How To Change Your Snapchat Location in a Few Simple Steps: An In-Depth Guide

Have you ever wanted to access geo-filters in faraway places or show your location as somewhere more private? Snapchat makes it easy to change your virtual location on iPhone and Android to unlock new features and customize your experience.

Whether you want to enable geo-filters in exotic destinations, enhance your privacy, or simply have fun exploring the map, this in-depth guide will teach you multiple methods for changing your Snapchat location.

We’ll cover:

• Adjusting Snapchat’s built-in location settings

• Using a VPN to mask your real location

• Spoofing your GPS coordinates on iOS and Android

• Expert tips for choosing a secure, fast VPN

• Precautions to take when location spoofing

Let’s dive in to the many ways you can start exploring the world and altering your Snapchat location today!

Why Do Snapchat Users Change Their Location?

Before learning how to change your virtual location, it helps to understand why Snapchat users bother altering their GPS coordinates in the app. There are several key reasons you may want to spoof or modify your location:

Access Exclusive Geo-Filters and Lenses

One of Snapchat’s most popular features is the geo-filters tied to specific locations around the world. For example, special filters for landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or events like Coachella are only accessible in those exact locations.

According to Digiday, Snapchat now has over 30,000 geo-filters available globally. Changing your location lets you unlock filters tied to international destinations, tourist sites, and more without having to physically travel there.

Enhance Privacy and Security

Sharing your real-time location publicly on social media can raise privacy concerns and open you up to tracking or stalking. A 2022 Pew Research study found that 81% of adults say the potential risks of data collection on cell phones outweigh the benefits.

Altering your Snapchat location is one way to protect your privacy and prevent unwanted surveillance of your activities throughout the day. This is especially useful for teenagers and activists wary of government monitoring.

Bypass Regional Restrictions

Snapchat occasionally blocks certain filters, lenses, or stories in specific countries and regions. Reasons range from local laws to censorship.

Using a VPN or location spoofer allows you to bypass these types of geographic restrictions based on IP address or GPS coordinates. This opens up Snapchat‘s full breadth of features regardless of where you live.

Simulate Traveling and Living Abroad

If you move overseas or take a trip abroad, changing your Snapchat location makes it easy to connect with local friends. It also lets you access geo-filters unique to your new international home.

Expats use location spoofing to virtually “visit” home and share experiences from back home even when living abroad long-term.

Just for Fun!

Some Snapchat users simply enjoy altering their location as a fun way to explore filters and lenses in exotic, faraway destinations. It allows you to go on virtual vacations through AR and experience what geo-features are popular worldwide.

Plus, who hasn’t wanted to prank their friends by making it seem like you teleported to a random place in the world? Location spoofing opens up a world of playful possibilities!

Step 1: Adjust Location Settings Within Snapchat

The simplest way to change your location in Snapchat is directly through the app’s settings. Here’s how to get started:

On iPhone

1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top-left corner to go to your profile.

2. Tap the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner.

3. Scroll down and tap ‘See My Location’.

4. Toggle ‘Ghost Mode’ on.

   • This prevents Snapchat from accessing your real location from your iPhone‘s GPS, camera, and wireless networks.

   • You can select a time limit for how long Ghost Mode stays on, or keep it on indefinitely.

5. Return to the main Snapchat map and press and hold anywhere to drop a new custom location pin.

   • Dropping a pin lets you manually set a fake location that overrides your real one.

6. In the search bar, type in the name of the location you want to move to, like a city or country.

   • You can search for any place in the world this way.

7. Tap the name of your desired location when it appears below.

   • This will drop a new pin there to set your fake coordinates.

Snapchat will now use that pinned location instead of your iPhone’s real location for any geo-features like filters, maps, stories, etc.

Pro tip: To revert back to your actual location, just turn Ghost Mode off in Settings.

On Android

The process works very similarly on Android devices:

1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile picture.

2. Tap the Settings gear icon to access options.

3. Tap ‘Location Services’.

4. Toggle ‘Ghost Mode’ on to prevent location sharing.

   • Again, select the time frame to maintain Ghost Mode.

5. Return to the Snap Map and long press anywhere to place a custom pin.

6. Search for your desired new location and tap the name when it pops up.

The pinned spot will override your device’s real GPS coordinates in Snapchat. Toggle Ghost Mode off later when you want to resume using your actual location.

And that’s all there is to it! Within just a few taps, you can start using made-up locations in Snapchat on both iPhone and Android.

