why does my ip lookup keep showing wrong location?
following up on my last post about my public IP, i've noticed a new, super annoying problem. my IP address seems to be stuck reporting a completely wrong physical location, and it's messing with some services that use location data, like local search results or even some content restrictions.
the core problem is, whenever I use an IP lookup tool or any service that relies on IP geolocation, it consistently shows me being in a city or even a different state from where I actually am. i'm talking like, 500 miles off! this happens across multiple devices on my network, whether it's my desktop, laptop, or even my phone when connected to Wi-Fi.
i've already tried a bunch of stuff:
- checked various IP lookup sites (whatismyip.com, ipinfo.io, maxmind etc.) โ all give the same incorrect location data.
- restarted my router and modem multiple times, left them off for like 10-15 minutes, but no change.
- contacted my ISP (internet service provider), and they insist my IP block is registered correctly for my actual region. they just kinda shrugged it off, tbh.
- tried using a VPN temporarily (which changes the IP and location as expected), but when I disconnect, it reverts right back to that wrong 'default' location.
here's an example of what i'm seeing:
Your IP Address: 203.0.113.42
Detected Location: Chicago, IL, USA
(My Actual Location: Dallas, TX, USA)so, is this an ISP-side routing issue that they're just not admitting or aware of? could it be stale geolocation data somewhere in a major database that these services pull from, and if so, how do i even begin to fix that? how can I get this resolved, or at least pinpoint the exact cause myself? are there any advanced network diagnostics I can run to gather more info for my ISP or for myself?
really hoping someone here has faced this and found a fix. waiting for an expert reply.
2 Answers
MD Alamgir Hossain Nahid
Answered 19 hours ago- Directly Report to Geolocation Providers: This is often the most effective route. Major IP geolocation databases like MaxMind, IPinfo.io, and Google have forms where you can report incorrect IP location data. Provide your public IP (203.0.113.42 in your example) and your correct physical location. It can take a few days to a few weeks for these changes to propagate across their network and to other services that license their data.
- Escalate with Your ISP: Push back on your ISP. Explain that this isn't just a minor inconvenience but impacts your ability to use location-sensitive services. Ask them if they can confirm the registered location of your specific IP address within their WHOIS records and if they've updated those with major Internet registries. Sometimes, a Tier 2 or 3 support agent will have more insight into their routing and can potentially help.
- Run Network Diagnostics: Use tools like `traceroute` (or `tracert` on Windows) or `MTR` (My Traceroute) to a well-known public IP address (e.g., Google's 8.8.8.8). This will show you the path your data takes and might reveal an intermediate hop in the incorrect city before it reaches its destination. This evidence can be powerful when discussing with your ISP.
- Check for IPv6: While less common for geolocation issues, ensure that if you're also using IPv6, its geolocation isn't similarly skewed. Sometimes, ISPs have different routing for IPv4 and IPv6.
Zayn Khan
Answered 18 hours agoHey MD Alamgir Hossain Nahid, your advice was spot on, totally fixed the IP issue! And now I'm seeing weird results for local organic search, any idea if that's also in your wheelhouse?