

Posted on Jan 17, 2014 8:00 AM

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Q: MacBook Air thinks it's located in Australia when I am in the Philippines?

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jan 17, 2014 1:44 PM in response to Jaragos
    Level 10 (208,005 points)
    Applications
    Jan 17, 2014 1:44 PM in response to Jaragos

    Location Services (including Maps and "Find My Mac") relies on a database of known Wi-Fi access points. You don't necessarily have to be connected to a wireless network, but Wi-Fi does have to be turned on and you have to be within range of one of those access points. Otherwise the machine won't be located at all, or the location will be wrong. Sometimes the location will be wrong because the database contains inaccurate data. According to reports, if you connect to a network with a GPS-equipped iOS device, its location will be reported to Apple and added to the database after a delay. I can't confirm.