While this method is quick and easy, doing it this way requires manually searching and dropping a new pin each time you want to change locations. For more convenience, you may want to consider using a VPN instead.

Step 2: Use a VPN to Mask Your Real Location

A VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to change your IP address and override your real location across any app or website. Here’s an overview of how VPNs work for Snapchat:

1. Download and install a VPN app on your smartphone or tablet. There are hundreds to choose from.

2. Open the app and connect to a server located in the city or country you want to appear to be in.

   • VPNs have thousands of servers worldwide, making it easy to switch locations.

3. Once connected, the VPN will mask your device’s real public IP address with one from the server’s location.

   • This spoofs your GPS coordinates by routing your traffic through the server.

4. Now when you open Snapchat, it will think you’re actually in the VPN server’s location based on your IP address!

5. Enjoy accessing geo-filters, lenses, stories, and more based on your new virtual location.

To switch locations, simply connect to a different VPN server in another city or country. It takes just seconds to change your IP address and trick Snapchat.

The main advantage of using a VPN is convenience. There’s no need to constantly search and pin new spots on the map. Just connect to the nearest server where you want to be located in Snapchat.

VPNs also have other benefits like enhanced security and privacy. But more on that shortly when we cover how to choose the best VPN for Snapchat.

First, let’s look at how VPNs actually work under the hood…

The Technology Behind VPN Location Spoofing

VPN stands for ‘virtual private network’. VPN services use advanced encryption to establish a secure tunnel between your device and their remote servers worldwide.

Once connected, all of your internet traffic flows through this tunnel and interacts with the web via the server instead of directly from your smartphone or computer.

This obscures your real public IP address and physical location, since the server’s IP is used instead when you browse the web or use apps like Snapchat:

Image via ExpressVPN

So when you see filters and lenses based on your location in Snapchat, it’s actually showing content for the VPN server’s geographic region rather than your true location. This lets you effectively ‘trick’ apps into thinking you’re anywhere in the world!

Some key technical advantages VPNs offer include:

• Encryption – Scrambles your data so your online activity is hidden from prying eyes.

• Anonymity – Masks your IP address and physical location, which prevents tracking.

• Accessibility – Bypasses censorship and geographic restrictions implemented based on IP address.

With thousands of servers in 94 countries, top VPNs like ExpressVPN make it easy to spoof your location on Snapchat and unlock filters worldwide.

Next, let’s go over what to look for in the best VPNs for Snapchat specifically.

How to Choose the Best VPN for Snapchat

If you decide to use a VPN for changing your Snapchat location, it’s important to choose a quality provider. Here are key factors to consider:

• Speed – Look for VPNs proven to offer fast connection speeds to avoid buffering or lag, especially when using data-heavy apps like Snapchat.

• Reliability – The VPN should maintain a stable, consistent connection without dropping out frequently.

• Server locations – More server locations globally makes it easier to switch between places in Snapchat.

• Unlimited bandwidth – No restrictive caps on data usage so you can browse and Snap freely.

• 256-bit AES encryption – Military-grade encryption is essential for privacy and security when using public WiFi.

• No logging policy – Ensure your VPN provider does not record or store your online activity and IP address.

• Ease of use – The VPN app should offer an intuitive interface that makes changing locations quick and simple.

• Compatibility – It should work seamlessly on both your mobile device and desktop for convenience.

• Customer support – Look for VPNs with responsive 24/7 customer service in case any issues arise.

Using these criteria to vet providers, below are my top recommendations for the best VPNs for Snapchat based on extensive hands-on testing:

ExpressVPN – The gold standard for unblocking Snapchat worldwide with blazing speeds perfect for social media. Seamlessly switch locations to access geo-features.

NordVPN – An ultra-fast VPN great for Snapchat with advanced security features like double VPN and obfuscated servers to hide your traffic.

Surfshark – This affordable VPN option starts under $2/month yet still delivers reliable speeds for social media and streaming.

CyberGhost VPN – With over 7,400 servers worldwide, CyberGhost makes it easy to change your IP address and simulate travel.

Private Internet Access – PIA is focused on privacy and security with proven technology to keep your data safe when using public WiFi.

No matter which option you select, be sure to connect to servers based near whatever location you wish to appear to be within on Snapchat.

Now that we’ve covered the best tools to use, let’s go over how to stay secure and private while location spoofing…

Using Location Spoofing Securely and Responsibly

Although changing your virtual location is perfectly legal in most regions, there are some safety and privacy precautions to take:

• Avoid sharing your real location publicly on social media whenever possible. This helps prevent stalking or unwanted tracking of your activities.

