Contributor
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185 Messages
Windows laptops show wrong Location in all Maps apps
Yesterday all four of Windows 10 laptops in my home started showing the wrong location in Google maps, Bing maps, Mapquest, windows 10 maps app, etc. Note that this happens regardless of windows login or Google signed in or not, it happens in Firefox and Edge browser, but does NOT happen with Chrome browser, and android phones/tablet are not affected... I am currently in Stockton, CA but maps is showing my location as a specific house address in Oakland, CA which is 50 miles away. I have NEVER been to this address.... So far I have:
-cleared cookies in Firefox and Edge.
-flush DNS.
-rebooted my Xfinity MODEM.
-rebooted Netgear Wifi Router.
-rebooted laptops.
-turned location off/on all laptops.
-signed out/in of microsoft accounts on laptops.
-changed google password, force sign out of all google devices and deleted old devices from google security site.
Any ideas?
BruceW
Gold Problem Solver
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26.3K Messages
3 years ago
There is no quick way to fix this. Web sites get location information ("IP geolocation") from third parties, not from Comcast, and it's a somewhat dark art. Essentially websites you provide location information to make extra $$$ by selling your location and IP address info to geolocation providers, who turn around and sell that information to companies who want to know where you are located.
You may find some helpful information in the post at https://forums.xfinity.com/conversations/your-home-network/security-issue-my-outside-ip-address-changed-and-now-says-im-in-nj-when-i-live-in-mn/6259b49336b3dc41e2a67826?commentId=6259be51ff19c3627da44a36.
Please be aware that there are 2 kinds of responses in this Forum: Replies and Comments. When you Comment on a post by scrolling down to "Comment on this post here...", I am notified of your response. But if you select Reply, I am NOT notified and may not be aware of your response.
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MNtundraRET
Gold Problem Solver
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5.9K Messages
3 years ago
Currently many companies like Microsoft have privacy setting that may block your GPS location. Sometimes the program may ask you to allow your current location.
This could be your problem. Without the info. they might show you listed at a similar address somewhere else.
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tzr916
Contributor
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185 Messages
3 years ago
Just connected my laptop to my verizon cell hotspot (wifi off). This gives the laptop a different IP address, signed out of windows, signed back in, cleared browser data but I still get the exact same wrong address/location in windows 10 maps app and firefox/edge for Google maps, Bing maps, Mapquest, etc.
I went to https://www.maxmind.com/en/geoip-location-correction and when I submitted my IP address and info it gave me a pop up "The location you submitted for correction already matches the location in our GeoIP Legacy, GeoIP2, and GeoLite2 databases".
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tzr916
Contributor
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185 Messages
3 years ago
I got general location working in Firefox/Edge for Google maps, Bing maps, Mapquest by disabling Windows Settings>Privacy>Location>Allow Desktop Apps to access your location, and resetting browser data and website location permissions. Noticed that Edge location is not precise and the "get location from device" button is missing. I also had to set a "default location" in Windows in order to make Windows 10 Maps app and Weather app to show properly.
Does this help show that my IP Geo-location is indeed wrong? Or just the opposite?
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MNtundraRET
Gold Problem Solver
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5.9K Messages
3 years ago
Part of the problems with some of these maps is that they may use inaccurate data for home or other places.
Our home address is off by about 30 yards. With GPS location allowed, it finds my car in our garage.
We lived here since 1972 when the house was built. Most government agencies have not been following these
mapping companies' requests for updated information. I always allow GPS location.
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BruceW
Gold Problem Solver
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26.3K Messages
3 years ago
We can't know for sure, but the results suggest that giving those sites additional location information (perhaps GPS, Wifi Geo, plain old account information, or ???) allowed them to improve on the IP Geo provider's information. As stated, device location is a bit of a dark art.
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user_fa0f1a
Contributor
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14 Messages
3 years ago
In several cases my location shows as one I put in Xfinity's channel finder. Best Buy's web site is determined that I'm located about 25 miles S.E. of where I actually am. This stuff is why I often don't allow web sites to determine my location but put in a zip code instead. That tends to be more accurate IME.
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tzr916
Contributor
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185 Messages
3 years ago
It's just really odd that this "feature" has been working fine for the ten years I have lived in this house, giving precise location in all apps. Then suddenly, it all stopped working on four laptops.
I literally thought someone hacked one of my logins, like Google or MS, and was logged in over at the address 50 miles away!
(edited)
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tzr916
Contributor
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185 Messages
3 years ago
After contacting two or three IP Geo-location websites (and waiting three weeks), my location is now showing up correctly when I enable location in windows settings. Hopefully Xfinity won't suddenly change my IP for another 10 years!
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