• Never impersonate other people by spoofing your location to make it seem you are somewhere you aren’t.

• Use location spoofing ethically. Never falsify your GPS coordinates for purposes like fraud, catfishing online dates, or accessing unauthorized financial accounts.

• Enable antivirus software, VPN encryption, and multifactor authentication to keep your devices secure from malicious threats online.

• Educate yourself on cybersecurity best practices like avoiding public WiFi, securing passwords, and recognizing phishing attacks. The more you know, the safer you’ll be.

• Use location features responsibly with trusted friends. Be very careful about revealing your real-time location with strangers.

• Keep location sharing off by default and limit its use to specific circumstances where you feel comfortable doing so. Treat location data with the same care as any other personal info.

Following this common sense advice will allow you to enjoy the fun of location spoofing while avoiding potential downsides.

Now let’s examine a few more ways to change your location beyond the Snapchat app settings and VPNs.

Advanced Ways to Spoof Location on iOS and Android

In addition to the basic methods covered so far, there are a couple more technical options for spoofing your GPS coordinates systemwide on iPhone and Android devices:

Location Spoofing Apps on iPhone

Specialized location spoofer apps are available that override your iPhone‘s real coordinates with fake ones. Popular options include:

• LocationHandle – User-friendly app that lets you drop pins anywhere or enter custom coordinates. Has excellent camouflage functionality.

• VPNTrick – Provides spoofing for all apps and location-based services. No ads or subscriptions.

• LocationFaker – Uses Apple Maps to pin realistic-looking locations. Features precise movement simulation for walking, driving, etc.

To use these apps, you first need to jailbreak your iPhone in order to install unsigned third-party software. This involves exploiting vulnerabilities to get root access on iOS.

The process voids your warranty and poses security risks, so jailbreaking is not recommended for most mainstream iPhone users. But it does offer powerful customization options like systemwide location spoofing.

Mock Locations on Rooted Android

Dedicated Android users can simulate mock locations using Developer Options, but it also requires rooting your device.

Rooting gives you full ‘superuser’ admin control of your Android OS at the system level. Here are the basic steps, which do involve certain risks:

1. Root your Android device using Magisk or a similar app. This gives you full system-level access.

2. Go to Settings > System > Developer Options.

3. Enable ‘Mock Locations’.

4. Choose a mock location app like Fake GPS Free.

5. Search for a location and tap ‘Send’ or ‘Start’ to spoof coordinates.

Any app using your location like Snapchat will now report the fake coordinates. Again, proceed with caution when rooting and use mock locations responsibly.

FAQ About Changing Snapchat Location

Let’s recap some common questions about modifying your location in Snapchat:

Does Snapchat notify people when I change locations?

No, Snapchat does not send any alert to your connections when you alter your virtual location using the methods described above. It simply uses the new coordinates to serve geo-specific content.

Can Snapchat ban my account if I get caught spoofing my location?

Snapchat generally does not outright ban accounts purely for location spoofing. However, rapidly teleporting between faraway places or using mods may get you flagged for violating their terms of service. As long as you change locations reasonably, you should be fine.

Is changing my Snapchat location illegal?

Spoofing your GPS coordinates is not illegal in most countries and regions around the world. However, some authoritarian governments prohibit the use of VPNs and encryption. Always comply with local laws.

Can I set a fake location without dropping a pin on the Snap Map?

Unfortunately, no. Snapchat requires you to manually long press and place a pin somewhere on the map in order to set a custom location. You cannot simply type in a city name or coordinates without first tapping an area.

How do I resume using my real location after spoofing it?

Simply toggle ‘Ghost Mode’ off in Snapchat’s settings on iOS or Android. For VPN users, just disconnect from the server and you will revert back to your true public IP address and location based on your actual GPS coordinates.

Final Thoughts

As this comprehensive guide demonstrates, changing your virtual location on Snapchat is easy and straightforward whether you are on iPhone or Android.

With just a few quick settings changes, a reliable VPN, or more advanced location spoofing apps, you can start exploring the world and unlocking geo-filters from faraway places today.

Just be sure to use common sense when revealing your location online, and take reasonable steps to enhance your privacy and security.

So what are you waiting for? Start pinning spots on the map and tapping into worldwide Snapchat features you never knew existed! With the right tools and approach, a whole new Snapchat experience awaits.